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DVD Features
- DVD Release Date: October 2, 2007
- Original Theatrical Release: October 18, 1967
- Running Time: 78 Minutes
- 1.75:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (Matted Theatrical Ratio)
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater mix, Dolby Digital Mono 1.0
- Subtitles: Closed Captioned
- Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
The Movie
Most grown-ups like myself (I happen to be a 40th anniversary edition as well, thanks very much) remember The Jungle Book for two reasons; it was the final movie Walt Disney was directly involved with, and the immortal anthem to beardom “The Bare Necessities.” I’m sure you’re humming it even as you read this. Even young animated fans who do not own the video or DVD can recite every word from “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wan’na Be Like You” thanks to abundant marketing of Disney Mania CDs.
I must admit that, along with The Black Cauldron and The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book was not in my Disney movie collection. I did buy an actual movie ticket in 1984 and again in 1990 when the film was re-released theatrically, but I never appreciated the film for any other reason besides the two listed above. That’s why this lovely Platinum Edition of The Jungle Book has been such a pleasure to delve into; through the commentaries, features, and the restored film itself, I’m beginning to understand why so many contemporary animators and experts have a high regard for the movie.
The storyline is very simple; so simple that it is considered the weakest part of the film. Baby Mowgli is abandoned in the jungle and rescued by compassionate panther Bagheera (Sebastian Cabot), who delivers the baby to a pack of wolves. They raise up Mowgli to be a good little jungle boy until the pack is threatened by Shere Kahn the Tiger (George Sanders).