The Aristocats (1970)

Original Release Date: December 24th, 1970
Cast:
Duchess - Eva Gabor
Thomas O'Malley - Phil Harris
Toulous - Gary Dubin
Marie - Liz English
Berlioz - Dean Clark
Edgar - Roddy Maude-Roxby
Scat Cat - Scatman Crothers
Roquefort - Sterling Holloway
Shun Gon - Paul Winchell
Hit Cat - Lord Tim Hudson
Peppo - Vitto Scotti
Billy Bass - Thurl Ravenscroft
Napoleon - Pat Buttram
Lafayette - George Linsey
Madame Adelaide - Hermione Baddely
Frou-Frou - Nancy Kulp
Georges - Charles Lane
Abigail - Monica Evans
Amelia - Carole Shelley
Uncle Waldo - Bill Thompson
Milkman - Peter Renaday

Thoughts Upon Re-watching this Film:
-"Everybody Wants to be a Cat" has always been one of my favorite Disney songs.
-When my parents bought me this movie on VHS, I thought it was a new movie. My dad had to explain that he saw it when he was a kid.
-Berlioz is my favorite kitten. He's the cutest!

Did You Know.....?
-Eva Gabor (Duchess) is famous for her role in the TV show, "Green Acres". She also voice Miss Bianca in "The Rescuers" and "The Rescuers Down Under".
-Monica Evans (Abigail) voices Maid Marian in "Robin Hood"
-Carole Shelley (Amelia) was the original Madame Morrible in "Wicked" the musical. She also voices Lady Cluck in "Robin Hood" and Lachesis the Fate in "Hercules".
-Hermione Baddely (Madame Adelaide) played the cook in "Mary Poppins".
-Pat Buttram (Napoleon)  is also famous for his role on the TV show, "Green Acres". He is also the voice of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood) and Chief (The Fox and the Hound).
-This film was the last one that Walt Disney himself approved. It was produced after his death in 1966

Even if you are not a cat person, I think you will enjoy this movie. If not, then you probably have no sense of Disney appreciation. :) Ha! Just kidding! You can watch "The Aristocats" now on Netflix!

The Jungle Book (1967)

Original Release Date: October 18th, 1967

Cast:
Mowgli- Bruce Reitherman
Baloo- Phil Harris
Bagheera- Sebastian Cabot
King Louie- Louis Prima
Shere Khan- George Sanders
Kaa- Sterling Holloway
Colonel Hathi- J. Pat O'Malley
Winnifred- Verna Felton
Junior- Clint Howard
Buzzie- J. Pat O'Malley
Flaps- Chad Stuart
Dizzie- Lord Tim Hudson
Akela- John Abbott
Rahma- Ben Wright
The Girl (named Shanti in the sequel)- Darleen Carr
Flunkey- Leo De Lyon
Slob Elephant- Hal Smith
Gloomy Elephant- Ralph Wright
Ziggy- Digby Wolfe
Monkeys- Bill Skiles, Pete Henderson

Thoughts/Memories:
-My friend Eric decided Baloo gave the best "bro" advice when he says "Forget about those. They ain't nothing but trouble." (Talking about the girl from the village)
-My old manager at Auntie Anne's in Fairlawn used to make me sing "I Wanna Be Like You". It was "our song".

Did You Know.....?
-Phil Harris (Baloo) can also be heard as Thomas O'Malley (The Aristocats) and Little John (Robin Hood).
-Bruce Reitherman (Mowgli) also performs the voice of Christopher Robin (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).
-Clint Howard (Junior the elephant) is the younger brother of Ron Howard (Arrested Development) and also performs the voice of Roo (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).
-Walt Disney was more personally involved in this film than he was in the last 2.

One of my favorite movies as a kid. It's always been a great one to watch as a family!

~Julie

The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Original Release Date: December 25th, 1963

Cast:
Arthur/Wart- Rickie Sorensen, Richard Reitherman, Robert Reitherman
Merlin- Karl Swenson
Madam Mim- Martha Wentworth
Archimedes- Jinius Matthews
Sir Ector- Sebastian Cabot
Narrator- Sebastian Cabot
Sir Kay- Norman Alden
Sir Pellinore- Alan Napier
Sir Bart- Thurl Ravenscroft
The Wolf- James MacDonald
Little Girl Squirrel- Ginny Tyler
Scullery Maid- Barbara Jo Allen

Thoughts on re-watching this movie:
-Archimedes is my favorite character. He's such a sassy little owl!
-My favorite song is "That's What Makes the World Go 'Round".

