Customer Reviews

The Fox and the Hound

5 star:		(124)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

The Fox and the Hound was probably somewhat of a crossroads for Disney studios. The last of the old animators left with this underrated gem. It doesn't need to bombast young viewers with unnecessary action or dumbed down pseudo-epic storylines to attract attention. It's simply the story of a friendship that manages to transcend nature's dictations and any trials thrown at it.

This is a tale told with such heartfelt sincerity that it moves and touches viewers with its story alone; no need for semi-Broadway moments every ten minutes or cheap, carefully masked lewd humor sprinkled in for potential bored adults. The characters are endearing and artlessly likeable, and the lessons learned are timeless.

There are engagingly subtle touches that augment the main story, such as the ongoing battle between two determined birds (one with a curiously Brooklyn accent) and one very lucky caterpillar. The conclusion to this humorous yet strangely realistic chase is a startlingly touching revelation in beauty. This is Disney at its best: a simple and touching movie that doesn't need anything else to make itself an enjoyable experience for everyone. Even the greats of the 90s seem a little cheap after this.

I first watched this as a little kid, and have been in love with it ever since. Right now, in that nebulous span of years between being able to drive and being able to drink, I'm probably entitled to bouts of rebelliousness and scorn for movies like this. But this is one Disney creation I'm proud to say that I love, something you plan to pass on to your children and grandchildren: a classic.

O.K. I can answer the many questions about the correct screen ratio of THE FOX AND THE HOUND.

I was a movie projectionist at the time and I had access to look at a 1988 re-release 35mm print of the movie and it was FULL FRAME! Yes, the movie is 1:33 to 1 , NOT WIDESCREEN!

You have to understand the thinking of 1980's Hollywood. Theaters were getting smaller, all movies ended up on television, and VHS & Beta home video tapes were becoming the popular way to watch movies. Therefore, many producers started filming their movies in the full frame television format, knowing that it is the way most people would see the film then.

Paramount even shot all of their 1980's comedies in full frame. Airplane I & II; Naked Gun I, II, III; Addams Family I & II; The Bette Midler movies , Throw Mama from the Train are part of the countless list of FULL FRAME movies that DVD is offering in a masked 1:85-1 format.

We should be glad that Buena Vista is offering THE FOX & THE HOUND in the ratio that it was produced.

The movie itself falls short of a Disney Classic. It seems any Disney movie short on songs seems to be overall less appealing. The basic story line is good and could have made for a very successful classic, but the execution of the story lacks the right elements.

This new release is no big deal, you gain a short behind-the-scenes clip that appears to be pulled from another special and you lose the 1988 theatrical trailer on the original DVD release. That's right, the FIRST DVD RELEASE EXTRA OF THE PREVIEW TRAILER HAS BEEN DELETED HERE!
The movie itself has gotten NO RESTORATION, but my opinion is that it still looks good on a regular large TV.

I was hoping of the Angela Lansbury TV special done in the early 1980's that showed some behind the scenes of the making of The Fox and the Hound, but sadly that is not to be here.

Bottom line:
If you missed the first DVD release, then buy this.
If you have the first DVD release you can pass on this unless you are a Disney completist.

Disney studio's 1981 production of THE FOX AND THE HOUND seems to have been made mostly by the newer generation of artists at the studio. The film's look is similar to 1977's THE RESCUERS. Dismissing the high strung and flamboyant personality traits possessed by the likes of Bernard and Miss Bianca from the previous film, THE FOX AND THE HOUND concentrates on the more homespun qualities that were created for the bayou characters. This folksy and laid-back approach bolstered by Pearl Bailey's songs sung as Big Mama Owl and Buddy Baker's unpretentious score at once sets THE FOX AND THE HOUND apart from previous Disney animated films. In fact this film has a very un-Disney look about it. The film leisurely unfolds a story about an orphaned fox named Tod adopted by Widow Tweed, a farming woman. Tod befriends a puppy named Copper owned by Widow Tweed's neighbor, the hunter Amos Slade, and they become friends. The fox and the hound make a pact of lifelong friendship. Inevitably after Copper is trained to be a hunting dog and they both grow up the two must confront each other. One is the hunter and one is the hunted as is ordained by nature. The film does not create genuinely frightful images thanks in part to the loosely drawn animation and its good-natured tone, yet its message is perhaps stronger than any Disney animated film. Things are much simpler when you are young. Once you grow up things appear in a much different light depending to what degree you were taught. The film uses the allegory of the fox and the hound, natural enemies in real life, and their pact of friendship to demonstrate the adversities of life's realities and the effects it has on each of us. This film seems deliberately aimed at very young viewers, yet its message spans the range of anyone old or young enough to comprehend it. I'll admit that this was never one of my favorite Disney films. Even my daughter did not like it. It is not showy or flashy. Even the animation is very simplistic. After watching it again recently I now see that I missed the film's payoff. As film viewers, the older we get the more sophisticated we become. Sophistication breeds complacency sometimes to the point where we miss the point! What looks like a cute little movie with fury animals on the surface to an adult, may be an emotionally awaking experience for a little child, a glimpse of what lies ahead. I think the filmmakers gave our young ones more credit for deductive feeling and emotion than we did. As an adult I found watching the first two thirds of this film a rather laborious task. The final third is where it comes alive and also comes full circle. For a very young child however, the entire film is very entertaining. For the very young child the lesson learned is a bonus. The payoff for me is the final scene where Copper begins to fall off to sleep and we hear an echoing voice of his pact of lifelong friendship to Tod that was made when they were children. It was very reminiscent of the final scene in THE YEARLING and I felt a tear run down my cheek. Sometimes the only tangible thing we have left of a happier time is our ability to revisit that time in our dreams. This is an important film.

