THE JUNGLE BOOK
US, 1967, 78 minutes, Colour.
Voices: George Sanders, Phil Harris, Louis Prima, Sebastian Cabot, Sterling Holloway.
Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman.
The Jungle Book has been always one of the favourite Rudyard Kipling Mowgli stories. It was filmed by the Kordas in the '40s as a vehicle for their new star Sabu. This Disney adaptation is light-hearted and has songs by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire etc.). Some purists might object to this treatment of a classic - but Kipling wrote for children and had the light exuberant touch.
A special feature of the film is that the animals drawn take on something of the physical characters of the stars whose voices are used - particularly George Sanders as Shere Khan. This was the last animated feature from the studios made under Walt Disney's own supervision.
1. Audience delight in Disney stories - content, story, treatment? Humour, music? For what audience was a Disney film made? The effect on children, adults, families?
2. The quality of the animation - as a visual version of Rudyard Kipling's writing: characters, colour, the jungle, layouts? A feel for Kipling's India?
3. The contribution of the songs: 'I Wanna Be Like You', 'Colonel Hathi's March', 'Trust In Me', 'That's What Friends Are For', 'My Own Home', 'The Bare Necessities'? Their insertion into the action - illustrating the plot, characters?
4. Rudyard Kipling's India - the landscapes, the jungle, Mowgli as a boy of the jungle, the animals? The fable of the Indian boy growing up in harmony with the animals? The challenge of growing up and becoming a human being in a human being's world? Passing from the world of childhood to adulthood?
5. The sketch of Mowgli - as a man-cub, his being helped by the animals against Shere Khan. Shere Khan and his ferocity, king of the hunting ground? The enjoyable adventures of Mowgli - the elephants, the kidnapping, the vultures, the fire, the fights, the encounter with the girl cub?
6. Shere Khan as villain and George Sanders' suave voice? Ferocious, huge, menace? His encounter with Baloo and Bagheera? The build-up to the confrontation with Shere Khan and his being scared by the fire?
7. The sketch of Baloo and Bagheera - bears and panthers? Comic touches? Genial help? Their concern for Mowgli?
8. Kaa and his lisping sibilant sounds? His hypnotism? Colonel Hathi and the other elephants? The modern style vultures? The beatnik touch?
9. How satisfying the pace and blend of excitement, comedy? Young audiences identifying with the experiences of Mowgli? Appreciation of the world of animals and of men?
