Disney just dropped the trailer (see below) for its remake of Pete’s Dragon, the 1977 children’s classic. This time it’s Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford and young Oakes Fegley in the out-of-time wilderness — and the special effects will be of an entirely different magnitude. But Disney knows that success lies in the heart as much as the eyes, and Disney chose Pete’s Dragon for another run because its heart has tremendous, durable appeal. (The new film comes out August 12, 2016.)
[You can watch the 1977 Pete’s Dragon
The 1977 cast of Pete’s Dragon was full of entertainment luminaries like Mickey Rooney, Helen Reddy, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons and Charles Tyner. But produced with a price tag higher than any other anamorphic/animated feature to date, many reviews were colored by high expectations. Looking back at it, some Amazon reviewers are still disappointed. But many are enchanted. Here are four big name reviews from the time of Pete’s Dragon‘s 1977 first release, and one from an enthusiastic Amazon reviewer:
Variety: “Enchanting and humane…a triumph.”
New York Times: “the most energetic and enjoyable Disney movie in a long while.”
Time Out: “technically unconvincing and emotionally unpalatable.”
Leonard Maltin
Jessica Mould: “This is a wonderful classic movie you can watch with your children. The songs are fun, and lighthearted.”
