Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Disney

January 29, 1959

Children's, Fantasy, Musical

DVD
B-

While I like this better than Snow White and Cinderella,  I am not dazzled by the then-modern design style.  The characterization, especially of the three fairies, has always been my favorite part.  This go round, I noticed how this movie influenced Disney's later modern fairytales Enchanted and Tangled, which are more entertaining in almost every aspect.  Still, I can't get that damn "Once Upon a Dream" song out of my head, so I guess that counts for something.

This is based on various versions of the fairytale.  The many directors are Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Hamilton Luske.

Pinocchio (1940)

Pinocchio (1940)

Disney

February 23, 1940

Children's, Animation, Historical Comedy, Fantasy

DVD
C

I've of course seen this many times, especially during childhood.  (I think I had a crush on the Blue Fairy.)  This time, I just watched the first quarter hour, and I was getting a little annoyed with the characters and the soundtrack.  So I tuned out before B.F. actually showed up and brought the title character to life.  This is of course based on the Collodi stories.  The many directors are Norman Ferguson, T. Hee (a pseudonym?), Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney, Hamilton Luske, Bill Roberts, and Ben Sharpsteen,

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

Disney

January 25, 1961

Children's, Animation, Romance, Comedy?

DVD
C-

I remember liking this as a kid, although I think it was all the cute puppies.  (I'm definitely not a dog person, but the puppies were cute.)  This time, I found the four main characters a bit tedious, and the Tallulah-Bankhead-like villainess didn't liven things up enough.  This is based on the Dodie Smith novel, and co-directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wolfgang Reitherman.

Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella (1950)
Walt Disney
March 4, 1950
Children's, Fantasy
DVD
C

This was never one of my favorite Disney movies, even limiting the choice to '50s animation.  The first quarter hour is mostly about Cindy waking up, interacting with the animals of the household, and of course singing.  The co-directors were Clyde Geronimi (who also did Bambi), Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.