3 stars is for the dvd itself not the film (the movie gets 4 1/2). So can anyone tell me is Disney getting lazy or maybe they just don't care anymore? When I heard that this movie was coming out I got excited. Then when I purchased it and watched I was very disappointed toe see that the picture had not been restored. Other Disney films Platinum, Special, Masterpiece, whatever have gotten restored why not this one? I hope Disney doesn't do this again to any upcoming special or masterpiece editions of their films.

Ever since I got reintroduced to The Fox and the Hound back when it first got released to video, I was simply amazed at how fantastic and heartwarming this movie was. I knew, right then, that it would remain my number one favorite for all time. Now that it's been re-released for video and dvd, I'm as happy as a songbird. I consider this movie to be Disney's best. Sure you've heard that said about lots of Disney movies before. Why is this one different? First of all, like some of the best of the old movies, The Fox and the Hound has a lot of good lessons, the most important being friendship. The characters are enchanting and heartwarming, and some are even very well developed characters, leading convincing lives with rich emotional relationships. This movie has no need for hokey humor with puns and jokes, and it doesn't have the standard good versus evil formula. Considering this and the lessons, this movie makes even the best of the new Disney look like Saturday morning cartoons. The drama and emotional level in this movie are amazing. If you haven't seen it yet, don't be surprised to find your kids hiding. And don't expect a dry eye either. The songs aren't anything you'll want on a soundtrack, but they're still very nice, and the subdued approach allows for the story to flow. This movie has all the heart of Bambi but has a more realistic, more personal story. The new Disney may make very nice movies, but they still can't touch a story about friendship. Also, while the new Disney movies seem to reward violence, this movie shows the consequences of violence and rewards true friendship. The Fox and the Hound proves that old school is still the best, and this is certainly the best of the best. Pick it up. It'll make a fine addition to the collection.

Length:: 0:12 Mins

Adorable baby fox, an orphan (his mother is shot) finds a home through Big Mamma Owl with a lovable old farming lady, Widow Tweed.
She calls him her "toddler" and then names him Todd.

Todd soon meets Copper, a cute little pup. The scenes of the two playing are delightful.

"We'll be friends forever" says Todd to Copper.

Copper's owner is a hunter. He takes Copper a long hunting trip. When Copper returns, hunting lessons and his instinct take over an Todd is now his enemy. This leaves Todd perplexed and unhappy.

There are quite emotional scenes. After the hunter threatens Mrs. Tweed, she drives Todd to a game reserve believing Todd will be safe from the vindictive hunter there.

There's a loving ending where Copper finally learns the true meaning of friendship and his friendship with Todd is renewed.

Although there are many tear jerking moments, the film teaches children the devotion and real meaning of friendship.

I watched this with my nephews and they loved it.I recommend this without any reservations.

We rented this video for our five year old daughter. Well, she ended up LOVING it so much, that now we are going to buy the movie when it comes out on DVD! This is a story that revolves around two "arch rivals;" a fox and a hound, who meet when they are a mere kit and a pup. They then go on to develop a special friendship that is put to the test when reality intrudes. There is one part of the movie that is so emotional that it moved both my daughter and I to tears! But fear not: the movie DOES have a HAPPY DISNEY-LIKE ENDING! This story involves a lot of action, along with many adorable, codgy, and amusing characters. In addition, the animation is beautiful; reminiscent of Bambie. But most of all, The Fox and the Hound explores the true meaning of friendship against adversity - something we all can relate to! In my opinion, this movie should be a part of every Disney collection!

This is one of my all time favorite Disney films. There is so much to like about this movie. The characters are all likable, the animation is great, it has the classic Disney feel and you are not bombarded with ridiculous songs that take away from the movie. Ignore the Amazon review that says the characters don't have time to develop a meaningful friendship. Many times in my young life, I made a friend over the course of a summer only to see him or her or myself move away and feel a great loss because of it. Kids make friends much more easily than adults and sometimes we seem to forget that. The only thing missing from the DVD version is a widescreen format and a few more extras would have been nice, but that is a very minor complaint in this otherwise great film.

I just purchased this on DVD and I think it is one of Disney's prime movies. It teaches us about love and friendship and the loyalty that goes with that friendship. I am appalled that some would think this movie violent. There are so many shows that air on REGULAR TV in this day and age that are much more horrible than this film about friendship. This film teaches about life and values. About what can really happen in the world. A baby fox raised by a caring woman and a hunter that is selfish and interested in only what he can track. The fox and the hound meet and become the very best of friends, not even knowing that they are supposed to be enemies. This just proves that we should not be judgmental. In the end, the hunter finally understands what loyalty is. My mother took me to see this movie when it first came out in theaters and to this day I can still remember that there was not a dry eye as we left that theater. The Fox and the Hound remains to this day, one of my all-time favorite Disney movies and I am sure it will be a hit with my son as well.

An excellent film, but a tradgedy of a new DVD. The video quality is not restored at all and is sadly littered with scratches, jumps and a lack of clarity similar to the earlier Gold Collection edition. There's no clear line on whether it's the correct aspect ratio also becasue Disney were making different ratios than this film is presented in at the time (Rescuers Down Under) and so it seems strange that they'd jump backwards in futureproofing considering Walt's accumen regarding the Future and technological advances which must, even after his death, still echo through the halls. I find it very sad that classics like Bambi and The Little Mermaid can be treated so well and restored beautifully - and there was NO attempt to give this easy-to-love film a treatment it deserved. The only feature on here of any worth is a 6:32 feature about film making and a static art gallery. The other extras are all off other DVDs. Very sad. Naughty Di$$$$$ney!