This Disney animated classic is based on the children's story by Dodie Smith. The story involves the canine pets of a struggling composer and his wife: Dalmatians Pongo (male) and Perdita (female). Perdita gives birth to fifteen spotted pups, cuing the entrance of the scheming Cruella De Vil. She demands that the dogs' owners sell her the pups, but she is shown the door instead. Under cover of night, Cruella arranges for the pups to be stolen. The human police are baffled, but the "dog network" is alerted by Pongo and sent to rescue the pups. It is discovered that Cruella has been rounding up every Dalmatian she can get her hands on, hoping to use their pelts to make one spectacular fur coat. The dogs rescue the 15 pups, plus 86 others stolen by Ms. DeVil. After an eventful escape, the 101 Dalmatians make their way home--whereupon the composer pens a hit tune, "Dalmatian Plantation". 101 Dalmatians represents the Disney animation staff at its very best, and as a bonus introduces the world to Cruella De Vil, one of the greatest movie villains--cartoon or "real"--of all time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
liked it.
The sheer number of canine characters in the film is overwhelming, and the challenges they presented the animators were considerable. Fortunately, the Disney stable had by that time logged in decades of experience and was able to meet these challenges with aplomb. They also were old hands at adding character to their illustrations, with the result that the cast emerges visually as fully nuanced characters. The artists were enormously aided by a witty and delightful script, which knows just the right buttons to push -- from the "meet cute" opening to the suspenseful chase climax, in which the pace with which snow begins melting and falling creates a marvelous tension. The supreme creation of the film, however, is Cruella De Vil, an immortal villainess with an equally immortal theme song. She is perfection, from the startling angularity of her cheekbones to her cracked ice voice (courtesy of Betty Lou Gerson). Her callousness and selfishness are so absolute that she can't help but fascinate the audience, even as they root for her defeat. Although
101 Dalmations was the final full-length animated feature for directors Geronimi and Luske, Reithermann would go on to direct
The Jungle Book, among others. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide