Dumbo (1941)
Poor little Dumbo is ostracised because of his massive ears and his doting mother is locked away as a 'mad elephant' for protecting him against bullies. A sympathetic mouse makes friends with him and helps him to deal with the nasty herd and the rest of the circus.
The shortest film so far at just over an hour is also one of the most upsetting for young kids, with the cutest of baby elephants being threatened, bullied and mistreated throughout by pretty much everyone he meets. It's pretty dark, sad stuff.
The use of animals in circuses will also be an anathema to modern audiences, and the scene where little baby Dumbo gets so drunk he hallucinates will date it even further...can you imagine that happening in a kid's film today?!...and don't even get me started on the crows.
But you can't help but love the poor little guy and root for him throughout and it's great to see how he overcomes the diversity that faces him.
Poor little Dumbo is ostracised because of his massive ears and his doting mother is locked away as a 'mad elephant' for protecting him against bullies. A sympathetic mouse makes friends with him and helps him to deal with the nasty herd and the rest of the circus.
The shortest film so far at just over an hour is also one of the most upsetting for young kids, with the cutest of baby elephants being threatened, bullied and mistreated throughout by pretty much everyone he meets. It's pretty dark, sad stuff.
The use of animals in circuses will also be an anathema to modern audiences, and the scene where little baby Dumbo gets so drunk he hallucinates will date it even further...can you imagine that happening in a kid's film today?!...and don't even get me started on the crows.
But you can't help but love the poor little guy and root for him throughout and it's great to see how he overcomes the diversity that faces him.