Dumbo (1941)

 

Dumbo - 1941

Our next film is 1941's "Dumbo", a film in which we follow the journey of an elephant born with unusually large ears.  His giant ears initially hold him back, but eventually become the very things that propel him forward.

The film's voice cast includes Herman Bing, Edward Brophy, Verna Felton, and Sterling Holloway.

Just after winter, storks deliver babies to expectant parents.  This particular group of storks journeys to Florida and the "Winter Quarters" of a circus.

All of the animals are very excited about their expanding families.  Except for Mrs. Jumbo, an elephant.  She looks and looks for a stork to come to her, but she's disappointed.

Have no fear.  Her stork got lost, but eventually finds the circus train as it makes its way to its next destination.  The stork has Mrs. Jumbo sign for her "package".

As the baby elephant comes into view, all the other elephants are delighted by the cute little guy.  Mrs. Jumbo gives him the name Jumbo Jr.

But when Dumbo sneezes and unveils a huge set of ears, all of the elephants shriek in horror, wanting nothing to do with the baby.

Mrs. Jumbo pays them no mind and happily bonds with her baby.

At the circus's next stop, the baby elephant is brought before the public.  A particularly mean group of boys laugh and make fun of him.  One cruel boy gives him the name "Dumbo".

Mrs. Jumbo instantly sets about punishing the boy by turning him over and giving him a spanking.  The ringmaster orders that Mrs. Jumbo be subdued and locked up as a "mad" elephant.

A sad and scared Dumbo makes the acquaintance of Timothy Q. Mouse, who becomes his only friend.

Unwanted by the other elephants, Dumbo is forced to perform with the clowns, a role he hates.  The finale of the act sees Dumbo jumping into a vat of pie filling.  Dumbo starts to become depressed.

To cheer Dumbo up, Timothy takes him to visit his mother.  However, because of the chains binding Mrs. Jumbo, all they can do is touch noses.  Mrs. Jumbo is able to move enough that she can rock her baby back and forth in her trunk as a lullaby is sung.

Dumbo is still sad after the visit, and he gets the hiccups while he's crying.  Timothy leads him to "water".  We find out that the water has actually been laced with champagne.  Dumbo and Timothy start to have strange hallucinations.

The next thing we know we find Dumbo and Timothy sleeping up a tree.  A group of crows wants to know just how it happened.  Dumbo and Timothy are at a loss as to an explanation.  The crows ask sarcastically if they flew up.

Timothy gets an idea.  With the help of a "magic" feather courtesy of the crows, Timothy tells Dumbo that he can fly.  "Why, you’re ears!  Just look at ‘em, Dumbo!  Why, their perfect wings!  The very things that held you down are gonna carry you up and up and up!"

Gripping tightly to his feather, Dumbo starts to flap his ears and takes off into the sky to the amazement of the crows.  "I've seen a horsefly."  "I've seen a dragon fly."  "I've seen a housefly!"  "But I ain't never seen an elephant fly!" they exclaim.

Timothy takes on the role of Dumbo's manager.  He and Dumbo plan to surprise the audience with their flying stunt.  However, Dumbo loses his magic feather and his confidence goes out the window.

With a quick pep talk from Timothy, Dumbo flaps his ears and flies right into the history books.  "You're makin' history!" shouts Timothy excitedly as Dumbo flies around the circus tent full of amazed people.

Dumbo becomes famous.  Newspaper headlines all over the world proclaim his greatness.  He's even the inspiration for a line of "Dumbombers" for the war.

And Timothy even gets a Hollywood contract for his role as Dumbo's agent.

Dumbo gets his own private luxury car on the circus train.  But the best part for him is being reunited with his mother.

Cast rundown:

   Herman Bing.................................The Ringmaster

   Edward Brophy...............................Timothy Q. Mouse

   Verna Felton..................................Matriarch Elephant/Mrs. Jumbo

   Sterling Holloway............................Mr. Stork

And that's it for Dumbo.  The main character of Dumbo is the first and only protagonist in a Disney animated feature film to have no spoken dialogue.  This film is also the first Disney film to be set in America, as well as the first Disney film to be set in the present time of its release: 1941.  In 2019, this film was given the live-action treatment and featured an expanded cast and new plot elements.

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