Before the day's of Disney's Pixar and digital animation, there were a special group of people whose stellar innovation brought to the big screen some amazing work that blended live-action and animation. Originally planned as a live-action production, "Pete's Dragon" never got off the ground, ending up in the Disney vault for about two decades. Almost ten years after the death of Walt Disney, the adventure of "Pete's Dragon" was revived. In the original version, Pete's invisible dragon, Elliott, was only going to be seen once in the movie. But under the leadership of Don Bluth and Ken Anderson, Elliott not only came to life, but has become one of the most beloved Disney heroes in history.
The process of adding an animated main character into the live-action film was no small task. Do not forget the technology of digital animation was new in the early 1990's with "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Rescuers Down Under." That was a long fifteen years after "Pete's Dragon" began production. Pixar, when they came onto the scene, were considered light years ahead in comparison to the technology used in "Pete's Dragon." Rather than Xeroxing the drawings of Elliott onto the live-action cells, many of the cells had to be arduously hand inked. To ensure that the final artwork matched the live action, Don Bluth insisted that Elliott's stomach and outline were hand inked in key scenes.
The film begins with young Pete trying to escape the abuse of a swamp family, the Gogans, who had bought him from an orphanage to essentially work as a slave. The viewer is immediately pulled into the story, watching the Gogan family, headed by the talented Shelly Winters, break into a song and dance about the torture they plan to inflict on poor Pete.
With the help of his invisible dragon, Elliott, Pete makes his way out of the swamplands and ends up in the little fishing village of Passamaquoddy. It isn't long before we see that, while Elliott is usually invisible, he still takes up a wide berth and leaves evidence of his size in his wake. This causes a massive amount of trouble for the scrawny, bedraggled Pete who has a hard time convincing the townspeople of his innocence. Befriended by the breathtaking lighthouse keeper, Nora (played by Helen Reddy), Pete is welcomed into a real home where he is given warm food, clean clothes, and the first acts of human kindness he had experienced in a very long time. Nora's father, Lampie, played by Mickey Rooney, believes wholeheartedly in the existence of Pete's invisible friend. The story unfolds with laughter, love, compassion, adventure, and the conviction that happy endings are simply miracles in the waiting.
"Pete's Dragon" exhibits the great talents of Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters, and Jim Backus. This all star cast, combined with the brilliance of Disney, makes "Pete's Dragon" a must have for movie aficionados of all ages. Disney Movie Club is proud to help you make "Pete's Dragon" a part of your home video collection today.
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If you are interested in getting a copy of Pete's Dragon, be sure you order from a respected Disney vendor, like Disney Movie Club.
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