DUMBO
US, 2019, 112 minutes, Colour.
Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny De Vito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Nico Parker, Finlay Hobbins, Roshan Seth, Lars Eidiinger.
Directed by Tim Burton.
Disney is remaking many of its classic animated films as live-action entertainments. 2019 alone sees Dumbo, Aladdin, The Lion King. The latter two will make an extraordinary impact given their popularity in the 1990s and since. On the other hand, Dumbo comes from 1941, a brief 64 minute animation, enjoyed and admired it its time, but lesser in memories than some classics like Snow White, Fantasia, Pinocchio.
For this live-action remake, Disney have called on Tim Burton as director, well-known for a wide range of fantasies from Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Alice in Wonderland.
For families wanting an entertaining film, Dumbo should fit the bill. But, there is some scepticism about a story of a baby elephant with extraordinarily long years but who, with his ears, is able to fly. In fact, the animatronics for Dumbo are very effective. And he has one of those endearing faces, large sparkling eyes that are hard to resist!
But, as with Tim Burton’s films, there is quite a lot going on. The opening credits are quite impressive, 1919, the circus train on tour through the American countryside, the special acts for the circus revealed on the sides of the carriages as they pass. And there is the master of ceremonies, Max Medici, the diminutive but very lively Danny DeVito?.
Alas, the circus has hit on hard times, money scarce, Max living in a railway carriage, others living in makeshift tents and accommodation. But, he has high hopes after buying a large elephant, Mrs Jumbo, who gives birth to the star of the film. Needless to say, Max is horrified by his appearance, bargains to sell Mrs Jumbo back for half price, puts the little elephant in a parade, the ears flapping down and the audience mocking him, even bumping the notice, J falling off, D taking its place: Dumbo.
But there is a strong human element in the film, two young children, their mother having died in the Spanish flu of the previous year, their father Holt (Colin Farrell) coming back from the war but with the loss of an arm. Given the financial situation, and his inability to do the riding stunts he previously performed, he is looking after the elephants.
The children see Dumbo fly, fascinated by a feather – but nobody believing them. When, they eventually do, Dumbo is a great success, delighting the audience with his flying, newspaper photographers snapping him, and, eventually, a millionaire Vandevere (Michael Keaton) avariciously wanting to buy the whole circus. With him is a trapeze artist, Collette (Eva Green).
Lots of adventures to keep the audience attentive (both adults and children). The smooth-talking Vandevere is a classic villain, selfish, exploitative, trying to get the help of a wealthy banker, Alan Arkin. While he has made a contract with Max, he demands that Max sack everyone else from the circus. And he runs an enormous theme park (foreshadowing Disneyland et cetera!). But we know he is set for failure.
So, there are the adventures of Collette training and riding Dumbo, Dumbo pining for his mother and finding she is part of a Dreamland attraction, the sacked circus performers all joining with Holt to find a way to reunite Dumbo with his mother. So, some flying, a burning marquee, Holt and the children trapped, Dumbo able to put out fires with the water that he has absorbed in his bunk…
The song from the 1941 Dumbo, Baby of Mine, won the Oscar – and here it makes a pleasing return, wistful.
So, Dumbo is an enjoyable example of the transition from cartoon to life-action.
1. The classic status of the original, Disney animation, 1941, 64 minutes? Oscar for best song, Baby of Mine?
2. Disney and the 21st-century remakes in live-action? Tim Burton as director?
3. The 1919 setting, the end of World War I and its impact, on soldiers returning from war, the 1919 Spanish flu and its effect, the number of deaths? America rebuilding after the war?
4. The outline of the plot from the novel, from the original film? Expanding the characters and themes? The introduction of more human characters?
5. The effect of the introduction, the circus and its range, the carriages with the advertisements for the characters, the attractions? The train journey, the map? Max Medici, Danny De Vito, his size, ringmaster? The tours, the trip and the range of the performers on the sides of the carriages?
6. Settling in Joplin, the train and the carriages, the circus out of money, Holt and his arrival, back from the war, meeting the children, the hesitation, the death of their mother, his loss of his arm? His past, skill with the horses? The poverty of the Circus, the one room for him and his family? The confronting of Max, looking after the animals?
7. The children, the characters, their place in the Circus, grief at the death of their mother, poor, Millie and her love of science – and the later exhibitions with the science, her notes and experiments? Caring for the elephants?
8. Mrs Jumbo, the harsh carer and his comeuppance, later his death after the taunts? Pregnant, giving birth, the song, Baby of Mine? Dumbo, in the straw, the revelation of his large ears, Max upset, his wanting to sell Mrs Jumbo back to the dealer, the bartering for half price?
9. Dumbo, the children looking after him, the episode with the feather, his trying to reach it, flapping his ears, flying? The children not believed? His further flying, put in the Circus, the parade, his being mocked and laughed at? The sign and his becoming Dumbo? The change, Holt and Max seeing him fly, part of the Circus? The act and putting out the fires, leading to some disaster, the tent burning? The journalist and the photo, in the papers?
10. The visit of Vandevere, his look, wealthy, confidence man? His proposal? Wanting ownership of the Circus? Max’s response? Transporting everybody to Dreamland, the prospects, everybody happy, hopes?
11. Vandermere and the presence of Collette, her background in Paris, her being rescued, the trapeze? Her silent attitudes?
12. The training of Dumbo, expectations from him, working with Collette, the act, the trapeze and flying? Remington and his money, the bank, his coming to watch? The challenge for Vandermere? Dumbo, Collette and the fall? Remington walking out?
13. Trying again, the children, training with Collette, the performance?
14. Vandermere, desperate for money, his attitude towards Collette, telling Max to sack everybody, their departure? His majordomo warning the troop about the plans?
15. Dumbo, yearning for his mother, her being amongst the fierce animals in Wonderland?
16. The plans for the rescue, the detail, the various disguises, the mermaid and pushing the guards into the water? The lights going, Dumbo altering levers? Holt climbing the ladder, cutting the hole in the marquee? The truck, avoiding the guards, getting Mrs Jumbo into the truck? The pursuit? Getting to the port?
17. Collette, flying with Dumbo to the port? The fire in the marquee, the children trapped, Holt rescuing them, Dumbo dowsing the fire with water? Back to the port, Holt riding a horse? Loading Mrs Jumbo and Dumbo onto the boat? The Indian and the return to India?
18. Vandevere, his anger, his warnings, pressing every switch, the explosions, the fire, the destruction of his circus?
19. Holt and the children, Colette, the happy ending?
20. And the sequences in India, the truly happy ending?
