September 21, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • Page 21 Classic now available in 70th Anniversary edition The artwork in “Dumbo” ranks with that of “Pinocchio” and “Bambi” and contains wonderful touches, highlighted by the “Pink Elephants” musical number, a hallucinatory dream sequence set to march tempo that occurs when Dumbo unknowingly drinks champagne-laced water. This surreal sequence contrasts with the otherwise realistic circus setting, with sight gags abounding. The music also includes the Oscar-nominated “Baby Mine,” a touching lullaby sung by Mrs. Jumbo after she has been chained and locked away for causing a disturbance to protect Dumbo from being mistreated by some of the roustabouts. “Dumbo” was in production for 18 months from the time Walt Disney read the galleys of a story by Helen Alberson. Critics were effusive in their praise, especially after the experimental, ambitious feature “Fantasia” failed to entrance either critics or the public. In “Dumbo,” Disney returned to a traditional story line, and his artists were able to exercise their imagination, sense of fun, and ingenuity to create a tale with heart. The two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack’s extras include a deleted scene, a deleted song, two animated shorts, a making-of featurette, audio commentary, two games, and the original Walt Disney television introduction. This restored print marks the first time “Dumbo” has been released in high definition. “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer” (A&E Home Entertainment) aired originally on TV from 1957 to 1959. This private eye series was heavy on violence, a staple of the Spillane novels on which it was based. Darren McGavin (“A Christmas Story”) played the title character, who operated out of New York City and provided a litany of acerbic wisecracks as he solved crimes and put the bad guys behind bars. The 12-disc box set contains 78 episodes with appearances by Angie Dickinson (“Police Woman”), Marion Ross (“Happy Days”), DeForest Kelly (“Star Trek”), Barbara Bain (“Space 1999”), Ted Knight (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), and Lorne Greene (“Bonanza”). There are no extras. (continued on Crossword page) Dumbo stars in a new 70th Anniversary restored edition of the animated classic. Dennis Seuling “Dumbo” (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) is now available in a Blu-ray 70th Anniversary edition. The shortest of the Disney animated classics at a mere 64 minutes, “Dumbo” is a simple story, told well. The stork pays a visit to the circus, blessing most of the animals with new arrivals, including the elephant, Mrs. Jumbo. When the new baby sneezes, his ears unfold and they are enormous. The other female elephants express horror and sarcasm. Dumbo is relegated to the lowly clown act until he discovers that he can fly. This turns him into the star attraction, and he and Mrs. Jumbo are rewarded with their own private car on the circus train.