Hand crafted animation with plenty of pedigree, chum!

Rating: 7/10 (28 March 2020)

A fine Disney animated adaptation of the gentle Dodie Smith tales of a couple who have a pair of Dalmatian dogs who have a litter to make Noah shudder.... The evil "Cruella de Vil" cottons on to this almost endless supply of material for her future fur coats and sends her hapless flunkies to do some devious dognapping. Aside from Rod Taylor as the daddy dog ("Pongo") the assembled voice talents are lesser known (if at all) actors who put their heart and soul into the characterisations - especially Betty Lou Gerson as the evil "de Vil" and J. Pat O'Malley as the redoubtable "Colonel" who helps the parents mount a rescue of their spotted little darlings . It's a tightly scripted, enjoyable and fun story that almost seems crammed into 80 minutes.