CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'Dumbo' (1941)

Walt Disney's 'Dumbo'“Dumbo” (1941)

MPAA Rating: G
Directed by: Ben Sharpsteen
Voices by: Sterling Holloway, Betty Noyes, Verna Felton, Edward Brophy, Herman Bing

The Gist: Now hear this: Never underestimate a little guy with massive ears.

The Story: Mrs. Jumbo (Noyes) is a circus elephant and expectant mother. When Jumbo Jr. arrives, he’s got baby blue eyes and freakishly huge ears. She loves him just the way is, but her shallow peers nickname him Dumbo, an unfortunate moniker that sticks. When bratty kids mock Dumbo, Mrs. Jumbo gets hopping mad. The ringmaster (Bing) locks her away as a dangerous animal, and a feisty mouse named Timothy (Brophy) becomes Dumbo’s only ally. Timothy is a loyal friend and knows that all the baby pachyderm needs is a dose of self-confidence. With Timothy’s aid, Dumbo discovers his gigantic ears are a gift.

The Review: Clocking in at barely over an hour, “Dumbo” is a simple but universal story. Its lesson — that we should cherish and accept one another’s quirks — is one that can’t be repeated enough. Surprisingly, Dumbo never speaks. His expressive eyes and gestures communicate his emotional journey from innocence to despondence and, finally, triumphant joy. “Dumbo” contains a number of classic Disney moments. An opening aerial sequence in which a squadron of storks deliver baby animals foreshadows Dumbo’s hidden talent. The Oscar-nominated “Baby Mine” is a sentimental lullaby, presented in a poignant tear-jerker of a scene. “Dumbo” won the Oscar for its musical score and a Best Animation Design prize at the Cannes festival.

The Classic Quote: Timothy: “Aw, come on, Dumbo. I think your ears are beautiful. As a matter of fact, I think they're very decorative. You know, lots of people with big ears are famous!”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)