Product Details

• Actors: Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters
• Directors: Don Chaffey
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Live, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Run Time: 134 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004R9A5
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,641 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #18 in	Video > Kids & Family > Disney Home Video > Gold Collection
  #59 in	Video > Kids & Family > Disney Home Video > Animated Movies
  #70 in	Video > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Fantasy Adventures

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This story of a winsome orphan and his guardian dragon features an Academy Award-nominated score and song, Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water." The combination of a live-action story with an animated figure was innovative in 1977, and the green dragon with pink wings will still charm youngsters today. However, its plot has the boy running from a nasty family to whom he's been sold into slavery, as well as an evil magician who tries to steal the dragon for his parts. These dark story lines may scare or bore younger children, who only want to see Elliot the dragon belch fire and give Pete rides on his back. And older children who might appreciate the plot may scoff at the relatively crude animation. This leaves a rather narrow audience window of about ages 3 to 7. A cast of veterans includes Shelley Winters, Mickey Rooney, and Red Buttons, who all turn in the hammiest of performances. Acting newcomer Reddy demonstrates both why her acting career never took off and why her singing career did. (Lines like "You're a bunch of superstitious ding-dongs" don't give her much help.) However, her sometimes awkward performance as the lonely lighthouse keeper who gives the boy a home provides the film with its heart. Bottom line: it's a keeper for diehard Disney fans, dragon lovers, and those who remember this movie fondly from their childhood. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Product Description

A heartwarming musical adventure about the friendship between a young boy and his invisible pet, PETE'S DRAGON casts a magical spell with thrilling plot twists and a delightful blend of live action and enchanting Disney animation! Pete, a young orphan, flees from his cruel guardians to a Maine fishing town with a lovable but mischievous dragon named Elliott -- his one true friend! Fortunately for Pete, they are taken in by a kind lighthouse keeper, Nora, and her Father. But Elliott's flair for flying and disappearing at will continually get Pete into trouble. The adventure heats up when the townsfolk try to capture Elliott for their own gain -- only to discover that a fire-breathing dragon may be the only solution to an unexpected problem!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it as a kid, love it more now!!, April 8, 2005

By	J. L. Mould (Milwaukee, Wi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (DVD)

Pete's Dragon has always been one of my favorite movies. This is a wonderful classic movie you can watch with your children. The songs are fun, and lighthearted. I love the part when they sing about how they would use the dragon pieces. They do this silly little dance, which is really funny. I loved it as a child, and love it even more now. I think that Elliot is a dragon with a huge heart, and it is just fun to watch!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sorely Underated and Too Often Bashed, November 17, 2003

By	Tom Albright (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (DVD)

It is really sad to see how cruel people can be out there. I will admit to you that this may be a little heavy for a kid's movie, but it has some excellent points to make. I continue to see this movie derided by people and press and it makes me very sad how people don't give it a chance. I wes very impressed with the music, I have all of the soundtracks, LP, Cassette and CD, I own the movie on VHS and DVD and it has always been my favorite movie of all time. Perhaps it's my favorite because it is such a step away from normal, lightheated children's movies. I read somewhere that Walt Disney was probably rolling in his grave when this movie came out, and I would like to say I believe that person to be sorely mistaken. While a bit flawed, this is truly an excelent Disney film. Remember, "There's Room for EVERYONE in this World" as the song states, give this movie a chance. This is a wonderful film to watch with your children and discuss afterwards, maybe even watch on your own. It is NOT strictly for children. While Pete's Dragon is based, derided, and generally forgotten, I urge all of you to at least rent this gem and bring it out of the obscurity it doesn't deserve.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I Swear I Saw a Dragon!", September 18, 2007

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pete's Dragon (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (DVD)

Pete (Sean Marshall) is a poor orphan. He's been adopted by the mean Gogan family run by the matriarch Lena (Shelley Winters). The Gogans make him work from morning til night and beat him for the slightest thing.

So, naturally, he runs away. Only this time he has help in the form of Elliot. Elliot is a dragon. And while he doesn't always think about what he's doing, he means well. And he really wants to help Pete.

Pete and Elliot happen to find the town of Passamaquoddy on the coast of Maine. Their first trip through town doesn't go well, so they find themselves out by the lighthouse, where they make friends with Lampie (Mickey Rooney) the lighthouse keeper and his adult daughter Nora (Helen Reddy). Have they found a real home at last?

Meanwhile, Doc Terminus (Jim Dale) and his assistant Hoagy (Red Buttons) have wandered into town. The Doc is a quack, selling fake potions and running from one town to the next just ahead of the lynch mob. They get word of the dragon and set out to capture him for the money they can make from his body parts. Will they get their hands on Elliot?

This was a favorite movie as a kid, and I still find it entertaining as an adult. Which is surprising when you consider the serious subject matter dealt with. Lampie is an alcoholic and Pete is running away from an abusive home. I think one reason it works is that the villains are so over the top you can't take them too seriously. There's some classic vaudeville in them. Heck, I often feel like booing the bad Doc.

And the music really helps. Yes, this is a musical with 10 songs. Honestly, I love all these songs in their own way. Of course, "Candle on the Water" is the most famous. I think my favorite is "Brazzle Dazzle Day."

Elliot is an animated dragon inhabiting a live action world. While by no means state of the art for today, it does hold up remarkable well for a 30 year old film.

All told, this really is a fun movie that kids of all ages will enjoy. If that's you or your family, sit down and watch this classic today.