Review: Dumbo (1941)

USA/C-64 m./Dir: Ben Sharpsteen/Wr: Joe Grant & Dick Huemer/Cast: Dumbo (Himself), Timothy Q. Mouse (Edward Brophy), Jim Crow (Cliff Edwards)

Jumbo Jr., Disney’s ultimate mama’s boy, suffers the fastest onslaught of DTs in motion picture history in 1941’s Dumbo. The pint-sized pachyderm makes his first appearance, delivered by stork to Mrs. Jumbo, aboard a fast-moving circus train. Before the choo-choo ride is over, the other denizens of the big top have derisively dubbed Junior “Dumbo,” based upon his enormous ears. Despite the oversized flappers, Mrs. Jumbo loves her baby dearly, but being that nothing ever goes right for kids or misfits in Disney films, the mother and child are soon separated. Luckily, a circus mouse named Timothy takes a shine to the friendless babe; and between the two of them, they eventually find a way to reunite mother and son.

Surprisingly, this sweet family film features an extended drunk scene, triggered when Timothy encourages Dumbo to drink a tub of water to cure his hiccups. What they don’t know is that moments before drunken clowns dropped a full bottle of booze into the water. Not only does the pair get high on giggle juice, the bender takes a sinister turn when they are beset upon by visions of pink elephants. Apparently, clowns drink some hypercharged hooch. It should be noted that without the aid of the firewater, the pair might never have discovered Dumbo’s special talent which ultimately saves the day.

Drinks Consumed--Unidentified booze

Intoxicating Effects--Hiccups, slurred speech, staggering, stumbling, harmonizing, delirium tremens, hangover, and memory blackouts

Potent Quotables--CHORUS: Look out! Look out! Pink elephants on parade!

Video Availability--Dumbo DVD (Buena Vista)

Similarly Sauced Cinema--Animation’s supreme drunkard, Homer Simpson, hit the big screen in 2007's The Simpsons Movie.