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Out of all the castles featured in the Disney Princess lexicon, the castle in Cinderella tends to be the most recognizable. After all, it's featured in many of Disney's theme parks and used in its logo. Now, you, too, can bring this castle home in this upcoming Funko set.

The Bitty Pop Display Cinderella's Castle is an upcoming Funko's Bitty Bop Collection set. With a listed retail price of $30, this set will include two Bitty Pop figures, with Cinderella (Ilene Woods) in the pink dress and the Fairy Godmother (Verna Felton). It also contains a Castle-shaped display case where you can display 18 Bitty Pop figures. The Funko website has yet to open pre-orders, and a scheduled shipping date has yet to be announced.

Funko has released numerous Bitty Pop figures over the years. Unlike Pop Vinyl figures are miniature versions of notable collectibles. And just like Pop Figures, multiple IPs...

Bless the poor, unfortunate soul who has to deal with a Disney villain. The studio's catalog is filled with conniving characters that are so sneaky and cruel that they could easily find their way into the nightmares of children and adults alike. Many of them make up /Film's list of top 20 Disney animated villains. However, not all villainous characters are the same. While some may make us squirm, there is a whole other class of Disney villain that offers more laughs than screams, and that's the characters that make up our list of the 10 worst animated Disney villains.

The laughs that these awful villains create often stem from big oversights that create loopholes for heroes and plots that never had the potential to succeed in the first place. The missteps and misguidance should really lead them to consider a new career path. Nonetheless, many of them are still entertaining. However,...

Disney has provided characters with an array of personalities to fit the various narratives in its filmography. While some are there for the comedy value and others act as the villains, a few of them prove to be very wise characters. Even then, Disney has created the wisest characters with differences between them, allowing them to be distinctive in their own rights.

The characters with wisdom in abundance often guide the main protagonists. When the lead roles are at a loss or simply can't shut out the noise from other characters, the wise ones step in with a few words that can help the recipient remain grounded and see their goals a little clearer. With that said, here are the characters who have shown the most wisdom through the decades of Disney movies.

Updated on February 5, 2025, by Ajay Aravind: Disney movies have been widely criticized for their ahistorical and problematic narratives,...

Disney is still committed to adapting their most beloved animated films into live-action movies, despite their past attempts receiving mixed reviews at best. Cinderella, which they already remade in 2015, is next on the chopping block. However, according to a new report, the film will potentially be the most unfaithful adaptation thus far. In fact, it won't even include Cinderella. The new live-action Prince Charming movie was announced last October, with Paddington's Paul King developing the film. Chris Hemsworth was also in talks to play the titular Prince, although, that appears to have fallen through. Since then, Twisters star Daisy Edgar-Jones has reportedly been cast in the movie, and her role has just been revealed.

Disney's live-action Prince Charming is reportedly moving ahead, according to Hollywood scooper Daniel Richtman. According to the report, the film will follow an unnamed animator (Edgar-Jones) who sketches drawings of Prince Charming from Cinderella. One day her drawing comes to life.

Among Disney’s animated villains, the Queen of Hearts stands out with her signature red, black, and gold colors, along with her heart and playing card motifs. Known for her iconic catchphrase, “Off with their heads!” she remains a key figure in the Disney Villains lineup.

The character first appeared in 1951, voiced by Verna Felton, as the main antagonist in Disney’s animated Alice in Wonderland. Nearly 70 years later, we saw a version of her again in Tim Burton’s 2010 live-action Alice in Wonderland.

Helena Bonham Carter portrayed Iracebeth, or the Red Queen, a mix of two characters from the original Lewis Carroll books: the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts.

Now, a new movie focused on the Queen of Hearts’ origin story is reportedly in the works, with Julia Hart writing and directing. While details are scarce, sources like Daniel Ritchman suggest this film won’t be linked...

Among Disney’s animated rogues gallery, the Queen of Hearts is easily recognized by her iconic red, black, and gold color scheme—as well as her motif of hearts and playing cards. Backed by her iconography, and catchphrase, “Off with their heads!”, she is one of the primary members of the Disney Villains franchise.

