Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies.
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And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize
Don't ask us who's who ;) |
My Own Personal History With Lady and The Tramp
We're Jingle Hounds :) |
One
of these certain classics is 1955's Lady and The Tramp, which is pretty much well known for every Disney buff. My very first exposure to Lady was (as with most of us) through my childhood. I've received the movie on VHS as a Christmas gift, most
likely at the age of
7. While I wasn't obsessed by it, I was still endeared by it and liked it enough to watch it again several
times (often coming right after school). My reason for liking it was that it's harmless, endearing and mellow. As with most Disney, nostalgia plays a pivotal part with my
relationship for the film. Though I
don’t recall where Lady and The Tramp
would belong to the list of films that I've seen chronologically, Lady is still among the earliest ones that I saw.
Lady and The Tramp`s Position in Disney`s Pantheon and How It`s In Tune With The Pictures From Walt`s First Golden Age
Released to theaters June 22, 1955 in Chicago between Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty, Lady and The Tramp
belongs in the very successful second Golden Era of Disney. Unlike the
prior Golden Age, where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dumbo were the only big hits
and the others gaining more momentum afterwards, the 50’s was
a huge successful decade for Disney. On its initial release, the film took in a higher figure than any other Disney animated feature since Snow White. Earning an estimated $6.5 million in distributor rentals. Lady was the first animated film distributed by the Buena Vista Film Distribution.
This is how fast I can blink :) |
I made this hole so you could see me while drinking your coffee :) |
Lady and The Tramp Being Disney`s First Canine Picture, Similarities to Bambi, How Scamp Have Managed To Be a Comic Veteran & Who`s The Major Lead
This is a Cruella DeVil- free zone ;) |
You're a carnivore, so you could scare it :) |
We're inspired by Cruella's hair :) |
Behind the Scenes Information & Origins
Don't worry, I won't eat it ;) |
Just because I have a stern look, doesn't make me a grump :) |
Afterwards,
Walt read the short story written by Ward Greene (an executive at King Features Syndicate (then-publisher of the Disney newspaper comic strips), titled Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog. In the Cosmopolitan Magazine, published in 1945. He thought that Grant's story would be improved if Lady fell in love with a cynical dog like the one in Greene's story, and bought the rights to it. He also persuaded Greene to write a book combining their dogs, Happy Dan, the Whistling Dog and Miss Patsy, the Beautiful Spaniel. Yet Greene was brought in after the crew had finished their story. However, the book was radically different than the screenplay.
It's the screenplay version :) |
Unfortunately World War II interfered with it's production, so Lady was postponed. The cynical dog had various names during development, including Rags, and Bozo, before Tramp was chosen (despite how some crew members were hesitant about that name). Yet the cynical dog wasn't added until 1941. However, Joe Grant had already left the studio because of the backlash of Alice in Wonderland. So Walt asked Greene to write a novelization of the film that was released two years before the film itself. To make the audiences familiar with the story. Unfortunately Grant did not receive film credit for his story work until after Walt's death.
How Lady and The Tramp Was Made in Cinemascope, Visuals and Animators
The picture above was meant to be a valentine picture. Don't take your exclusion personally ;) |
What also invigorates Lady and The Tramp is how it was
the first animated features made in CinemaScope. Which also was a daunting task for Walt. While his next feature, Sleeping Beauty, would even have a wider choice in Technirama, at least Lady preceeded it first. Developed by 20th Century Fox and introduced with The Robe, CinemaScope used special lenses to compress filmed images which were then spread out on a wider than normal screen during projection. It was a particular challenge for the layout artist, who almost had to reinvent their craft. Scenes could be played with fewer cuts because more characters could be fitted into the broad screen.
the first animated features made in CinemaScope. Which also was a daunting task for Walt. While his next feature, Sleeping Beauty, would even have a wider choice in Technirama, at least Lady preceeded it first. Developed by 20th Century Fox and introduced with The Robe, CinemaScope used special lenses to compress filmed images which were then spread out on a wider than normal screen during projection. It was a particular challenge for the layout artist, who almost had to reinvent their craft. Scenes could be played with fewer cuts because more characters could be fitted into the broad screen.
