The shortest all-animated feature Disney ever made and my only regret is that it's not just a few minutes longer and that Dumbo's new-found success is illustrated only by three newspaper headlines when a few shots of Dumbo being chased by adoring fans or handing out autographs would have been most welcome. However, that's purely a personal opinion. Most people love the film exactly the way it is. And (aside from wishing it were just that mite longer),I do too.

Oddly, my enthusiasm for Dumbo is a new-born thing. Many times I saw it as a child. I enjoyed the gossipy elephants ("Listen, girls, have I got a trunk-full of dirt?"),but I found many aspects of the film too grotesque for enjoyment - Dumbo himself; the clowns; particularly the "Pink Elephants"; even the circus train. As an adult, I enjoy these characters enormously. I revel in the inventiveness and wit of the drawing, I applaud the innovations of a more abstract, less formal Disney, I enjoy the polish and sophistication, the sly humor and satiric edge of the dialogue. Most of all, I gambol deliriously along with the songs, so consistently clever in lyrics ("I've seen a peanut stand, I've heard a diamond ring, but I've never seen an elephant fly!") and so catchily scored, who could resist?

The answer is - children. If ever Disney made a cartoon that will appeal mostly to adults, Dumbo is it. No wonder Bosley Crowther went overboard in praise (all of it justly deserved)! No wonder Dumbo made the New York Times Ten Best Films of 1941.

Admittedly, there are many grotesque elements in Disney's other feature cartoons which would repulse, terrify or antagonize children. Normally these are counter¬balanced by an overdose of moralizing, by dreary stretches of sweetness and light. But Dumbo is uncompromisingly pragmatic. Its view of self-seeking self-fulfillment is undiluted by sentiment, strengthened by satire. Aside from Timothy Q. Mouse, the stork, Mrs Jumbo and Dumbo himself, the human and animal characters are either malicious (the elephants) or venal (the clowns, the ring¬master). Of the "good" characters, the stork is too earnestly stupid and Mrs Jumbo too possessively simple-minded to elicit much sympathy - and even Timothy and Dumbo are often viewed primarily as simple figures of fun.

No child could appreciate the gentle mockery of Dumbo in which clowns are presented as an uncomfortable mirror image of adults, and cartoon children are unflinchingly drawn as loutish brats.

From a technical viewpoint, Dumbo represents the Disney craftsmen at the apex of their powers. From the timing of the visual gags to the swift editing of the fall of the pachyderms, from the brilliant atmosphere and color of the backgrounds and effects to the faultless dubbing of voice and song, from the clever characterizations of humans, animals and train to the amusing artistry of inventive surrealism on parade, Dumbo is a masterpiece.

Grimm's tale of the ugly duckling is brought to the screen by an animated baby pachyderm whose large ears make him the butt of the jokes of all the other circus elephants. But Dumbo who is accurately named because he utters not a word, makes believers of everybody.

More than in most of his animated features, Walt Disney had a sharp eye for satire in this film. Note how the gossipy female elephants do harm to the young Dumbo's psyche with their wagging tongues. His only friend turns out to be mouse with voice by street wise Edward Brophy, who does a great job in vocalizing the street kid who learns to take life on the chin and as it comes.

The crows here have come in for criticism by some who have said Disney was being racist in his characterization. My guess is because Cliff Edwards, a white man, was giving voice to the head crow. That's a pity because Edwards does a fine job giving voice to the best song from the score, When I See An Elephant Fly. It never reached the heights of When You Wish Upon A Star which Edwards introduced as Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio, but it sold a platter or two back in the day. I have a nice version of it sung by Jane Froman on an LP vinyl record.

It was in its music that Dumbo scored his greatest success. The lullaby that Mrs. Jumbo sings to baby Dumbo, Baby Mine, got an Oscar nomination for Best Song. Frank Churchill and Oliver Wallace's music got the film an Academy Award for best musical score. Personally I think When I See An Elephant Fly has had more staying power.

But Dumbo itself has great staying power. It's a feel good film for kids of all ages and a testimony to those folks who never give up and make lemonade when life hands them a lemon.

Years ago, I thought "Dumbo" was a bit of fluff--a simple film that Disney made between their 'better' films, "Bambi" and "Pinocchio". However, when I saw this film again many years later, I was extremely impressed and would place this among the best of Disney's films--even though it's not a perfect movie. While it is true that the animation style is a bit simpler than these two other films, "Dumbo" still is a nice looking film. Its use of bright primary colors works great and is perfect for a picture set at a circus. And, as far as the story goes, it's really, really hard not to love the characters and find yourself choked up as you watch the film. Seeing the portion where Dumbo's mother sings to him as she's locked away from his will touch ANYONE'S heart--no matter how jaded they are--it's just brilliantly written and executed.

My only real reservation is that some will no doubt find the crows in the film a bit offensive. While they are NOT stupid or evil, they are clearly meant to be like black people--with exaggerated language and features. Still, considering the times, this is a relatively benign slight compared to what you often saw in films!

Well worth seeing and a delight.

By the way, this is NOT a complaint, but for anyone interested, the beginning is a bit strange, given that I live only a few miles from the old winter quarters for the circus, here in Sarasota, Florida. First, Sarasota is not THAT far south (like they show on the map)--that location would actually place the circus in the Everglades! Also, they show lots of huge hills/mountains, but I think the highest natural elevation in this part of Florida is about 9 inches! Obviously, the Disney folks back in 1941 had NOT spent much time in Florida.