We first saw the character back in 1951 (voiced by Verna Felton) when she was the main antagonist of Disney’s animated film Alice in Wonderland. Almost 70 years later, we kinda saw the character again in the live-action Alice in Wonderland (2010), directed by Tim Burton.

Helena Bonham Carter played Iracebeth / Red Queen. She was an amalgamation of two Carroll characters: the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts.

Now, it seems that we are getting a Queen of Hearts origin story movie with Julia Hart writing and directing. Although not much is currently known, inside sources (Daniel...

Audience sensibilities have definitely changed over the years when it comes to movies. Jokes that people used to find funny in comedies are now considered somewhat taboo. The characters in these films may use language that is considered offensive by today's standards. The same goes for the action genre. No longer is there a sexualized damsel in distress waiting for a man to save her.

Perhaps no genre has changed more, however, than animated films. Take, for instance, old Disney movies. There are many films released between the '40s and the '90s that are shockingly insensitive when it comes to their content. There's no way these controversial Disney movies would be released today. Viewers have become more progressive about the potentially harmful subtext in films, especially those targeted at children.

Aurora Has No Agency in Sleeping Beauty Release Year: 1959

Metascore: 85 IMDb: 7.2/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Jealousy can be a tough emotion to overcome.

The Jungle Book is a Disney movie that came out in 1967, based on Rudyard Kipling's writings. The traditionally animated movie depicts a young boy named Mowgli living in the jungle after he was found as a baby by a black panther. He grows up alongside the animals of the jungle but has to leave because of the presence of a man-eating tiger who threatens to kill Mowgli.

The animation is a classic story that has stayed with Disney since its release before the Renaissance period. In 2016, a live-action version was made and directed by Jon Favreau. The plot line takes viewers away from the commonly written prince and princess narrative and puts them into a different world but exciting, surrounded by interesting and quirky characters that make the film a much-loved Disney staple.

Winifred Speaks Her Mind

Winifred is a funny character in The Jungle Book, but isn't a major part.

VHS has mostly faded from movie culture, but the best-selling VHS tapes of all time are still beloved classics. Tapes were once the standard for home viewing before being made obsolete by the inception of DVD, before this was also overshadowed by streaming and digital purchase options. However, several titles considered to be among the best movies of all time once sold astounding numbers of VHS tapes.

There is an obvious preference for Disney among high-selling VHS tapes, perhaps reflecting parents turning to some of the best animated Disney movies to entertain their children at home. The titles that managed to compete with the Disney classics in this regard are hugely famous movies, which sold due to a specific combination of popularity and marketability. All these movies call back to a different phase of cinematic history, as they were the best movies coming out at that time.

This list is corroborated by multiple sources,...

From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney has been known to include some darker elements in their family-friendly animated features. While Disney is known for its high-quality films aimed at young audiences, it has never avoided including dark aspects that pushed the age rating to its limits. Most of these darker stories were featured in the features released throughout the 20th century, although some of the more recent releases have occasionally featured dark moments, storytelling, or visuals.

These darker elements vary from scary villains to complex themes to terrifying visuals. These moments not only pushed the limitations of its age limit but also showed their young audiences the power of complex and darker storytelling while remaining mostly family-friendly. Some of these moments in Disney films stood out as especially dark.

The Pink Elements From Dumbo Disney Pushed the Limits of the G Rating...

An artist on Instagram transforms Aurora into a live-action Disney princess. Elle Fanning portrayed Aurora in Maleficent and its sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. There has yet to be a Disney live-action remake via Aurora's Pov from Sleeping Beauty, but the character has appeared in the reimagined Maleficent movies.

Sleeping Beauty artwork showcases an incredible transformation of Aurora in live-action. The 1959 animated movie follows a young princess, sheltered from the outside world, who punctures her finger on a spindle and succumbs to a curse placed upon her by the villainous Evil Queen, Maleficent. Mary Costa voices Aurora, while the rest of the cast includes Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen, and Bill Shirley as Prince Phillip. Sleeping Beauty has not received an exact live-action remake, but the memorable antagonist did in the form of Disneys Maleficent.

In a recent post, Instagram user Ulya Stuzhuk transformed Aurora into a live-action Disney princess.

