Dumbo (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection)

Both my children have frequently watched this DVD (which first came out (without extras) in Europe in 1999) since they were one and both enjoy it imensely.

I'm both astonished and disturbed that anyone could deem this movie unsuitable for children but can only assume they come from the same group of people who banned Robin Hood books from schools for being 'pro communist' and Shakespeare for being 'too explicit'!

The 'drunken scene' is funny, brief and discrete (all you see is the shadows of characters through canvas). As to fast forwarding through the dream sequence for the kids' benefit because it is 'too long' that is verging on irresponsible. All doing so teaches a child is that it's OK to have a short attention span and to zoom through films to the 'interesting bits'. Perhaps I was wrong though and the moral of the story has been hidden too deeply "Persevere - Don't Give Up" is lost on some people.


The BIG thing is that some of the extras on the previous DVD release are missing here.   April 12, 2006
Paul J. Mular (San Carlos, CA USA)
70 out of 79 found this review helpful

I don't know why Disney is doing this release, they have deleted some of the "Making Of" documentaries and bonus music videos that were on the "60th Anniversary Edition" DVD release.

The few extra shorts on this disc were also on the previous "60th Anniversary Edition" DVD.

Bottom line: Get the 30th Anniversary DVD release if you still can.


Stereotypical? Figure Out How To Use It, Not Abuse It!   February 11, 2003
Richard R. Carlton (Ada, MI United States)
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

Why am I not surprised that there is someone reviewing this classic who trashes it as if they had never seen it and were offended by the cultural sensitivity issues that are part of the film. (See the Tallahassee reviewer titled "Do not purchase this video for children" January 21, 2003) For crying out loud, this script reflects what was normal at the time the film was first released. It's full of classic pieces that of course include a white dominated societal commentary on what was perceived as appropriate black cultural roots at that time. Is it outdated? Sure, so is nearly every other film from that era. Does this make it less of a classic? Absolutely not. In fact, this is the *real* Disney, long before it was sanitized for the Anaheim-Orlando crowd. Is the film inappropriate for a 21st century kid? That's a parental decision, but if you plan to shelter your child from the real history of the U.S., they will have a rude awakening (with all the accompanying psychoses) that you *won't* be able to control. My kids loved this film when they were very young.....we talked about the cultural issues by the time they were in school.....in fact, I distinctly remember them coming home to ask why some kids treated others so badly because of the color of their skin, their accents, etc. We used Dumbo to show them what used to be, was is today, and how to deal with it. And there was never a place where the original empathy of the film was lost on them. They have repeatedly made personal decisions and stood up against improper cultural slurs their entire lives (they are all either in college or their final years of high school now). I've been pleased with how they can see a cultural slur coming and are not willing to put up with any of the culturally "acceptable" ways of trashing others' ethnicity.

Now, what about the film? This is a great Disney classic from the days when there was a full bodied, earthy smell to what they did. It's release in this format provides a historical window on American culture from the 1950s that is true and clear. It loses nothing in the 21st century translation and in fact, gains considerably from it's historical context. A great child's film that every adult needs to understand!


Not worth the upgrade if you already have the 60th Anni. ED...   June 14, 2006
Matt Charles (Linden, New Jersey United States)
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

Don't get me wrong, Dumbo is a great movie for kids and adults, one of Disney's greatest films but everything went wrong in this SO CALLED "Big Top Edition"

First of all, it isn't even a 2-disc set!
Most of the old "60th Anniversary Edition" bonus features are put on this DVD taking out some of the making, Dumbo II preview, and a music video. I do not understand Disnet AT ALL!

The new transfer IMO is WORSE then the "60th Anniversary Edition" It has no life to it, it is darker and very dull. Also you are losing 30% of the film do to an overscan! This movie was already filmed in fullscreen why do a pan and scan job to a fullscreen DVD? Come on Disney, you get enough money!
You really need this quick buck?

If you already have the "60th Anniversary Edition" DVD please stick with it! You get to see the WHOLE movie in full and the colors are brighter and you have ALL the great bonus features!


Best Disney film of all time   May 24, 2000
retrowens (Alabama, USA)
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

I grew up watching just about all of the Disney movies that have ever came out and now I'm 19 and can't wait for my kids to watch all the Disney films I still have, especially "Dumbo." I have one question, how can anybody not give "Dumbo" a perfect 5 stars? It defines classic in more ways than just about any other Disney film. It tells the classic story of friendship between Dumbo and Timothy the mouse. Dumbo eventually ends up back with his mom at the end of the movie.

I could write a review on just about every Disney film that's ever been made, but Dumbo is the only one that I really like enough even now that I'm grown, to write a review of. It has some of the best classic songs and sounds from any of the Disney films and my favorite part of the movie is when Dumbo and the mouse get drunk and see all the pink elephants. "Dumbo" is what I would call a true classic in every way.