Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition (Blu-ray Combo Pack) [Blu-ray + DVD]

Lots of family fun with excitement, humour, and romance that won't have the kids squirming - basically everything you'd expect from a classic Disney film. One of my favourite parts of this movie is the background animation, which comes through beautifully in this blu-ray version (check out the grain, patina and lighting on some of the wooden objects in the house).

VIDEO:

This 57 year old film arrives at blu ray with AVC MPEG-4 1080p 2.56:1 encode. This was actually the first Disney feature-length animated film to go widescreen. The video is absolutely stunning. Colours pop vividly. Everything, and I mean everything - every hand-drawn line, splash of colour, subtle personal touch, painted storybook background, and patch of scruffy fur - almost looks as if it were animated yesterday, no small feat when it comes to a fifty-seven year old film. It looked absolutely like brand new. Thanks to Disney for such a tremendous restoration job, and the wait is definitely worth it. (5+/5)

AUDIO:

For a film approaching its sixth decade on Earth, this mix will never compete with the discrete bombast of a modern soundtrack, but we don't really expect it to. In terms of its age, this is a wonderful, wide presentation using DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Yes, for our dear purists - a much-appreciated DTS-HD Master Audio 3.0 presentation of the film's original mix, restored and rejuvenated but otherwise unaltered - is included also.

Of course, like any other Disney's animated classic, there are many beautiful and memorable songs in this movie, like the famous Peggy Lee's The Siamese Cat Song, Bella Notte and La La Lu. (4.5/5)

INTERESTING TRIVIA:

This movie has a budget of $4 million, but the total gross to date is $93 million. Simply outstanding achievement!

Did you know that the film's opening sequence, in which Darling unwraps a hat box on Christmas morning and finds Lady inside, is reportedly based upon an actual incident in Walt Disney's life. After he'd forgotten a dinner date with his wife, he offered her the puppy-in-the-hat box surprise and was immediately forgiven.

Disney originally didn't want to include the 'Bella Note' spaghetti-eating scene, now one of the most iconic moments in the whole Disney canon.

Barbara Luddy was nearly 50 when she voiced the young Lady.

FACTUAL ERROR:

The calendar showing the passage of time is inconsistent in their dates from one month to the next. First, December 31 and then January 1 are both Thursdays. Next, November 30 is depicted as a Friday, while December 1 is a Tuesday. Finally, both January 31 and February 1 are both Sundays.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Lady And The Tramp (blu ray) is a true testament to the fantastic efforts in frame-to-frame restoration by the team at Disney, restoring this 57 year old film to its majestic glory. It literally looks brand new. This is a movie for the whole family, especially when you have small animals in your house. Highly recommended. Cinderella is the next Diamond release. I can hardly wait. I hope the above review is helpful to you.

I loved the movie and all of the extras. I watched it three times in the first weekend. The only part I was disappointed with was that I didn't get te slip cover and it's the only one in my collection without it.