Disney villains vary in intelligence and evilness, with some having more intricate plans than others. Villains often target familial love and aim for more power in their plans, leveraging the weaknesses of heroes to achieve their goals. Despite their evil intentions, Disney villains are usually defeated by heroes in a way that guarantees a happy ending.

Not all Disney villains are the same some are certainly more intelligent and carry out more evil plans. Disney villain plans range from exaggerated villainy that isn't meant to be taken that seriously to darker storylines that tap into tragic real-world events and dangers. However, because it is a Disney movie, the heroes are usually never faced with a villain they are not equipped to handle. A happy ending is almost a guarantee, while the villain will either wallow in defeat or be killed.

Some Disney villains are just as beloved as the heroes...

Disney's known for creating some truly swoon-worthy romances with amazing male love interests. Disney romances are often associated with the classic princess movies, but there are other Disney movie romances that aren't necessarily based on fairy tale love. Some love interests feel like dreamy princes that walked directly out of a fable.

Other male Disney love interests are so healthy and well-balanced that even the most modern audience may find them aspirational. There are many qualities that go into creating a stellar male love interest. He needs to be handsome, but have unique features. He also needs to be genteel without being so perfect that he feels fake.

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Related 10 Old Disney Movies That Need a Remake

Many Disney movies have never left the minds of fans, even decades after the release. But some older, forgotten Disney movies still deserve a remake.

Prince Phillip Thinks for Himself in Sleeping Beauty...

Rats aren't just grim symbols - they star in heartwarming family adventures like Cinderella's helpful mice and Stuart Little. Even other critters get screen time - Chip n Dale, a hit pair! Their meta buddy comedy is both funny and adorable. Rats are diverse on screen - from Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Flushed Away's adventure, there's a rodent movie for everyone!

Rats have a bigger cinematic presence than many people might have expected, based on the number of fantastic movies about rats (and mice). Given that rats (and most rodents) are seen as harbingers of disease and filth, it would be easy to assume that they would show up only as symbols of squalor, and yet, many of the best rats (and mice) on the big screen show up in kids movies. Only a few of the best rat movies show them as dirty or villainous.

Disney is one of the biggest names in the entertainment world, owning several companies like Marvel to produce killer movies. October 16, 2023, marked one hundred years of Disney, and hundreds of movies exist under the Disney name. With each film comes very iconic characters, but not all get as much recognition as they should, even with screen time.

That list of characters, of course, includes Disney's iconic Princesses. Even though there are dozens of strong, femme-presenting characters in the Disney repertoire, not all are considered princesses. There are some rules for a Disney Princess, which pretty much revolve around the marketability of the characters. A Disney Princess has to be female, human, and a main character in a non-sequel movie. The title is given or taken at Disney's discretion.

Aurora Sleeping Beauty - 17 Minutes, 52 Seconds

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on...

Disney's animated movies have a rich history dating back to 1937, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs being their first fully animated film. Disney's films cover a wide range of genres and storytelling styles, from musical masterpieces like Fantasia to heartwarming tales like Bambi. Many of Disney's classic animated films are available to watch on platforms like Disney+, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video.

Watching Disney's animated movies in order reveals the studio's incredible track of animated features. Established in 1923, The Walt Disney Studios has produced a huge library of films that have become an established part of many people's lives. Their animated movies can serve as a comfort, with their memorable storylines and lovable characters.

From musical masterpieces to sweet animal stories to brave princess tales and everything in between, Disney has some of the most iconic stories ever told in animation form. This includes...

Cinderella is coming out of the Disney Vault to celebrate a major event.

The company previously announced a special series of anniversary re-releases of some of the most beloved films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm as part of the company's 100th-anniversary celebration. Cbr has the exclusive first look at the cover artwork for the Cinderella 4K SteelBook, which captures the moment Cinderella first receives her ball gown from the Fairy Godmother. The back of the SteelBook features the iconic glass slipper while the inside shows Prince Charming meeting Cinderella. This marks the first time that Cinderella will be available to own on a 4K Ultra HD disc. The animated classic is scheduled for release on Aug. 1, 2023, alongside new SteelBooks of Beauty and the Beast and Frozen.

