THE ARISTOCATS (1970), the 20th Disney animated feature and the first production after the death of Walt Disney, is elevated to Special Edition status with the Feb. 5 release on DVD (Walt Disney Studios Home Ent. $29.99).
Unlike the out-of-print 2000 DVD, the new release offers warmer and more vivid colors in the original aspect ratio of 1.75:1.
Veteran Disney director Wolfgang Reitherman (THE JUNGLE BOOK, WINNIE THE POOH AND THE BLUSTERY DAY, ROBIN HOOD) helmed this underrated and exquisite-looking feline tale set Paris in 1910. The film has a cult following and is a particular favorite of animator Andreas Deja.
Feline heiress Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her three kittens, Toulouse, Berlioz and Marie, are joined by a cast of lovable animal friends, including Thomas O'Malley (Phil Harris), Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers), Roquefort the Mouse (Sterling Holloway) and woozy goose, Uncle Waldo (Bill Thompson).
The jazz-inspired musical numbers from the Oscar-winning Sherman brothers includes "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat."
Bonus features include a brand new virtual kitten game, a behind-the-scenes featurette that showcases the music of the Sherman brothers with a look at a never-before-seen song sequence, "She Never Felt Alone." Meanwhile, "Backstage Disney" offers a gallery of production art, character development (with a maid cut from the film) and live-action reference. Also included is the short BATH DAY (1946), with Figaro from PINOCCHIO getting a bath from Minnie.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
