DISNEY - PETE'S DRAGON(1977)
This is pretty cute! Some really great actors, including
all-time greats Mickey Rooney, Jim Backus, Red Buttons
and Shelly Winters. Also appearing are newer good actors
Jeff Conaway(Babylon 5, Grease), Charlie Callas(Elliot's Voice),
and Jim Dale. And also starring in this is a very good singer,
Helen Reddy(who does a great job acting and singing here)!
All in all a pretty good movie! B
From a reviewer at IMDb.com
For 1975 this children's classic is absolutely magnificent.
Beautifully cast - masterful songs - brilliant color and scenery.
Disney couldn't have produced a more memorable, masterful
musical than this one. Mickey Rooney gives a fine, stunning
performance as the comical, drunken 'Lampie' and is alloted
full use of his veteran musical talents in 'I saw a dragon' - tripping
about the saloon after a chance encounter with "Elliott".
Helen Reddy is dandy as 'Nora', the unmarried daughter.
And Jim Dale and Red Buttons are at their comical genius
best as 'Dr. Terminus' and 'Hoagie' - especially in their
performance of 'Every Little Piece', which I countered in
connection with an off-Broadway musical style quality - of
which the song could also garner a Tony.
The Gogan's - I felt, almost stole the show - next to Elliott-the
dragon. Their memorable hillbilly opener "happiest home in
these hills" was brilliantly choreographed & performed. And
actor Conaway is still remembered all these years later (outside
'Kenicki' in GREASE) as one of the bumbling, hillbilly brothers.
I proudly own my own DVD copy, the org. vinyl, and my new
CD. Sadly, Disney doesn't produce high-quality action-animation
like this classic much more these days. Which makes appreciating
this film as a work of art. - PEANUT