Disney's first animated feature in CinemaScope is now available in widescreen presentations on video, and it is definitely good to get the whole picture. One of the studio's most original and charming movies, the 1955 film... more » tells the story of a rakish, street-smart dog named Tramp, who helps an aristocratic pooch named Lady out of some trouble and then commences a romance with her. Sweet, funny scenes abound, and the combination of innocence and sophistication would have done well in a live-action picture. Peggy Lee cowrote the songs and provides the voice of the Siamese cats in one of the film's best-known musical sequences. This newly restored version spruces up both sonics and visuals, and a letterbox version is available. --Tom Keogh« less
Inexcusable lack of extras, while the pricing remains high
PatrickO | New York, NY United States | 11/24/1999
(2 out of 5 stars)
"The movie's great. The lack of stars refers to the current Disney administration's poor presentation of their titles on DVD (no doubt because they're going to release them AGAIN down the road with extras and try to charge their customers AGAIN. What villains!According to a review at dvdfile.com, this classic as actually filmed in two aspect ratios. Disney did not bother to include both on this DVD. Here's a sample from the dvdfile review:"A word to the folks at Disney: by keeping prices high and features down, you're helping to alienate even your staunchest supporters, of which I used to be one. Unfortunately, not recommended.""
PERFECT
R. Penola | NYC, NY United States | 12/17/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It was LADY & THE TRAMP that first brought Disney to my attention as a child; it remains one of the most supremely delightful animated films of all time. The dog characters are so richly compelling that they become real to you; anyone who ever loved a dog will recognize with what sheer brilliance the artisans have captured canine traits and physical pecularities. The romance between Lady and her Tramp ranks right up there with some of the most perfectly realized romances ever seen in the movies -- he is played with a breezy bravado; she with a fluffed up snootiness -- that their romantic dinner in the back of the Italian restaurant actually has you swooning. And the Peggy Lee-infused musical score gives this movie its most enduring, valuable gift -- it creatively and succinctly develops and elaborates each and every character, and imbues the look and feeling of the movie with an enchantment that transports you to that indesribably wondrous early-Disney place. Looking out over the banks of the park, the stars beginning to show -- and they call it Bella Notte..."
How could I NOT give it 5 stars?
ksiard | USA | 06/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Simply speaking, Lady and the Tramp is my favorite Disney film of all time! In my opinion, it is a 5 star masterpiece, and I would give it more if I could! I remember when I was just 4 years old, watching the characters Lady, Tramp, Jock, Trusty, and the Siamese Cats light up my eyes, as well as my TV screen, as no other movie (except maybe Pete's Dragon or Superman) has done for me before or since. The music and songs are especially enjoyable, especially "Bella Notte." And the thrilling climax (which I won't spoil for the peope who have yet to see it) ranks with the "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Lion King" climaxes! I remember having to wait almost a decade for Disney to re-release this classic on video so that I could replace my worn-out taped version. Now that I have it on both VHS and DVD, and both editions are in widescreen, I can enjoy it for years to come as I never thought I'd be able to! Your kids will love it, and so will anyone who's still young at heart! Buy it on DVD today! Don't make the same mistake I did over 10 years ago! (And don't let the lack of special features stop you, either!)"
Lady and the Tramp shines!
Kate | Nebraska | 08/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is about a purebred Cocker Spaniel, who is later named Lady, that is given to the wife of, as Lady refers to him, Jim-dear. She has 2 neighbor dog friends, Jock and Trusty whom she confides in often. As she gets older, Lady's owner is expecting a baby, in which Lady feels like she is no longer a part of the family. She meets a mutt from the streets, Tramp, who comes by after being chased by the city dog catcher. They meet again after Lady escapes the arms of Aunt Sarah in a pet store because she is buying a muzzle to avoid Lady harming her cats. Tramp comes to her rescue to get the muzzle off and they go for a romantic dinner at Tony's (spaghetti no less!). They spend some time on the streets, get to know eachother, and come to find they like eachother. Lady realizes that she needs to return home, she does so, and is caught by the city dog catcher, tossed into the pound where she meets Tramp's "friends", and is told everything about his street life. When Aunt Sarah retrieves her from the pound, she is then chained up outside to a leaky dog house. Tramp comes by to see her some time after, and she tells him she doesn't ever want to see him again. Shortly after, Lady notices a rat come into the yard. It goes upstairs into the baby's room, and Lady tries to stop it, but is still chained up. Tramp hears her barking and comes to see what's going on. She tells him there is a rat in the baby's room, he goes into the house, up to the baby's room, and fights to keep the rat from the baby. He makes a lot of noise in doing so along with knocking over the baby's crib. Lady gets loose, runs upstairs after Tramp, but Aunt Sarah soon shows up, calling the dog pound to retrieve Tramp, and throw Lady into a room where she cannot get to the baby. As soon as Jim-dear and his wife return from their trip that very same evening, they notice a dog pound carriage outside their house. They run home, ask what happened, let Lady out of the room she was trapped in, and they all go after the dog pound carriage to save Tramp (Trusty getting hurt in the process by following the carriage and knocking it over to save Tramp). Tramp is saved, given a dog license, and a home with Lady and her family. Then they all live happily ever after!
This Disney classic is one you HAVE to own! I've loved this movie since I was 2, and I still love it today at the age of 19! There is no better cartoon about dogs than this!! This is a must have!"
Overlooked Disney classic gets deluxe treatment on 2 disc DV
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 03/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Charming to a fault "Lady and the Tramp" continues to be an enjoyable movie fifty years on. "Lady and the Tramp" tends not to be as valued as other Disney animated classics and that's because the story isn't larger than life like the whimsical fantasy of "Peter Pan" and lacks the fairytale charm of "Sleep Beauty" the two films released before and after "Tramp". Featuring a number of marvelous songs and vocal performances "Lady and the Tramp" continues to be a fun film that merely wants to entertain and it does that in spades.
We get a full screen presentation of the film and a widescreen version of the film. Why? Because Disney realizes that the kids will probably watch this on the second TV in the house on occasion. The colors are rich, bright and alive. This puppy is flea free as there aren't any analog or digital blemishes in this marvelous presentation. The film was originally presented in 3.0 "stereo" with a center channel for dialogue for theatrical presentation and that mix has been maintained on one track while Disney has offered an equally impressive 5.1 remix that sounds quite nice.
The previous edition of this film looked terrific but was bare bones. This edition finally gives the movie its due. We get a second disc of marvelous extras including "Lady's Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp" which clocks in at nearly an hour going into everything from the casting to the design of the film and its evolution over time. "Storyboarding Featurette" gives animation fans a glimpse into the process and its importance to a finished feature. We also get to see storyboards produced for the film along with vintage audio discussing the story. Three excerpts from the "Disneyland" TV show that aired in the 50's highlighting the production of the film are included as well. We get to see performances by Peggy Lee performing a couple of songs from the film. Rounding things out we get deleted scenes some incomplete, an all new music video "Bella Notte" still galleries, games including a "Virtual Puppy" DVD-ROM feature not to dissimilar to the Nintendo game (none of which I've played of course and usually interest my children for about 10 minutes before they're off doing something else). Finally you can assess your own personality profile in "Your Inner Bark" and learn about real life breeds that inspired the characters in "Puppypedia".
A terrific reissue from Disney "Lamp and the Tramp" is a worthwhile double dip. The original release didn't have anything in the way of extras and the audio and video receive flawless transfers. "