Disneys The Jungle Book 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD
Based on Rudyard Kiplings Mowgli Stories, “The Jungle Book” is the final film Walt Disney produced (his 19th) and will become Disneys 10th title to be honored with Platinum status. The original cast includes a pair of Winnie the Pooh stars: voice of Pooh himself, Sterling Holloway as python Kaa, and Sebastian Cabot speaking for Bagheera the panther. Oscar winner George Sanders (“All About Eve”) voiced tiger Shere Khan, Bruce Reitherman, son of director Woolie, played Mowgli, and Phil Harris was Baloo the bear.
Disney celebrates the 40th Anniversary of this Jumpin Jungle Classic Spectacular Restoration with enhanced picture and sound on DVD October 2, 2007, for a limited time only. This jumpin jungle Disney classic was the last animated film Walt personally touched.
The Jungle Book 2-Disc Platinum Edition DVD contains such memorable characters as the wise panther Bagheera, happy-go-lucky bear Baloo, and the menacing tiger Shere Khan. There are special features that both new adventurers and seasoned explorers will enjoy.
The new bonus features include a new member of The Jungle Book family, the long lost character created for the original film and discovered for the first time, Rocky, a near-sighted and short tempered but hilarious rhinoceros.
The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book featurette takes a look at Walt Disneys contributions to his animated swan song and also examines how director Woolie Reitherman put the final touches on the production.
Disneys Kipling examines Walts interpretation of the Rudyard Kiplings Mowgli Stories, and a film commentary from original animators Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, and director Woolie Reitherman is presented alongside commentary from current animated filmmakers, such as Brad Bird (Incredibles), Glen Keane (Disneys The Little Mermaid), and Andreas Deja (Disneys Beauty and The Beast, and The Lion King).
In Mowglis Return to the Jungle, Bruce Reitherman, the voice of Mowgli and Woolie’s son, shares his memories of making the film and how the experiences influenced his current job as a wildlife filmmaker. Then there’s a new suite of games, like Baloos Virtual Swingin Jungle Cruise.
The Jungle Book: Platinum Edition DVD is available only for a limited time, with a retail price of $29.99 in the U.S. ($36.99 in Canada).
Bonus Features:
The Lost Character: Rocky The Rhino.
For the first time ever, the near-sighted, short-tempered rhinoceros named Rocky is brought to the screen using original storyboards and original voice recordings by Frank Fontaine.
The Bare Necessities: The Making of The Jungle Book.
A comprehensive look at the last animated film that Walt Disney produced using existing archival footage in addition to new interviews with Richard Sherman, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, Eric Goldberg, James Baxter, Will Finn, Andreas Deja, Burny Mattinson Ted Thomas, Bruce Reitherman, John Culhane, John Canemaker and Neal Gablerplus a never-before-seen collection of artwork and treatments from the film
Disneys Kipling: Walts Magic Touch on A Literary Classic
A discarded film treatment from 1963 includes scenes from Kiplings Mowgli Stories and more are used to illustrate Walts interpretation of the literary masterpiece.
The Lure of The Jungle Book
Many of todays biggest names in animation were inspired to pursue their careers after seeing The Jungle Book; this feature examines this phenomenon and features new interviews with Brad Bird, Andreas Deja, Sergio Pablo, Will Finn and Eric Goldberg.
Mowglis Return to the Jungle
Learn about nature filmmaking and the experience of making The Jungle Book firsthand from Bruce Reitherman, the voice of Mowgli.
Baloos Virtual Swingin Jungle Cruise
Join everyones favorite bear in this set-top and DVD-ROM game on an adventure through the jungle: enjoy fun activities and musical challenges, but keep an eye out because theres no telling whats on the other side of the river bend!
Audio Commentary
Combines comments from current animators with audio from the original creative team who made the film
English Learning Feature
Still Frame Art Gallery
Credits
Running time: 78 Minutes.
MPAA Rating: G.
Bonus materials not rated, and subject to change.
Aspect ratio: 1.75:1The first time ever the film will be presented in its original aspect ratio. Sound: All-new 5.1 Disney-enhanced Home Theater Mix. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages: French, Spanish audio tracks. Close Captioned in English
Fastplay: Disney Fastplay enabled.
Based on the famous Rudyard Kipling’s stories, Disney’s “Jungle book” is a witty, highly entertaining animation with an all-star cast offering voices, including George Sanders, Phil Harris, and Sebastian Cabot.
Abandoned as a child, Mowgli is raised by wolves, then befriended by a panther, who plans to return him to civilization until he realizes that the wolf-boy does not want to leave the jungle.
Mowgli’s trail is full of adventures: A meeting with a lazy bear, kidnapping by monkeys, an encounter with fire-fearing tiger. In the end, Mowgli meets a young, beautiful girl and his love for her convinces him that he should forsake jungle life.
The last animated film to be directly and personally overseen by Walt Disney himself, “Jungle Book” contains some stunning visual images and sight gags, and doesn’t have many sentimental or schmaltzy moments, as could be expected. The movie was released ten months after Disney’s death and became one of the studio’s most commercial films to date.
Jungle Book (1942
Disney’s 1967 version was not the first big-screen adaptation of Kipling’s adventures. In 1942, the Hungarian brothers Kordas (Alexander as producer and Zoltan as director) made a colorful picture, starring Sabu as Mowgli, the youngster raised by wolves who returns to his family’s village with nio language or human skills.
Oscar Alert
“Jungle Books” was nominated for one Oscar award, Best Song, “The Bare Necessities,” music and lyrics by Terry Gilkyson, but the winner was “Talk to the Animals,” by Leslie Bricusse from “Doctor Dolittle.”
