“One Hundred & One Dalmatians” (1961)

One Hundred & One Dalmatians

Also Known As: 101 Dalmatians

Brief Description:

When a litter of Dalmatian puppies are abducted by the minions of Cruella De Vil, the owners must find them before she uses them for a diabolical fashion statement.

Date: 1961

Genre: American animated adventure comedy film

Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes

Cast: 

Rod Taylor (Pongo)

J. Pat O'Malley (Colonel/Jasper/Mechanic)

Betty Lou Gerson (Cruella De Vil/Miss Birdwell)

Martha Wentworth (Nanny/Queenie/Lucy)

Ben Wright (Roger Radcliffe/Man)

Cate Bauer (Perdita)

David Frankham (Sgt. Tibbs)

Frederick Worlock (Horace/Inspector Graves)

Lisa Davis (Anita Radcliffe)

Tom Conway (Quizmaster/Collie)

Tudor Owen (Towser/Percival Fauncewater)

George Pelling (Danny)

Ramsay Hill (Television Announcer/Labrador)

Sylvia Marriott (Countess)

Queenie Leonard (Princess)

Marjorie Bennett (Duchess)

Mickey Maga (Patch)

Barbara Beaird (Rolly)

Mimi Gibson (Lucky)

Sandra Abbott (Penny)

Thurl Ravenscroft (Captain)

Bill Lee (Roger Radcliffe's singing voice)

Max Smith (Pongo's barks)

Bob Stevens (Narrator)

Paul Wexler (Car Mechanic)

Mary Wickes (Freckles)

Barbara Luddy (Rover)

Lisa Daniels (Perdita)

Helene Stanley (Poodle dog owner)

Don Barclay (Truck Driver)

Dal McKennon (Barking Dogs)

Jeanne Bruns (Radio Singer)

Director: Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, & Clyde Geronimi

Production/Distribution Company: Walt Disney Productions & Buena Vista Distribution

Based On: The Hundred & One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Wikipedia Page

Watch on Archive

Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 4/5

Aw, I love the 1950s London aesthetic!! Also, the snowstorm made me more incredibly sad than I've felt for characters in a long time. Also, the marriage scene is GORGEOUS.

Characters: 4/5

Roger, though he shows spine when Cruella shows up, wasn't my favourite. Anita's sweet though, like Perdita. Pongo was definitely my fav, and I enjoyed meeting all the other animals—dogs, cats, and cows. 😉 Naturally, the villains are awful; but Nanny is fun! 

Plot: 4/5

Nice and exciting! Even though I'd already seen the film once and read the books several times, I was still excited by the chase and watched anxiously for the dogs to get home. Also, the scene where they almost lose a newborn pup and Roger keeps it alive was so surprisingly sweet and poignant 💙 

Romance: 4/5

Cute :) 

Content: 4/5 (low)

Smoking—I can't think of anything else. 

Violence: 4/5 (low)

Cruella wants to kill the dogs; Nanny gets knocked around. 

Overall: 4/5

Overall, this was a fun little vintagey Disney film that I quite enjoyed!