Did You Know....?
-"The Sword in the Stone" was the 6th highest grossing film of 1963.
-Was nominated for an Academy Award in 1963 for "Best Score-Adaption or Treatment".
-Jinius Matthews (Archimedes) also performs the voice of Rabbit (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).
-Sebastian Cabot (Sir Ector/Narrator) also performs the voices of Bagheera (The Jungle Book) and the Narrator (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).

This is a great film. Not the most popular, but it's still a classic!

-Julie

101 Dalmatians (1961)

Original Release Date: January 25th, 1961

Cast:
Pongo- Rod Taylor
Perdita- Cate Bauer
Cruella De Vil-  Betty Lou Gerson
Roger- Ben Wright
Anita- Lisa Davis
Nanny- Martha Wentworth
Horace- Frederick Worlock
Jasper- J. Pat O'Malley
Captain- Thurl Ravenscroft
Colonel- J. Pat O'Malley
Sgt. Tibbs- David Frankham
Rolly- Barbara Baird
Patch- Mickey Maga
Penny- Sandra Abbott
Lucky- Mimi Gibson
Collie/Quiz Master- Tom Conway
Miss Birdwell- Betty Lou Gerson
Queenie/Lucy-Martha Wentworth
Inspector Craven- Frederick Worlock

My Personal Thoughts/Memories of this film:
-I remember naming my first cat Sgt. Tibbs after the cat in this movie.
-My cousin Melissa is a huge Dalmatian fan, she was my role model when I was a kid. (Now she's one of my best friends/cousins) We bonded over our love of "Dalmatians".
-I was in elementary at the time the live-action version of this film came out. So I fully remember catching the 2nd wind of Dalmatian fever!
-I never thought of how much of a psychopath Cruella is until just now.
-"Kanine Krunchies" is a very catchy song!

Did You Know.....?
-They used the same live-action model that they used for Cinderella and Aurora for Anita.
-This film was made when they were just about to shut the animation studios down. (Sleeping Beauty was too expensive, and they didn't have the funds to keep it running) One of the animators came up with a Xerox process that allowed them to cut out the inking process. Unfortunately, they had to cut the staff from 500 to under 100.
-Walt Disney did not like the way "101 Dalmatians" looked. He thought that the animation had lost its fantasy.
-They purposely cast deeper voices for the dogs, so they would be more powerful than the human characters.
-Barbara Wentworth (Nanny) is also the voice of Madam Mim (The Sword in the Stone).
-J. Pat O'Malley (Jasper/Colonel) also performs the voices of Tweedledee,Tweedledum, the Walrus, Carpenter, Mother Oyster (Alice in Wonderland) and Colonel Hathi (The Jungle Book).
-Betty Lou Gerson (Cruella De Vil/Miss Birdwell) did the narration at the beginning of "Cinderella" (1950) but was uncredited.

I could probably think of 101 reasons for you to see this movie! Although, I will let you find those reasons yourself! I'm looking forward to a Blu-Ray release of this movie. :)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Original Release Date: January 29th, 1959

Cast:
Princess Aurora (Briar Rose)/Sleeping Beauty-Mary Costa
Maleficent-Eleanor Audley
Flora-Verna Felton
Fauna-Barbara Jo Allen
Merryweather-Barbara Luddy
Prince Phillip-Bill Shirley
King Stefan-Taylor Holmes
Queen Leah-Verna Felton
Narrator-Marvin Miller
Maleficent's Goons-Bill, Amsbery, Candy Candido, Pinto Colvig, Dallas McKennon
Diablo-Dallas McKennon
The Owl-Dallas McKennon
King Hubert- Bill Thompson

Thoughts upon re-watching the film:
-Even though Aurora is the title character, she doesn't have much of a part. The fairies, Maleficent, and Prince Phillip get more screen time.
-Merryweather to this day is my favorite character.
-Maleficent scared me as a child, I still have nightmares about her.
-Fauna reminds me of my Grandma Combs. (My Grandma is not as dumb as her, but is as sweet as her)

Did You Know.....?
-Eleanor Audley (Maleficent) was also the voice of Lady Tremaine in "Cinderella".
-Verna Felton (Flora, Queen Leah) has also voiced Mrs. Jumbo (Dumbo), Fairy Godmother (Cinderella), Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), Aunt Sarah (Lady and the Tramp), and Winnifred the Elephant (The Jungle Book).
-Barbara Jo Allen (Fauna) is also the voice of the Scullery Maid in "The Sword in the Stone".
-The film took nearly the whole decade of the 1950's to make. Story began in 1951, and voices were recorded in 1952, the film was worked on til it's release in '59.
-Eleanor Audley also was the live model for Maleficent.

