Perri (1957)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Directors:

Paul Kenworthy
Ralph Wright

Writers:

Ralph Wright (written by) &
Winston Hibler (written by) ...

Release Date:

28 August 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

First true life Fantasy

Plot:

This True Life Fantasy follows and shows how the life of a female squirrel, Perri, in the forest is filled with danger and fraught with peril...

Plot Keywords:

Squirrel | Forest | Peril | Danger | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Winston Hibler

...

Narrator

Also Known As:

A True-Life Fantasy: Perri (USA) (long title)
The Story of Perri (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Peri Gilpin was named after this film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Mouse Factory: Homes (#2.19)" (1973)

Soundtrack:

Perri

Disney's finest true-life adventure documentary - a gem

It is a crime that this film is not on home video. No elementary school in the nation should be without it and no home in America with children should either. This is Disney's finest (and one of his last) "true-life adventures." It is adapted from a book by Felix Salten (Bambi) and follows a year in the life of a Pine Squirrel (from birth, through escaping predators, to learning how to live in the forest, hibernation, escape from a forest fire, and mating). The sequence of events follows the same for Bambi. The camera work is incredible and the lovely dramatic/comic/song score by Paul J. Smith deservedly earned an Oscar nom (it also deserved a nom for its incredible achievement in Film Editing). Animals whose lives are looked at in detail include in addition to the squirrels, the fox, the beaver, the skunk, the raccoon, the rabbit and the marten families. There is an incredible combination of animation and live action in a hibernation dream sequence set in a snowy wonderland, populated by animals in their white coat phases against a great orange moon background (we know where Tim Burton got his logo for THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS). Songs include: Break of Day, Now To Rest and Together Time. This is one of the best nature documentaries you will ever see, endlessly fascinating and absorbing with shot after shot that makes you gasp with wonder. (The only faux pas is Winston Hibler referring to a chipmunk as a "ground squirrel.") Do not miss the opportunity of seeing and owning this film. A true gem.