Posted Fri Apr 29, 2011 at 02:00 PM PDT by Tom Landy
The lovable big-eared elephant will be soaring to high-definition this fall!
An early announcement to retailers indicates that 'Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition' will finally hit Blu-ray stateside on September 20.
Faced with the daunting task of restoring the film to its original pristine condition, the Walt Disney Studios Restoration Team turned to the US Library of Congress who store the original 70 year old nitrate camera negative in their film vaults, and for reference, to an original 1941 ‘release’ print, held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Using this rare nitrate “dye-transfer” Technicolor print for color reference, the team was able to restore Dumbo to the color settings most likely approved by Walt Disney himself, which will be seen in their full splendor for the first time in 70years, on the Blu-ray debut.
In addition, the rare film print (housed as part of the UCLA Film and Television Archives collection) proved to be the earliest surviving generation of the original audio for Dumbo which provided a unique source from which to build the new Disney Enhanced Home Theatre (DEHT) mix for the Blu-ray release.
Released theatrically in 1941, Dumbo, Walt Disney’s fourth animated film, was an immediate success with audiences and critics alike. In addition to its Academy Award® for BestMusic, Dumbo was also Oscar®-nominated for Best Song, for the haunting lullaby, “Baby Mine.” Additional songs from the film, written by renowned composer Frank Churchill and lyricist Ned Washington, have become popular standards. They include the infectious “When I See an Elephant Fly,” sung by a chorus of hip crows who befriend Dumbo and his friend, Timothy Mouse, and “Pink Elephants on Parade,” which accompanies Dumbo’s feverish dream-sequence.
The classic animated film has been available on Blu-ray in Mexico for well over a year and our review of the import can be viewed here.
.The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with 1080p video, 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Deleted scene - "The Mouse's Tale"; Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?”; Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – A journey back to the origins of the film as everybody’s favorite baby elephant takes wing; The Magic Of Dumbo: A Ride of Passage – Witness the excitement and magic of Disneyland’s most popular ride through the eyes of a child; Audio Commentary with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman and Andreas Deja; Sound Design Excerpt from The Reluctant Dragon; and Original Walt Disney Television Introduction.
Blu-ray exclusives include: Cine-Explore; Disney View; “What Do You See?” & “What Do You Know?” Games; “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette one sure home; Animated Shorts: “The Flying Mouse” & “Elmer Elephant”.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Dumbo: 70th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under September 20.
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