Since Television was new at the time and was perceived as a threat to Cinema, CinemaScope was one innovation to draw people to the Theaters. Cinemascope was also really popular at the time. However, not every Theater supported CinemaScope, so Walt and his staff had to envision a fullscreen version. Mary Blaire was repsonsible for the look, yet she left the studio in 1953, so Eivind Earle became responsible for the visuals (a reason why Tramp was given the color grey, was to make a contrast to Lady and Trusty). As for the animators, Milt Kahl animated Tramp, whereas Ollie Johnston animated Lady. Frank Thomas drew Jock, whereas Wollie Reitherman (unsurprisingly) supervised the action sequences.
Lady and The Tramp`s Storyline & Romance
Lady and the Tramp's storyline is a simple and conventional one; It's about
Lady growing up in her blissful, loving paradise. And how her sheltered life is suddenly
turned upside down by the arrival of the baby, which throws her
aside (and yes, this actually happened to Joe Grant's real spaniel named Lady when his daughter was born. Which is art imitating life).
However, fate makes her escape her sheltered when her owners, Jim and
Darling, leaves and Aunt Sarah mistankens her for being a danger. Then she runs into Tramp (which their first meeting
is a remarkably condescending one, where Tramp pretty much mocks Lady’s dilemma in a callous way). Of course there's a contrast between our lovebirds points of views: How Tramp prefers freedom as opposed to a
sheltered life. But becomes a part of the life that he didn't expected at the end.
Unsurprsingly, this film is labeled as a
romance, first and foremost. Which is done well. Aside from Bambi and the Princess features, Lady was the feature from Walt's period that truly leant itself to romance. Which is why it was named number 95 out of the "100 Greatest Love Stories of All Time" by the American Film Institute.
The Point of Views of the Dogs, The Adult Nuances, Setting and Voice Actors
What certainly
makes Lady and The Tramp interesting and clever is how the
film is practically portrayed from the dogs point of view. It’s certainly adds some nuance to how Jim and
Darling refers to themselves as Jim Dear and Darling. Despite how we
occasionally see their faces now and then, the viewpoint is mostly from the dogs (which even live action reference for that same viewpoint was shot).
And sure, there has been various who've claimed that Lady practically is one of Walt's most adult films, for several reasons. About how the Bella Notte scene ends with something that indicates that our lovebirds slept together. Which was a challenge for the crew to defend). And also because the movie indicates how dogs gets killed in the dog pound. What also differentiates Lady, is it’s setting. It takes place in a romantic, American smalltown in the early 1910's. And manages to portray the placement in a harmonically and nostalgically. The town was somewhat based on Walt's own hometown Marceline in Missouri. So therefore it comes as no surprise that the portrayal has a certain nostalgic bias to it
As for the voice casting, originally PeggyLee was going to be cast as Lady herself. But that role was given to Disney veteran Barbara Luddy (who was in her late 40's and was two decades older than Tramp's voice actor, Larry Roberts). Disney veteran Verna Felton voiced Aunt Sarah. (and yes, she was even suggested to do the voice as early as in 1941). Stan Freberg voiced the Beaver and Walt gave him a lot of freedom. Still Walt still suggested the whistle in his voice (which he had trouble to do). The character of Peg was a unforeseen addition to the movie. And while it was initially inspired by Mae West, it was Lee who inspired her the most (animated by Eric Larsson, who cites that it was his happiest work).
Lady`s Harrowing Moments, Antagonists & How Trusty Survives
We're the domestic versions of the Hyenas :) |
While feuds between canines and
felines have always been shown in animation, it’s clear that the
brief cameo with the Siameses are made to sympathize with poor, innocent Lady (their famous song, perhaps not surprisingly, has a Chinese orchestration to it. Which made purists scream racism. Still the Chinese orchestration was a deliberate part). Both Aunt Sarah and the Siamese were a part from the get-go. And the main conflict would revolve around Lady, the Siamese's and the rat. Originally the felines were called Nip and Tuck and Lady was showing them around the house. But they were the reason for why Lady was kicked out by her owners in the 1943 draft.
However, a pivotal trauma in the climax is the
injury of Trusty. Lady was initially following the Bambi mode and kill off the character. Eventually Disney took a note from Peggy Lee herself and
let Trusty live (something that would later be replicated in The Fox and the
Hound with Chief). Whether to kill Trusty would’ve been the right
choice at the end, has been debatable. But at least he's an endearing character and it would've been a huge risk to actually kill him. And yes, believe it or not, one idea for the climax was actually taking Place during the 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco.
