Lady and the Tramp (1955)

[StevePulaski]

Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Directed by: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske

The Tramp and the Lady, respectively.

Rating: ★★★

Lady and the Tramp takes the well-worn trope of an upscale lady walking on the opposite side of the tracks, so to speak, by running with a charming, if a little arrogant, member of the lower class. In the present day, this formula might be somewhat contentious, although isn't everything these days? It's a formula, however, that works in many cases for its wistful optimism in proving to good, honest people that judging a book by its cover doesn't always produce the best result. Perhaps the fact that Disney used adorable animated pups as the vehicle for this material makes it all the more palatable, even 64 years later.

Lady and the Tramp introduces us to the first of its two titular characters immediately upon showing us the snowy winter landscape of a quaint Midwestern town. Lady (voiced by Barbara Luddy) is a cocker spaniel, gifted by a husband to his lovely wife on Christmas. The opening minutes show a Lady who is eager to be a part of the family, so much so she's resistant to the idea of sleeping in a cozy bed on the floor, instead howling and whimpering her way into getting to nestle up against her two caring owners. Innocently, Lady's owners are only known to the dogs (and, consequently, us) by the pet-names they give one another ("Jim Dear" and "Darling").

Trouble brews when Lady's owners have a baby, and later invite the nasty, cantankerous Aunt Sarah (Verna Felton) and her Siamese cats to care for the newborn. Lady is ousted by Aunt Sarah after her cats destroy the living-room, and she's forced into a muzzle, prompting her to flee. On her own, Lady meets Tramp (Larry Roberts), a mangy mutt who gives her a crash-course on living the life of a stray, a type that's routinely rounded up and impounded. Lady enjoys her newfound ragtag life, much to the dismay of her friends, Jock (Bill Thompson) and Trusty (Bill Baucom), and she can't help but fall for Tramp, despite the fair share of womanizing he's done in his day.

Lady and the Tramp plays so much like a romantic comedy, classic or contemporary, right down to the demeanors of the dogs resembling the broad characteristics of their human counterparts (or caricatures, more aptly). It's a picture that oozes sweetness, like so many of the acclaimed Disney classics, that, like a good dog, it begs you not to give into its warm embrace.

Beyond the romance at the forefront, I had enough fun stumbling upon the barrage of supporting characters. Jock, a Scottish Terrier, is pleasantly laidback, yet the voice of reason in times of duress, unlike his overly active, energetic breed would suggest. Trusty can't help but get caught up in telling old tales of his grandpappy Ol' Reliable, and lives up to his name in terms of being a loyal bloodhound. Bound to be forgotten amidst all the camaraderie is a wily, lispy beaver, who has one memorable moment in helping Lady remove her muzzle. Even if these supporting characters can only be summed up in a sentence or two, they're not airless despite existing in a film with a featherweight plot and plenty of mushy moments, many of which have etched their place in the elaborate quilt of pop culture.

With the abundance of animated features boasting talking dogs and strays embarking on an adventure much bigger than themselves, the focal point of Lady and the Tramp is its emphasis on love and acceptance. I, too, appreciated how the trio of directors kept the film largely angled at a dog's point of view (we rarely get a good look at Jim Dear and Darling, or any of the other few adult characters outside of their ankles and legs). Even if there's an element of familiarity, the mass appeal of one of Disney's marquee classics isn't likely to diminish in the future.

NOTE: My review of the new, live-action remake, Lady and the Tramp: stevethemovieman.proboards.com/thread/6351/lady-tramp-2019

Voiced by: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Lee Millar, Peggy Lee, Verna Felton, Bill Thompson, Bill Baucom, and Stan Freberg. Directed by: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.