Related: The 2015 Cinderella Is Disney's Best Live-Action Film

Based on Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale of the same title, Cinderella is the 12th...

When Hollywood from time to time reinvented the western the results were sometimes sensationally good, as attested to by this superior neglected classic. We’d call it the first psychological western if the term weren’t so limiting. Gregory Peck once again proves how good he can be when well cast and he’s surrounded by fine characterizations, not typical oater walk-ons. The screenplay and direction are so pleasing that the downbeat finale isn’t a drawback — it doesn’t strain to enforce an irony, or to sell a deep-dish ‘author’s message.’ This one’s just a winner in all categories.

The Gunfighter

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1053

1950 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 84 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date , 2020 / 39.95

Starring: Gregory Peck, Helen Westcott, Millard Mitchell, Jean Parker, Karl Malden, Skip Homeier, Anthony Ross, Verna Felton, Ellen Corby, Richard Jaeckel, Alan Hale Jr., Mae Marsh, James Millican, Kim Spalding.

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

That haunting line opened Daphne Du Maurier’s treasured 1938 romantic thriller “Rebecca,” which was published in 1938. Lauded by critics, it quickly became a best-seller and has been in print ever since. And for good reason.

Du Maurier wraps readers around her little finger with this addictive tale of a timid young woman-her name is never mentioned-who meets and falls in love with an enigmatic wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter, while in Monte Carlo working as a paid companion to the obnoxious American, Mrs. Van Hopper. Max and the young woman soon fall in love. They marry and he takes her home to his gothic estate Manderley run with an iron-fist by the tightly wound housekeeper Mrs. Danvers who is obsessed with the late, charismatic Rebecca, the late wife of Maxim.

Two years after its publication, “Gone with the Wind” producer David O. Selznick...

After five years of combining animated short subjects, and a combo live-action/animation feature, Disney dove into full feature animation fantasy again with the most basic of Fairy Tales. Just because he learned to create animation for a price doesn’t mean that the quality slacked off — the wondrous design and animation is augmented by terrific songs. Yes, half the picture is about cute mice and birds and other critters … which are done so well, the show is worth seeing multiple times. This handsome Signature Collection release follows earlier Diamond and Platinum releases … and don’t ask me to decode that classification system.

Cinderella

Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code

Walt Disney

1950 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 75 min. / The Signature Collection / Street Date June 25, 2019 / 39.99

Voice Actors: Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Lucille Bliss, Rhoda Williams, Verna Felton.

Songs: Mack David, Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston

Directing Animators: Les Clark, Marc Davis, Norm Ferguson, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl,...

This article marks Part 5 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the Academy Awards winners.

The 1950 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:

“Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A.”

“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” from “Cinderella”

“Mule Train” from “Singing Guns”

“Be My Love” from “The Toast of New Orleans”

“Wilhelmina” from “Wabash Avenue”

Won and should’ve won: “Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A. ”

Best Original Song in 1950 underwhelms a bit, with really only two particularly memorable nominees – one, the winning “Mona Lisa,” and second, the catchy-as-can-be “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”

“Mona Lisa,” featured in the forgettable Alan Ladd war picture “Captain Carey, U.S.A.,” is performed sumptuously here by the always-marvelous Nat King Cole. His performance, coupled with the rich orchestrations,...

“Wash your face, brush your teeth, and say your Prayers.” Marilyn Monroe’s first plunge into a dramatic starring role casts her as a dangerously unstable babysitter in a hotel-set suspense thriller co-starring Richard Widmark and Anne Bancroft. Ms. Monroe may not be Ethel Barrymore (thankfully) but the role suits her well — to play a woman unhinged by low self-esteem and melancholy romantic reveries, she may have tapped personal experience.

Don’t Bother to Knock

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1952 / B&W / 1.37 Academy / 76 min. / Street Date March 20, 2018 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Richard Widmark, Marilyn Monroe, Anne Bancroft, Donna Corcoran, Jeanne Cagney, Lurene Tuttle, Elisha Cook Jr., Jim Backus, Verna Felton, Willis Bouchey.

