Lady and the Tramp (1955)
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89% of critics liked it
(37 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(791,984 ratings)
Lady and the Tramp represented two "firsts" for Disney: It was the studio's first Cinemascope animated feature, and it was their first full-length cartoon based on an original story rather than an established "classic". Lady is the pampered female dog belonging to Jim Dear… More Lady and the Tramp represented two "firsts" for Disney: It was the studio's first Cinemascope animated feature, and it was their first full-length cartoon based on an original story rather than an established "classic". Lady is the pampered female dog belonging to Jim Dear and Darling. When her human masters bring a baby into the house, Lady feels she's being eased out; and when Darling's insufferable Aunt Sarah introduces her nasty twin Siamese cats into the fold, Lady is certain that she's no longer welcome. The cats wreak all manner of havoc, for which Lady is blamed. After the poor dog is fitted with a muzzle, Lady escapes from the house, only to run across the path of the Tramp, a raffish male dog from the "wrong" side of town. The Tramp helps Lady remove her muzzle, then takes her out on a night on the town, culminating in a romantic spaghetti dinner, courtesy of a pair of dog-loving Italian waiters. After their idyllic evening together, Lady decides that it's her duty to protect Darling's baby from those duplicitous Siamese felines. On her way home, Lady is captured and thrown in the dog pound. Here she learns from a loose-living mutt named Peg that The Tramp is a canine rake. Disillusioned, Lady is more than happy to be returned to her humans, even though it means that she'll be chained up at the insistence of Aunt Sarah. Tramp comes into Lady's yard to apologize, but she wants no part of him. Suddenly, a huge, vicious rat breaks into the house, threatening the baby. Lady breaks loose, and together with Tramp, runs into the house to protect the infant. When the dust settles, it appears to Aunt Sarah that Tramp has tried to attack the child. That's when Lady's faithful friends Jock the bloodhound and Trusty the scottie swing into action, rescuing Tramp from the dogcatcher. Once Jim Dear and Darling are convinced that Tramp is a hero, he is invited to stay...and come next Christmas, there's a whole flock of little Ladies and Tramps gathered around the family. Beyond the usual excellent animation and visual effects, the principal selling card of Lady and the Tramp is its music. Many of the songs were performed and co-written by Peggy Lee, who years after the film's 1955 theatrical issue, successfully sued Disney for her fair share of residuals from the videocassette release. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Clyde Geronimi, Barbara Luddy
- Written By
- Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ralph Wright, Don DaGradi
- Genres
- Drama, Animation, Kids & Family
G,
- In Theaters
- Jun 22, 1955 Wide
- Studio
- Buena Vista Pictures
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
Walt Disney has for so long parlayed gooey sentiment and stark horror into profitable cartoons that most moviegoers are apt to be more surprised than disappointed to discover that the combination somehow does not work this time.
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Variety Staff, Variety
The wider canvas and extra detail work reportedly meant an additional 30% in negative cost. It was a sound investment.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Disney's imagination seems at a low ebb, saddled with a shrunken, excessively naturalistic style in line with the diminished possibilities of postwar animation, and not yet graced by the inspiration that would redeem that style in Sleeping Beauty.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Happily the cameo lowlife, an excellent manic beaver, the famously villainous Siamese, and classic songs rescue the film from dumb animal sentiment.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
The sentimentality is mighty, and the use of the CinemaScope size does not make for any less awareness of the thickness of the goo.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Peggy Lee
as Am, Darling, Peg, Si
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Barbara Luddy
as Lady
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Larry Roberts
as Tramp
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Bill Thompson
as Bull, Dachsie, Jock
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Stan Freberg
as Beaver
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Verna Felton
as Aunt Sarah
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Alan Reed Sr.
as Boris
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George Givot
as Tony
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Dal McKennon
as Toughy/Professor
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Lee Millar
as Jim Dear
- The Mello Men
- Bill Baucom
- Larry Roberts (II)
