Pete's Dragon (1977)

The story of “Pete’s Dragon,” released in 1977, is very simple. It’s about a boy named Pete (Sean Marshall) who has a dragon named Elliott (Charlie Callas). Elliott is an animated dragon, and the rest of the movie is in live action. Pete loves Elliott because he is an orphan owned by a crooked family called the Gogans (Shelley Winters, Charles Tyner, Gary Morgan, and Jeff Conaway) and Elliott is his only friend.

While the Gogans are trying to find Pete, they go to a village named Passamaquoddy and meet a man named Lampie (the late Mickey Rooney) who has a daughter named Nora (Helen Reddy). Nora’s fiancé Paul, played by Cal Bartlett, has been reported lost at sea, and she is understandably devasted.

Then we get our villains Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale) and his assistant Hoagy (comedian Red Buttons, famous for his “why does this person gets a dinner when this famous person never got a dinner” on The Dean Martin Roasts) who want to use Elliott to make potions and elixirs to make money. Rachel Review’s said in her blog, “They are your typical sniveling over the top silly villains.”

Rachel mentioned, “The rest of the movie is basically a cat and mouse chase between the villains (Gogans and Terminus/Hoagy) and the good guys (Pete, Elliot, Nora, Lampie and Paul).”

“Pete’s Dragon” is completely harmless entertainment. The songs are fine but aside from Candle on the Water, they’re forgettable. The performances are all nice. The animation of Elliott is great for its time. It has its heart in the right place. It’s a very sweet and enjoyable film. Rachel said, “There is a lack of cynicism to the entire enterprise that is very charming.”

Rachel criticized, “However, I don’t know if I would say it’s a particularly good movie. The villains, particularly the Gogans, get old very fast. They cross over the hokey line and become out right annoying. Plus, it is strange to have a Disney movie where a character is continually claiming she has the ‘bill of sale’ to a human being.” Does anyone find that strange?

Rachel also said, “Dr Terminus and Hoagy are sniveling snarling mustache twirling villains that are fine but don’t do much to inspire me or excite me. Pretty standard rote bad guys.”

Rachel continued, “Like I said, the songs aside from Candle on the Water are nothing special. Let’s put it this way Passamaquoddy isn’t likely to be the next Supercalifragilsticexpialidocious.  This music sorely misses the Sherman Brothers. They could do so much with a song like Brazzle Dazzle Day. As it is it’s meh.”

The animation is pretty good on Elliott and he and Pete have a great friendship. Rachel said, “I also appreciate we don’t get any real backstory on Elliot.” He is just there and that’s all we know.

Rachel admitted, “I certainly would put other live action Disney films like Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, Bednobs and Broomsticks, Parent Trap, 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea, etc far above this.  I even think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (not Disney I know) is much better. They are for the most part more engaging and less syrupy than Pete’s Dragon.”

Rachel continued, “But there is stuff to like here and aside from the Gogans nothing to really offend or annoy me, so it’s not a bad watch.” This film is simply fine.

I must admit, I heard a lot about this film a few years back. That was probably because of the remake that came out which is the reason why I heard a lot about this film. For those who are curious to check this out, do so. I think there is enjoyment in this film, and I think everyone will like it. Even though Elliott is the only animated character in the film, I think it was great as one of the earliest Disney films that combined live action with animation. Check it out and see for yourself.

Look tomorrow to see what other exciting stuff I will review in “Disney Month 2021.”