When I was nine years old, I went to see Disney's 101 Dalmatians in the movie theater. If you grew up in the 70's and 80's like I did, you know that going to the movies was a big, huge deal. I can pretty much remember all the movies I saw in the movie theater as a kid. My own kids, like most in the 2000's (is that what we call them) have their pick of kids' movies at any given time-on TV, in the theater, wherever. They have nearly instant movie gratification.
So, in the fourth grade, with my Dorothy Hamill haircut and probably running shorts and tube socks, I went to see
101 Dalmatians. In preparation for seeing it, I had already read the book by Dodie Smith,
The Hundred and One Dalmatians. If I remember it right, I may have even had the book with me when we went to the movies. Here is the original cover-not sure if mine looked like this, but it might have.
You see, there was this one part at the end of the book, once Cruella had figured out that the puppies were gone. The shock of losing her potential new dalmation coat was so great that her famously black and white hair CHANGED COLOR!!! The side that had been black suddenly went white and the white side went GREEN from the shock. I waited through the entire movie for that one part, and it never came. I remember still sitting in my seat, watching the credits, while my dad tried to convince me the movie was over. I kept telling him that maybe there would be more-I way dying to see that part.
That was the first time a movie didn't live up to its book. All the way back in 1979. There have been many, many other books since that time that have been ruined once they hit the screen, but I have been prepared. The disappointment of
101 Dalmatians has served me well and taught me not to get my hopes up for the movie.
So, tonight, after reading
The Time Traveler's Wife I am going to watch the movie. I am trying to keep my expectations low, but I really loved the book. We will see if it's Cruella DeVille all over again.
6 comments:
Very rarely does a movie outdo a book.
I too am often disappointed.
Great post! I have yet to see a movie live up to the book!
I always read the book first, but lol. I had no IDEA Cruella's hair turned green. Thanks for sharing your story, I had to laugh
Yep, have had that happen to me too. For me though, I did not enjoy Time Traveler's Wife, the book, so I'm really not sure I even want to see the movie.
I am glad I am not the only one who is disappointed by movies. I am working out my review and will post it soon-suffice it to say that it leaned in the direction of 101 Dalmatians.
And, it's got me thinking that I really like time travel stuff...more on that later, too
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