Lady and Tramp are two phenomenal characters. The first thirty minutes of the film featuring Lady maneuvering through life among her household is a display of artistry on the part of the animators and storytellers. These sequences firmly establish Lady as a classic character for the ages as through her sparse words and impeccably detailed mannerisms, we begin to really relate wholeheartedly with this legendary cocker spaniel. Tramp is the perfect foil for Lady, and whenever he graces the screen with his presence, it is pure Disney magic. He is witty, rebellious, and the kind of dog everyone dreams of owning one day. When Lady and Tramp finally venture out for their lovely bella notte, Disney creates one of the best scenes in their history, and one of my personal favorites. The scene in the alley near Tony's with that famous plate of spaghetti gives me chills every single time. I could literally watch it on repeat for days upon days and never grow weary of it. It all works because of how much we now know and love Lady and Tramp at this point. We are invested in their lives and their journey, and when this climatic moment occurs, the emotion payoff is immense, confirming Lady and the Tramp's place in the upper echelon of Disney greats.
The supporting characters are also legends in their own right. The neighboring duo of Jock and Trusty are hilarious with an unwavering loyalty to Lady that makes them such endearing characters. They provide the appropriate amount of comedy to go along with genuine drama towards the end of the film. On a side note: I just want to know what Old Reliable told Trusty back in the day! Is that too much to ask, Disney? On another side note, though, that Trusty twist to end the film is a stroke of genius by the animators and storytellers. Furthermore, the dogs discovered by Lady in the pound, lead by Peg singing "He's a Tramp," are rather funny too. The Siamese cats, Si and Am (another stroke of genius, by the way), do not have much screen time to work with, but they make their presence felt with a classic song and some excellent animation to go along with it. Speaking of the animation, Lady and the Tramp is such a beautiful film. There are some scenes in this film that made me audibly say, "Wow!" aloud to myself. It is that beautiful.
There are so many wonderful elements firing on all cylinders during that spaghetti scene, but the accompanying song, "Bella Notte," performed by Tony with exquisite precision is one of the greatest songs in Disney history. Undoubtedly one of the most romantic melodies ever written by Disney, "Bella Notte" is a timeless song that is a bonafide classic. The rest of the soundtrack is not too shabby either, featuring such classics as "He's a Tramp" and "The Siamese Cat Song." Once again, just like with Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, the music played during the opening credits, a different rendition of "Bella Notte" in this case, is a highlight for the film because I simply cannot get enough of that classic tune. When you think of Lady and the Tramp, you probably don't immediately think about its music, but it truly does feature some of Disney's best work on the music front.
Lady and the Tramp has it all, just like every Disney movie from the fifties. This is a film that will always hold a special place in my heart because of these characters and that iconic scene. Slightly underrated in my opinion, Lady and the Tramp is a gem in every sense of the word.
Rating: 10/10
Historical Significance: The film opens with a scene featuring Lady being unwrapped as a Christmas present from Jim Dear to Darling. This scene is reportedly based on a real life event from Walt Disney's life. Walt mistakenly forgot a dinner date with his wife, Lillian. To right this wrong, Walt wrapped a puppy in a hat box and presented it to his wife, just as it was portrayed in the film. It is said that Lillian instantly forgave Walt. Furthermore, for reasons unknown, Walt originally wanted to cut the spaghetti scene from the final product. The animators convinced him otherwise, a truly rare occurrence, and the rest is history.
Behind the Scenes: As I mentioned before, the animation in Lady and the Tramp is extremely detailed. While watching the film, you will notice that the faces of Jim Dear and Darling are rarely shown. This is to keep the focus on a dog's perspective and what Lady, Tramp, and the whole gang would naturally see. Also, Wolfgang Reitherman, one of Walt's Nine Old Men, was tasked with animating a large portion of the fight/chase scene with Tramp and the rat near the end of the film. To capture the movements of a rat, he would keep rats next to his desk in the studio for modelling.
Favorite Character: Lady is a truly magnificent Disney character. The moments she spends with Tramp are obviously fantastic and classical, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the greatness that is the first thirty minutes of this film where Lady is the unquestioned lead character. This is a powerhouse display of animation genius and storytelling as Lady almost instantly becomes a legend before her Tramp ever shows up, and when he does show up, Lady still shines. Tramp is a classic character that I absolutely love too, but those first thirty minutes or so centered on Lady are simply too good.
Favorite Scene/Song: This pick should not come as a surprise at all. In fact, I decided to just combine these two categories because they go hand-in-hand. The spaghetti scene with "Bella Notte" is not only the highlight of Lady and the Tramp; it just may be the highlight of cinematic animation. With this scene, Disney accomplished the impossible: they made us care, swoon, and and genuinely feel for these two dogs from opposite sides of the track. It is a culmination of everything Walt Disney dreamed about for animation. It takes my breath away every time.
Updated Ranking: I have always loved Lady and the Tramp, and after watching it again today, my love has only grown.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- Fun and Fancy Free
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- Make Mine Music
The fifties are coming to a close for Disney in our Summer of Magic, and they have saved one of their best for last with the vitally important classic, Sleeping Beauty!
-Cody Fleenor
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