Music
Okay, our breaths confirms why we'll again :) |
And since it's been so iconic in pop culture, it's been poked fun of several times (one memorable incident have been at The Simpsons). Yet Disney themselves have
poked fun of this moment several times: In the cheapquel of this movie
Lady and The Tramp II, 102 Dalmatians and The Lion King 1 ½. The moment has of course been quite prominent in From All of Us to All of You Christmas show (which was my very first introduction to Disney, before getting to see
the movies themselves). And the inclusion of
Tony and Joe gives the cast some cultural flavor. And believe it or not, Walt didn't like the scene, since he found it was ridiculous that two canines would eat spaghetti. Yet Frank Thomas, who animated the scene, persuaded him to make it work.
Yes, we`ll open the presents with our mouths :) That`s our only way to do it :) Duuuh :) |
Of
course Bella Notte is the big romantic
number of the film (yet it's first half is mostly rather
comedic than outright romantic). But is also remarkable how Bella Notte is the opening song of the movie as well. The
songs are worth to mention, since they were written by Peggy Lee, who was a popstar at the time. She was initially brought in just as a songwriter and was surprised that she was asked to sing and do the voices as well (as for for Mrs Darling, the Siameses and Peg. Who was originally going to be named Meme. But since it was the name of President Eisenhower's wife, Walt personally suggested that the character should simply be named Peg).
The songwriting team used three
years to pen the songs. The Melomen Quartet (with Disney favorite Thurl Ravenscroft) backed up on He's a Tramp. Disney veteran Oliver Wallace composed the score. He's a Tramp was a song that Walt simply didn't expect, while La La Lu was originally meant to be shorter, until Lee wrote What is a Baby, which Walt loved. Yet, Lady is quite modest with it’s songs. And interestingly enough, those who's sung by our lovebirds are performed internally. The songs are nice enough, though. While erhaps not my all time favorites in the Disney pantheon, they’re still engaging and evocative. Peggy Lee's work was shown on the Cavalcade of Songs section in the aforementioned Disneyland show, still her voicing was originally just a test.
years to pen the songs. The Melomen Quartet (with Disney favorite Thurl Ravenscroft) backed up on He's a Tramp. Disney veteran Oliver Wallace composed the score. He's a Tramp was a song that Walt simply didn't expect, while La La Lu was originally meant to be shorter, until Lee wrote What is a Baby, which Walt loved. Yet, Lady is quite modest with it’s songs. And interestingly enough, those who's sung by our lovebirds are performed internally. The songs are nice enough, though. While erhaps not my all time favorites in the Disney pantheon, they’re still engaging and evocative. Peggy Lee's work was shown on the Cavalcade of Songs section in the aforementioned Disneyland show, still her voicing was originally just a test.
Just forget about the noise behind us :) |
It was Walt's suggestion that the Siamese sequence should be a song. Two additional songs to fill the soundtrack were written (Jim Dear and Old Trusty, alongside with That Fellow's a Friend of Man and Singin' (Cause I Want to Sing)). Lee herself enjoyed performing as Peg. Apparently she wasn't a person who was easily starstruck, but she was so when she met Walt (she didn't dare to call him his first name). But he gave her a lot of creative freedom and she suggested the spots for the songs herself (and she was a lover of dogs herself).
However, when Lady was released on home video in 1991, Lee sued the studio for a share of the profits. And won with a $ 2,3 million. Lee used to screen the movie at her home with a film projector with her granddaughter before VHS even existed. Because of Lee's contract With Decca Records, the soundtrack for Lady wasn't released in 1955. Yet she still recorded her versions of the songs she didn't sing under Decca Records. While the soundtrack was released various times, it wasn't released fully until 1997.
Epilogue
We can have our own walk, without our owners :) |
At least the Tramp is for once a male :) |
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References:
Lady and The Tramp Diamond Edition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_and_the_Tramp
Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection: Lady and The Tramp.
Pinocchio - The Making of the Disney Epic (J.B. Kaufman).
Mouse Under Glass (David Koenig)
Disney's Art of Animation - From Mickey Mouse to Hercules (Bob Thomas)
The Art of Walt Disney - From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond 2011 Edition (Christopher Finch)
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