Cinematography: Lucien Ballard

Film Editor: George A. Gittens

Written by Daniel Taradash from a novel by Charlotte Armstrong

Produced by Julian Blaustein

Directed by Roy (Ward) Baker

Although she rates second billing below Richard Widmark,...

The 1950s was an interesting era for Walt Disney as they moved further away from movies with humans as the protagonist to ones featuring anthropomorphic animals. Although work had begun a decade earlier, 1955’s Lady and the Tramp is one example and one of the more charming stories, if lacking in the wonder of earlier efforts.

We’re given the chance to revisit this now that Disney has made it their latest Signature Collection release, offering it in a Multi-Screen Edition (we used to call them Combo Packs so you get the Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD code).

You mention Lady and the Tramp and the iconic image of the two dogs sharing a romantic spaghetti dinner springs to mind, usually accompanied with snatches of the memorable soundtrack. The story is an old one, opposites attract as you can tell by the character names of Lady (Barbara Luddy) and Tramp...

The icon-establishing performances Marilyn Monroe gave in Howard Hawks’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and in Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) are ones for the ages, touchstone works that endure because of the undeniable comic energy and desperation that sparked them from within even as the ravenous public became ever more enraptured by the surface of Monroe’s seductive image of beauty and glamour. Several generations now probably know her only from these films, or perhaps 1955’s The Seven-Year Itch, a more famous probably for the skirt-swirling pose it generated than anything in the movie itself, one of director Wilder’s sourest pictures, or her final completed film, The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston, written by Arthur Miller and costarring Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.

But in Don’t Bother to Knock (1952) she delivers a powerful dramatic performance as Nell, a psychologically devastated, delusional, perhaps psychotic young woman apparently on...

Since its release 60 years ago this week (on June 22, 1955), "Lady and the Tramp" has been not just one of the most beloved Disney animated features ever made, but also one of the great romances in screen history.

Still, as often as you've seen it, there's still plenty you may not know about how the canine classic came to be, So grab a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and chow down on 19 of "Lady"'s behind-the-scenes dish.

1. It took nearly 20 years to get the film made. The main character originated in sketches made by Disney animator Joe Grant in 1937, based on his own spaniel, whose name was Lady. Grant envisioned a short cartoon about a dog who's puzzled by the arrival of his masters' newborn baby.

2. By 1940, Walt Disney had imagined expanding the short into a feature and adding a dog-hating housesitter, two mischievous Siamese cats (then named Nip and Tuck), and a suitor for Lady,...

Way back in July of last year, Disney announced that it is bringing the 1941 classic animated adventure Dumbo back to theaters with a new live-action take on the story. Today it was announced that Tim Burton will direct that movie. This is the second time Tim Burton has taken one of Disney's animated classics and given it a human-spin, following the box office success of 2010's Alice in Wonderland.

Walt Disney Pictures president of production Sean Bailey announced the director earlier this morning. Dumbo is still in development and does not yet have a release date. It is just one of a number of animated movies-turned-live action for the studio, with Cinderella in theaters this week. Disney is also currently in production on a live-action/CGI take on The Jungle Book directed by Jon Favreau, which will be in theaters April of next year. This will be followed by Alice...

We never get tired of the story of Cinderella, and whether we know it or not, the version we never get tired of is the one put forth by Walt Disney 65 years ago. The 1950 animated feature, released 65 years ago this week (on February 15, 1950) was an instant classic, and its this version we think of when we imagine all the visual details of the story -- the slipper, the pumpkin, the fairy godmother, the mice, and Cinderella and Prince Charming dancing all over the palace grounds.

Still, as many times as we've heard the story or seen the cartoon, there's still more to be mined from the 17th-century fairy tale. (Indeed, Disney is releasing a new live-action retelling next month.) As many times as you've seen the 1950 classic, there's plenty you may not know about it -- how the actress who played Cinderella landed the part without even knowing she'd auditioned,...

Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley has been cast as the voice of Bagheera in Disney’s upcoming The Jungle Book.

Directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Justin Marks, The Jungle Book combines live action and animated filmmaking.

The film arrives in theaters in 3D on October 9, 2015.

