| One Hundred and One Dalmatians | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by | Bill Peet (uncredited)[1] |
| Story by | Bill Peet |
| Based on | The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Starring |
|
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | George Bruns |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.6–4 million[2][3] |
| Box office | $303 million[4] |
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (also known as 101 Dalmatians) is a 1961 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions with distribution by Buena Vista Distribution. Adapted from Dodie Smith's 1956 novel of the same name, the film was directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wolfgang Reitherman from a script by Bill Peet.[a] It features the voice talents of Rod Taylor, J. Pat O'Malley, Betty Lou Gerson, Martha Wentworth, Ben Wright, Cate Bauer, Dave Frankham, and Fred Worlock.
The film's plot follows a litter of fifteen Dalmatian puppies, who are kidnapped by the obsessive socialite Cruella de Vil, wanting to make their fur into coats. Pongo and Perdita set out on a cross-country rescue mission to save the litter from the maniacal Cruella, in the process rescuing 84 additional ones, bringing the total of Dalmatians to 101.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians was released in theaters on January 25, 1961, to positive reviews from critics and was a box-office success, grossing $14 million domestically in its original theatrical run. It became the first animated feature to earn over $10 million during its initial release, and became the eighth-highest-grossing film of the year in the North American box office and the highest-grossing animated film when reissues of films are not counted. Aside from its box-office revenue, the employment of inexpensive animation techniques, such as using xerography during the process of inking and painting traditional animation cels, kept production costs down. Counting reissues, the film grossed $303 million worldwide, and when adjusted for inflation, is the twelfth-highest-grossing film in the North American box office and the second-highest-grossing animated film globally.[5]
The success of the film made Disney expand it into a media franchise, with a live-action remake released in 1996, followed by a sequel in 2000. A direct-to-video animated sequel to the 1961 film, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, was released in 2003. Two animated television series based on the franchise were also produced, with 101 Dalmatians: The Series in 1997 and 101 Dalmatian Street in 2019. A live-action reboot, Cruella, was released in 2021.
- ^ Peet 1989, p. 165.
- ^ Barrier 1999, p. 566.
- ^ Thomas 1997, p. 106.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 27, 2003). "Cartoon Coffers – Top-Grossing Disney Animated Features at the Worldwide B.O." Variety. p. 6. Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via The Free Library.
- ^ "2. "101 Dalmatians" (1961) $857.2 million (Adjusted)".
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