![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/j/junglebook.jpg)
The Jungle Book: Limited Issue
Disney's 1967 crowd-pleaser wins over new fans with every subsequent generation of viewers, and for good reason — it's easily one of the most entertaining, charming, foot-tapping animated features in history. Based on the stories of Rudyard Kipling, young Mowgli, a man-cub who was raised by a pack of wolves, is told that he must return to the nearest man-village so that he may be with his own kind, although the mop-topped little orphan would rather stay in the wild, where he is as free to romp and play as any other animal. But, under the supervision of Bagheera the panther, Mowgli starts his episodic jungle-journey, where he meets such denizens as Col. Hathi and his herd of elephants, Kaa the snake, Baloo the bear, King Louie of the apes, and Shere Khan, the man-hating tiger who would like to have the young'un over for lunch (if you get his drift). Not only is the animation in The Jungle Book as vivid and wonderful as anything that Disney has ever produced, the score is the most ambitious, eschewing traditional fare in favor of some wonderful American music that surveys big-band, Dixieland, swing, blues, and even barbershop — in fact, one hearing of "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wanna Be Like You" ensures that they will never be forgotten. Featuring the voices of Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, Louis Prima, George Sanders, Sterling Holloway, J. Pat O'Malley, and Bruce Reitherman. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. Great full-frame transfer from a pristine source print (shown theatrically at 1.37:1), Dolby Surround 2.0, no extras. Keep-case.
—JJB
