In this series, Lauren will rewatch Disney movies from her childhood to see what sort of trauma she can drudge up.
TODAY’S FILM: Jungle Book – 1967 – Rated G
There’s a lengthy disclaimer that plays before the film now:
WHAT I REMEMBER: I remember very little about this movie, but I do recall that it was watched a lot in our household. Moreso by my brother, who is 6? 7? Years older than me. Hey, Brandon. You’re probably not reading this.
What I remember most is my dad singing or whistling Bare Necessities. The memory of that puts me back in the kitchen of the Blue House (the first house I lived in as a child) as I annoyingly watched/got in the way of my dad as he cooked. That’s where he did most of his singing and whistling. He’d make silly faces and sound effects and move around in an exaggerated, ape-like way to make me laugh.
THE PLOT, AS I REMEMBER IT: Wow, I truly have no memory of the film’s plot. Ok, there’s a kid… and the kid is raised by Mowgli because the parents… something. Something happened to the parents. Or maybe not? Ok, then there’s a scene with a bunch of panthers and that’s… bad… They of course sing Bare Necessities at some point. Are there any other songs in this movie? Is this the movie with the four creepy vultures that sing the a cappella tune? Yikes.
AS I’M WATCHING: Ok so right off the bat, the CHILD is named Mowgli, not the bear. So. Way to go, me. Off to a great start. And the panther is the narrator. Seeing the lil’ baby wolf cubs make me want to watch 101 Dalmatians next. Very strange to hear the voice of Winnie the Pooh (Sterling Holloway) come out of an evil snake named Kaa. Also, the bear is named Baloo. Oh man, I Want to Be Like You! Another jam dad would sing. This explains my memory of monkey movements.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This movie felt slow. No surprise to me that I remember so little about it; I’m sure child-me just wanted to listen to the silly songs. Love that all the animals and the child all speak English, some with a British accent, deep in the jungles of India. Very convenient.
OVERALL RATING: 4/10