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. When not fleeing her natural enemy, the Marten... See full summary »
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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. When not fleeing her natural enemy, the Marten, Perri finds time to fall in love with her prince-charming male squirrel. Written by
Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
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.
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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.