From Wikipedia:

Inspired by the Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, it was the last to be produced by Walt Disney, who died during its production. The plot follows Mowgli, a feral child raised in the Indian jungle by wolves, as his friends Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear try to convince him into leaving the jungle before the evil tiger Shere Khan arrives.

The early versions of both the screenplay and the soundtrack followed Kipling’s work more closely, with a dramatic,...

Tim here. Mother’s Day weekend is just around the corner, and not just any Mother’s Day weekend: this year marks the 100th anniversary of the proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson establishing the second Sunday in May as a national day of celebration.

In the honor of the century of mothers that have come and gone since then, and since this is the Film Experience’s dedicated animation corner, I though it might be fun to pay tribute to some of our favorite cartoon mothers. Of course, with motherhood being one of the most death-prone professions in the world of animation (all those Disney princess with just a father, if they’re not orphaned outright… and let us never forget the national childhood trauma that is Bambi), there are fewer such women than we might like. These are three of the best.

Helen Parr (voice: Holly Hunter)

The Incredibles

To me,...

Dumbo

Written by Otto Englander, Joe Grant, and Dick Huemer

Directed by Ben Sharpsteen

USA, 1941

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ catalogue began with an artistic bang when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were released to audiences. While not the commercial successes the studio fantasized about, both demonstrated the sharp if simple storytelling and, arguably more impressive, a quality of animation that seemed unparalleled at the time. The issue, alas, was the lack of monetary success (especially with the company’s other 1940 release, Fantasia), a result that discouraged Walt Disney from swinging for the fences with his next outing, Dumbo. As far as the script is concerned, Dumbo performs some extraordinarily unorthodox circus acts to tell what is an extremely simple story, which compensates for the lower quality of the visuals, even though the latter is not quite as bad as it seems upon first glance.

The story begins in Florida,...

With anticipation building for Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," due May 30, it's worth noting that the source of her live-action remake, Disney's animated "Sleeping Beauty," marks its 55th anniversary this week. Released on January 29, 1959, the movie was only a modest hit at the time, but over the years, it earned acclaim for its gorgeous wide-screen visuals, its memorable music, and its unforgettable villainess.

It's a movie you probably watched many times as a child, and yet there are still some things you probably don't know about "Sleeping Beauty," including its connections to Bugs Bunny, "The Andy Griffith Show," and the British royal family.

Here's a list of 25 such items you can stack on your spindle -- but be careful to shield your fingertip.

1. "Sleeping Beauty" is adapted from both the Charles Perrault and Brothers Grimm versions of the classic fairy tale. In Perrault, the princess's name is Aurora; in Grimm, it's Briar Rose.

Director Jon Favreau is in negotiations with Disney to make a live-action reboot of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. We first reported on the project in July, when Disney moved forward with a screenplay by Justin Marks (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo).

Here's what Jon Favreau had to say in a brief statement.

I can't say that much, but there is an interesting take that could be very cool, and the hope is to relaunch a family brand with certain mythic elements. It is my first real family film since Elf, and there are action elements and visual effects that I feel like my experience on the Iron Man films are going to be useful."

The original Rudyard Kipling novel was published in 1894, which followed a young orphaned boy who is raised in the jungle by a bear, a black panther, and a pack of wolves. The novel is now in the public domain.

Jeanne Crain: Lighthearted movies vs. real life tragedies (photo: Madeleine Carroll and Jeanne Crain in ‘The Fan’) (See also: "Jeanne Crain: From ‘Pinky’ Inanity to ‘Margie’ Magic.") Unlike her characters in Margie, Home in Indiana, State Fair, Centennial Summer, The Fan, and Cheaper by the Dozen (and its sequel, Belles on Their Toes), or even in the more complex A Letter to Three Wives and People Will Talk, Jeanne Crain didn’t find a romantic Happy Ending in real life. In the mid-’50s, Crain accused her husband, former minor actor Paul Brooks aka Paul Brinkman, of infidelity, of living off her earnings, and of brutally beating her. The couple reportedly were never divorced because of their Catholic faith. (And at least in the ’60s, unlike the humanistic, progressive-thinking Margie, Crain was a “conservative” Republican who supported Richard Nixon.) In the early ’90s, she lost two of her...

