DUMBO

US, 1941, 65 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Ben Sharpstein.

Dumbo was made the year after Fantasia and came out at the same time as Pinocchio and Bambi. It is much shorter in length, lacks something of the range of storytelling as in Pinocchio or the emotions as in Bambi. However, it is still enjoyably worth watching.

Dumbo is the elephant born with big ears who finally learns how to fly and achieve some individual success in life. He is helped by Timothy the mouse. He is also helped by a group of African American workers as well as a bunch of crows who initially laugh at him but become more sympathetic.

The film has a great deal of pathos with the character of the mother elephant who gives birth to the odd little elephant with big ears and is locked up by the ringmaster as a mad elephant and both are the subject of catty gossip by the rest of the elephants in the circus.

The film is humorous, touching at times, has a great range of songs (which anticipate some of the melodies of Guys and Dolls and songs from the Sherman brothers as in Jungle Book).

1. Dumbo and the 1940s, the tradition of Walt Disney animated films? The anticipation of World War Two?

2. Animals, the Disney-style animals, the colour, the drawings, the circus?

3. The range of songs with music by Frank Churchill and lyrics by Ned Washington: Look Out for Mr Stork, Casey Junior, Baby of Mine, Pink Elephants on Parade, When I See an Elephant Fly, Song of the Roustabouts?

4. The facts of life for young audiences in the 1940s: Mr Stork, carrying babies to all the animals, delivering them, the reaction of the mothers, the lions and the tigers and the others? The elephant? On the train?

5. The stork, the cloud, the map, deliveries? The delivery to Mrs Elephant? The happy birthday song?

6. Dumbo, as a baby, the fuss, showing his ears, the female elephants and their sneers, the mocking name?

7. Casey’s song, the train? The rain, working all night, the African American roustabouts, happy and hearty? Dumbo helping build the marquee?

8. The circus parade, the score, the comedy, the range of animals? Dumbo tripping? The boys mocking him? The tie with his mother? The whip?

9. The elephants and their malicious gossip, prejudice, Timothy defending Dumbo?

10. Timothy and his plans, the act, the pyramid of elephants, Dumbo on the top? The voice, the subconscious mind, the mouse and the dream?

11. The pyramid, the scares, Dumbo failing? Dumbo painted as a clown, the performance with the clowns, the firemen, ‘Save my child…’? The audience, Timothy’s reaction?

12. The imprisonment of the mother, Dumbo visiting her, the pathos of the ballad, Baby of Mine?

13. Dumbo and Timothy, drinking the water, the liquor inside, the march and their hallucination of pink elephants? Elephants on Parade and the comic verse?

14. The black crows, the song When I See an Elephant Fly? Timothy and his defence of Dumbo to the crows? Their being up the tree and not knowing how they got there?

15. The crows, the cliff, the magic feather, Dumbo flying?

16. The circus, the act, Dumbo and the pyramid, flying – and the chasing of the clowns?

17. A satisfying entertainment for children – and for adults?