This is one of the best princess movies in Disney history. Might be a little scary for the really little ones, but is still one for the whole family to enjoy!

~Julie

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Original Release Date: June 22nd, 1955

Cast:
Lady - Barbara Luddy
Tramp - Larry Roberts
Jock - Bill Thompson
Trusty - Bill Baucom
Tony - George Givot
Darling - Peggy Lee
Jim Dear - Lee Millar
Aunt Sarah - Verna Felton
Si and Am, Peg - Peggy Lee
The Beaver - Stan Freberg
Joe - Bill Thompson
Dog Catcher - Lee Millar
Bulldog, Dachsie, Policeman - Bill Thompson
Toughy, Pedro, Professor, Hyena - Dallas McKennon
Alligator - Thurl Ravenscroft

A few thoughts upon re-watching the film:

-I've always thought that the song that Lady sings about "What is a Baby" sounded kind of creepy. Just watch!

-I think Aunt Sarah could go down in history as one of Disney's most hated animated characters.

-"We Are Siamese" is my favorite song!

-This film is adorable all the way from the beginning with Lady as a puppy to the end where she has pups of her own!

Trivia:

-Barbara Luddy (Lady) also performs the voice of Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty), Rover (101 Dalmatians),  Mother Mouse and Mother Rabbit (Robin Hood), and Kanga (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh).

-First animated feature to be filmed in CinemaScope.

-Was named one of the top 25 animated films of all time by TIME magazine in 2011.

If you have never seen "Lady and the Tramp", I highly recommend it! It's one of the best love stories for people and dogs alike!

~Julie

Peter Pan (1953)

Original Release Date: February 5th, 1953

 Cast: Peter Pan- Bobby Driscoll
Tinker Bell- Margaret Kerry (model)
 Wendy-Kathryn Beaumont
John- Paul Collins
 Michael- Tommy Luske
George Darling- Hans Conried
Mary Darling-Heather Angel
 Captain Hook- Hans Conried
Mr. Smee- Bill Thompson
 Tiger Lily- Corinne Orr
Cubby- Robert Ellis
Nibs-Jeffrey Silver
Twins- Johnny McGovern
Slightly-Stuffy Singer
Mermaids- June Foray, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Karen                                                                                                                                                            Kester
Squaw- June Foray
 Big Chief- Candy Candido
 Narrator- Tom Conway

 A few things I picked up on re-watching this film:
 -I love Nana the dog. She takes such good care of the children.
 -Mr. Darling is the children's home life comparison of Captain Hook.
 -I never understood why making Wendy leave the nursery was such a big deal, but she's being forced to grow up.
 -Mr. Darling is such a sarcastic and sassy jerk. (Just watch how he talks to his wife)
 -Tinker Bell is a brat. (Despite what the Tinker Bell films show)
 -Poor Mr. Smee is just trying to do his job and everyone gives him such a hard time.
 -When I was younger, I got upset that Captain Hook shot a crew member for singing....this still upsets me.
-The crocodile and Captain Hook have a really funny relationship.
-Michael is adorable! He loves Wendy just as much as he loves his own mother.
 -"Following the Leader" is still my favorite song.
 -The mermaids are almost worse than Tinker Bell.
 -I kind of feel for Captain Hook. I mean, Peter did cut off his hand and feed it to the crocodile.
 -I completely forgot about the song "What Makes the Red Man Red?" It would probably be considered offensive these days. (Along with the children smoking a peace pipe)
 -I never realized how much this version of Peter Pan loves Tink.

 Trivia: -Bobby Driscoll (Peter Pan) was a famous 1950's Disney star. (Equivalent of Disney Channel stars)
 -Kathryn Beaumont (Wendy) was also the voice of Alice in "Alice in Wonderland".
 -Bill Thompson (Mr. Smee) is famous for doing the voice of Droopy the Dog.
-June Foray (Mermaid,Squaw) is famous for doing the voice of Rocky in "Rocky and Bullwinkle".
 -Walt Disney wanted to make "Peter Pan" right after "Snow White", but he couldn't get the rights until 4 years later from the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, who J.M. Barrie left the rights to.

~Julie