Alice in Wonderland

Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske

Written by Winston Hibler, Ted Sears, Bill Peet, Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Milt Banta, Bill Cottrell, Dick Kelsey, Joe Grant, Dick Huemer, Del Connell, Tom Oreb, and John Waltridge

Starring Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Verna Felton

I should not pride myself in my ability to not be bored stiff by black-and-white movies, or by a supposedly stilted style of acting present in films from before the 1960s. There is a perception in the world, though, that audiences under the age of 30—I’m nearing the precipice of being on the opposite side of that line, but not yet—are, for the most part, unable to deal with older films or engage with them properly. On one hand, I bristle at the stereotype, not just because of my love for film of any age, but because I know from writing for this website,...

Over sixty years have passed since Disney’s Cinderella first screened to mass audiences. Yet, the film is as poignant today as it was over a half century ago.

The storybook tale of a young girl and her mice friends is filled with a heartfelt abundance of laughs and toe-tapping music. Whether you’re listening to a group of mice singing “The Work Song” or Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother casting magical enchantments to the tune of “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”, it’s hard not to instantly fall in love with Cinderella’s soundtrack. The humor holds up surprisingly well. Watching Gus and Jaques (both voiced by James MacDonald) face off against Lady Tremaine’s cat Lucifer never gets old.

The new Diamond Blu-ray release features a crisp 1080p HD picture, presented in a 1:33:1 aspect ratio. The sound has been remastered to optimize all the music tracks. Listening to Ilene Woods, who voiced Cinderella,...

Lady and the Tramp

Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Written by Erdman Penner, Joe Rinaldi, Ralph Wright, Don DaGradi

Starring Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Verna Felton

Whether you’re a Disney nut like me, a film buff, an animation buff, or just interested in 20th-century Americana, you’d do well to read Neal Gabler’s biography of the late Walt Disney, called Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. Though it’s an unauthorized work, Gabler had a high amount of access to the official Disney archives, so the book is well-sourced, detailed, and a compelling read. Gabler digs deep into Disney’s childhood, the tough times he had as an animator and businessman before creating Mickey Mouse, one of the truly seminal icons of American history, as well as the difficulties he faced and sometimes created once he became a household name. And yet, despite...

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is releasing the 1955 classic Lady and the Tramp on three-disc Blu-ray and two-disc Blu-ray for the first time February 7, in these new Diamond Edition sets. To celebrate this high-def debut, we have a contest lined up for our readers. We're giving away copies of this new Blu-ray, plus one lucky grand prize winner will receive the Blu-ray and nine plush toys featuring the characters Lady, Tramp, Si, Am, Trusty, Jock, Bull, Bell, and Pedro. These prizes will certainly fly out the door, so enter this contest today.

Grand Prize Winner Receive:

Lady and the Tramp Blu-rayLady and the Tramp plush toy set including Lady, Tramp, Si, Am, Trusty, Jock, Bull, Bell, and Pedro

First Prize Winners Receive:

Lady and the Tramp Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller discusses Lady in the Tramp

Last week, I was invited up to the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco to celebrate the Blu-ray debut of Lady and the Tramp, which arrives in three-disc Blu-ray and two-disc Blu-ray February 7. The setting was quite fitting, since one of the special features, Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad, was shot in the museum, and offers a unique glimpse into Walt Disney's life, as told by his daughter, Diane Disney Miller. The special feature gives us perspective into a rather hectic period of Walt Disney's life, when he was in production on Lady and the Tramp and also working on plans for his now-iconic theme park Disneyland.

I had the chance to sit down with Diane Disney Miller to chat about Lady and the Tramp, the Disney Family Museum, and more. Here's what she had to say below.

The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray Diamond Collection line-up of animated classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, the lovingly pampered cocker spaniel and the mutt from across the tracks will unveil on February 7, 2012 and Cinderella's clock will strike midnight in Fall 2012.

Disney's Blu-ray Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studios' most prestigious and treasured animated classics. Diamond Edition titles boast the highest level of picture and sound; feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content; and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

To date, the company has released four Diamond Edition titles - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, Bambi and The Lion King.

