Crazy Cruella, Disney just Excels

Rating: Null/10 (4 September 2006)

It is perhaps ironic-or hardly-that 'One Hundred and One Dalamtians' was made during the year I was born. It certainly had a profound influence on my childhood. Almost 'living' in the cinema with other films, I don't think I saw repeated showings as much as this. I once went to a matinÃ©e of it with a friend and his family. I sneaked behind under a seat while it was still dark in the cinema to see it through again. Needless to say, when leaving, the family wondered where I'd got to. Such antics can only be attributed to one character, Cruella De Ville. Disney's talents, and those who were the voices, just oozed with the villains, (and esses). Eleanor Audley's voice is fantastic as the wicked Maleficent in the 'Sleeping Beauty,' but nothing quite matches the combined animated effects with the voice of Betty Lou Gerson. I guess it was this that held a peculiar obsession and fascination, and I suppose, addiction. I love the scenes which portray Cruella's crazed outbursts and demented frustrations. Her reaction when Roger refuses to sell the puppies: 'you wait, you'll be sorry. You fools! You idiots!' And her crazed frustration when finding Jasper and Horace haven't done the dirty work; grabbing the liquor from Jasper and flinging the bottle and its contents in the fire, and blasting the door shut after clenching her hands with, 'I'll...l'll call the police. DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!!'causing the plaster to crack, are some of the most memorable. 'You know, I think she means it Jasper.' Not to mention the crazy car chase at the end. The colonel's muddling, 'Puddles' and 'Pingo,' is always quite hilarious. Apart from the English diction in these voices which isn't emulated any more, the film will always be a timeless classic and first rate for any student learning British English. I couldn't agree more with the commentator who said that Cruella's character animation 'doesn't come better than this.'Disney was getting better and better.