101 Dalmatians (1961): Crueeellaaa de Viiil

Let's just start off by saying that, aside from the abundance of animal cruelty and attempts of puppy homicide throughout the movie, this classic honestly holds a spot in my Disney-crazed heart. Of course, I absolutely love dogs, so this movie is already precious to me. But the subtle hints of humanity found within the dogs cracks me up even more because it is quite easy to compare Pongo and Perdita to their owners, as well as how regular parents would react if their children were "dognapped." 

From it's creative start of bouncing spots in the credit scene to its puppy rescue finish, I still thoroughly enjoy the movie, even if it has been a long time since I'd last seen it. It's quite funny, too, that watching an old Disney movie that I loved as a child brings about feelings of nostalgia and new revelations (which will become a reoccurring feature throughout this blog).

Obviously, as children, we don't realize that what Cruella de Vil and her henchmen are doing is animal cruelty, or at least attempts of it. So, looking back on it now, it's crazy that Disney - a children's movie company - would experiment with such themes. But, like in the title, this movie was made in the early 60s, so perhaps times were different then (I wouldn't know, though; I didn't live back then). 

Probably my favorite parts throughout the movie were Roger's iconic "Cruella de Vil" song, which even landed in the recently released "Cruella" film with Emma Stone. Side-note, if you haven't watched "Cruella," I would highly recommend it. Even though the origin story appears to possibly redeem Cruella while she is usually seen as a villain, it's produced quite well, the actors were great fits to their characters, and they also brought back some nostalgic pieces that reminisces with the original animated film, like the song and the dalmatians themselves.

Another favorite part of mine in the movie is circulating theme of family and looking out for one another. While the humans tried their best at finding the missing puppies, it was ultimately up to the adult dogs themselves to take over the situation and take back their puppies. From disguising themselves in soot to hide their spots to relying on other dogs for assistance, the intelligence and love portrayed by these dogs is heart-warming, indeed. And by seeing Cruella's final downfall (quite literally) and all 101 dogs returning back to Roger and Anita, which even inspires them to build a "dalmatian foundation," it truly is a satisfying ending to this classic film.

Haven't seen 101 Dalmatians? You need to if you love the importance of family and furry friends - all 101 of them.