Lady and the Tramp Reenactment Cute Idea But Falls Short

In conjunction with the re-release of the Disney Classic Lady and the Tramp Disney Studios thought it would be a sweet idea to reenact the spaghetti scene between Lady and the Tramp using canine actors. While the idea has its merits considering it is one of the single most memorable scenes in all of animated film history I don’t feel it would have lived up to Walt Disney’s idea of perfection and would have been thrown out. I could sit here and praise the attempt but I don’t think that would be fair to the original. Its like comparing a Musical on Broadway to an Elementary School putting on the same show. Cute yes endearing yes if you have a child in it or a family member or family friend or any connection to the school or teacher putting it on. But to run a scene from it as a “viral” Youtube video to announce the show reopening on Broadway I just don’t know, it doesn’t matter how well trained the children actors are. I did work with child actors while I was in High School and College some of whom where in Professional productions at the time and went on to be a part of Award Winning High School Drama Troupes and major / minor in Theater in College. It is true that if there is anything more difficult as a director to work with then kids it is animals yet somehow the Disney Buddies come out with movie after adorable movie. Though they aren’t trying to live up to an animated classic so I guess that is not a really great comparison.







In the animated movie Lady is supposed to be a Cocker Spaniel who looks more like a Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. So I get the decision for the “Viral” video to go with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel over a Cocker Spaniel. What I don’t understand is the decision to go with a Blenheim over a Ruby. Little kids always say that Davinia looks like Lady from Lady and the Tramp in fact it happened just last night and I don’t think this particular little girl would have seen the “viral” video. So I know using a Cavalier as Lady would have been more recognizable as the true Lady its just the coloring that bothers me. Is Disney Studios trying to say they could not find anyone willing to allow them to use their Ruby Cavalier for a video? My ideal Lady if I were the one casting this would have been a young Ruby Cavalier with a white patch on her chest.

They do however get major props for making the background of the scene pretty true to the movie with its original 2D background through the use of cardboard props. As for the plate of meatballs and spaghetti the dogs seem to be eating it but it looks fake. I do love how the Cavalier gives Tramp the evil eye when she realizes Tramp is trying to eat the same piece of pasta she is. That is the exact same look Davinia gives if someone gets too close to her treat.

We now get to the kiss itself which doesn’t actually take place in the “viral” video I have been thinking about it the entire time I have been writing this post. At first I was going to suggest that they could have used a drop of honey to have Tramp lick Lady but that would not have been true to the movie – they touch mouths not lick each other. I think though don’t know how practical it would have been but they could have used the Agility command “Target” in order to train the two dogs to touch each other’s noses. Of course they would have wanted to have the kiss without the spaghetti for obvious reasons. The command “Target” is use to have a dog touch an object whether with their paw or their nose and is not difficult to teach at all so would have worked to a brief touch and then away again.



The reenactment:

What do you think? Cute attempt? Great result? Or does it fall short for you as well?