Bambi (1942)

The story of a young deer growing up in the forest.

Directors:

James Algar, Samuel Armstrong (as Sam Armstrong)

Writers:

Felix Salten (from the story by), Perce Pearce (story direction)

Stars:

Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Bobette Audrey

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Hardie Albright	...	Adolescent Bambi (voice) (uncredited)
Stan Alexander	...	Young Flower (voice) (uncredited)
Bobette Audrey	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Peter Behn	...	Young Thumper (voice) (uncredited)
Thelma Boardman	...	Girl Bunny / Quail Mother / Female Pheasant (voice) (uncredited)
Janet Chapman	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Jeanne Christy	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Dolyn Bramston Cook	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Marion Darlington	...	Birds (voice) (uncredited)
Tim Davis	...	Adult Thumper / Adolescent Flower (voice) (uncredited)
Donnie Dunagan	...	Young Bambi (voice) (uncredited)
Sam Edwards	...	Adult Thumper (voice) (uncredited)
Ann Gillis	...	Adult Faline (voice) (uncredited)
Otis Harlan	...	Mr. Mole (voice) (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Eddie Holden	...	Chipmunk (voice) (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Storyline

The story of a young deer growing up in the forest.

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Plot Keywords:

gun | bambi | deer | animal | hunter | 

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Taglines:

5 HAPPY SONG HITS... to Warm Your Heart! (1966 re-release)

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | Family

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 August 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Walt Disney's Bambi

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,096,384, 27 June 1982, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$102,797,150

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$165,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

No matter how skilled the animator, the Disney cartoonists simply could not draw Bambi's father's antlers accurately. This was because of the very complicated perspectives required. To get round the problem, a plaster cast was made of some real antlers which was then filmed at all angles. This footage was then rotoscoped onto animation cels.

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Goofs

When Bambi first meets Faline, she licks him on the forehead, but when he wipes away the kiss, he is wiping his left cheek.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Thumper: Wake up, wake up!

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Crazy Credits

To Sidney A. Franklin - our sincere appreciation for his inspiring collaboration

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Alternate Versions

The original theatrical release had the RKO print logo at the front of the film. On the 1989 and 1997 American VHS, the "Walt Disney presents" title card is the start of the film. For the 2005 Region 1 DVD release, the theme has a slight musical extension to fill in a new time gap made by a shorter version of the Walt Disney logo, which is perfectly in sync with the music. After the logo ends, the Walt Disney title card appears, and the film starts normally. It is unknown if this musical extension is in the original theatrical release, though it can be heard on some older Super 8 film prints.

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Connections

Referenced in Fifteen: Episode #2.7 (1991)

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Soundtracks

Twitterpated
(1942) (uncredited)
(Based on Friend Owl's lecture on the amorous effects of spring)
Written by Helen Bliss, Robert Sour, and Henry Manners

User Reviews

Not at all like its sentimental reputation

I was staying over at the home of my three-year old niece; after everyone had gone to bed, I found and popped this title in the VCR. I had only a rough familiarity with the plot (like everyone, I knew Bambi's mother gets killed) and was also aware that "Bambism" has been used as describing a overly sentimental love of wildlife.

Oh wow. I found that while this movie certainly has a heart for its characters, it is not at all sugarcoated about the realities of animal life. Consider the following points it makes:

1) Animals do not live in nuclear families. Bambi lives with his mother only, his presumptive father is off in the background.

2). Animals often go hungry in the winter.

3). Male animals must be prepared to fight rivals as a prelude to mating.

4). Man (here assisted by canine lackeys) is easily the most dangerous threat creatures face.

Rather than putting a Hollywood gloss on animal life, "Bambi" if anything is better than what would be made today. Remember that the same studio recently put Hercules into a doting nuclear family, the actual circumstances of the hero's birth apparently thought too scandalous for contemporary children to be exposed to (though one presumes ancient Greek children handled them well enough).

Plus when you consider that a large sector of the populace takes a "humanity couldn't possibly be at fault" attitude toward the decimation of animal populations, you know that Point 4). above would today be softpedaled if not entirely neutralized by the addition of sympathetic human characters. Look what happened with the otherwise excellent TBS production of "Animal Farm."

And the animation!! The gorgeous, pencil-drawn Impressionistic renditions of the rhythms of the woodlands makes you wonder if modern animators haven't been spoiled by computer graphics. I'm only sorry I probably won't ever see this film in a theatre, as it was meant to be seen.

As cliche as it may sound, this is a timeless film for all ages. I cannot praise it highly enough.