About Lady and the Tramp (February 7, 2012):

Generations of fans have fallen in love with Disney's...

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the animated classic Dumbo with brand new Blu-ray and DVD editions hitting the shelves today, September 20. We have a new contest running and we're giving away copies of this Blu-ray edition to our readers. You know these prizes will go fast, so enter this contest today.

Winners Receive:

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

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In celebration of this landmark film's 70th anniversary, experience the daring adventures of the world's only flying elephant with a dazzling all-new digital restoration and brilliant Disney Enhanced High Definition Theatre Mix Sound. The inspirational tale of Dumbo, the courageous baby elephant...

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has just announced the 1941 classic Dumbo will be re-released in an all new 70th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD on September 20. The studio has also released a new trailer for this Bd release, which you can watch below. You can also read the full press release with details on pricing, special features, and the restoration process of this animated classic below the trailer.

Click to watch Dumbo Trailer!

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment invites audiences to let their spirits soar with the release of the beloved animated classic Dumbo, for the first time ever in high definition as a 70th Anniversary Edition, coming on September 20, 2011. The Academy Award-winning (1942, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture) favorite will take flight for the first time with a premium restoration in stunning Blu-ray highdefinition featuring pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System High-Def Surround Sound, allowing fans to see more,...

I can't tell you what I was doing when I was 10 years old with any certainty, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with swapping baseball cards with my friends. When Kathryn Beaumont was 10 years old, she signed on to portray the voice of Disney's animated adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Not only did she provide the voice for this iconic character, but Walt Disney himself was so impressed with her acting ability, Kathryn Beaumont became the live-action model for Alice as well, performing scenes for the animators to base their work on.

The original animated Alice in Wonderland is celebrating its 60th Annviersary this year and Disney is releasing this classic in a new Blu-ray edition, which hits the shelves on February 1. I had the chance to speak with Kathryn Beaumont over the phone about her experiences on Alice in Wonderland and here's what she...

The voice of Cinderella, Ilene Woods, passes away at 81Variety is reporting that Ilene Woods, best known for voicing the title character in Disney's 1950 animated classic Cinderella, died July 1 in Canoga Park, California "of Alzheimer's-related causes."

Woods was 81.

She was born Jacquelyn Ruth Woods and began her career in radio, singing weekly for ABC's "The Ilene Woods Show". She went on to record a demo for the Disney feature. Walt Disney himself hired Woods for Cinderella soon after.

The young soprano got a Disney Legends award over half a century later for her voice work as Cinderella.

Later TV appearances included spots on The Steve Allen Show and Arthur Godfrey and His Friends.

She is survived by her husband, Edward Shaughnessy, a son; a daughter; and three grandchildren.

Cinderella was released February 15th, 1950 and stars Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Rhoda Williams, James MacDonald, Luis Van Rooten, Don Barclay,...

Cinderella getting a new live-action film It seems that Disney is looking to reimagine one of its animated classics with a new live-action film. Deadline New York is reporting that Disney has bought a new pitch for a live-action film based off of Cinderella.

Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna sold the pitch to Disney and Simon Kinberg will be producing the film. It wasn't said how much the film will deviate from the original Cinderella film, or whether the film will be in 3D or not.

No production schedule was revealed for the film. Brosh McKenna and Kinberg previously worked together on a rewrite of the current comedy Date Night and the pair are also working on an untitled film for Bad Robot's J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk.

Cinderella was released February 15th, 1950 and stars Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Rhoda Williams, James MacDonald, Luis Van Rooten, Don Barclay,...

The saying goes that the hero of your story is only as great as your villain, On podcast #124 I made a bold statement that the key difference between classic Disney movies and Pixar films is their villains. I love Pixar films, but in my mind classic Disney movies like The Jungle Book and The Lion King are still superior films, principally because they all have the missing ingredient Pixar lacks; iconic, classic and memorable villains. Pixar films are anything but weak, some credit must go towards the heroic characters who inspire courage, hope and charm their ways into our hears, but the same can't be said about the Pixar characters whose job it is to create havoc and fear with their malicious deeds. Whether you love or hate Disney, it cannot be denied that they have come up with some greatest on screen villains in movie-making history. Here is my...