Really Surprised!

Better Late Then Never

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

. . . of their Bitter Rivals comprising Warner Bros.' Animated Shorts Seers division (aka, The Looney Tuners), Walt Disney assigns his own scribblers to look forward into Football's Super Bowl Era with LAMBERT THE SHEEPISH LION. Since the Motor City Lions were capturing "World Championships" left and right when LAMBERT came out in the 1950s amid Football's Weak "Tag--you're It!" Era, Disney's doodlers thought that they had "easy pickings" in closing LAMBERT with Motown's Victory Parade for the Lions triumphing over the Predators as they win Super Bowl I. This, of course, resulted in the famous "Disney Curse;" that is, more than half a century of Kitty Kat Lions, culminating with the 2008 squad setting the ultimate mark for NFL futility: completing a win-less season at 0 -- 16! The Lion's remain the lone "original" team NEVER to appear in the Super Bowl during its 50-year plus history. If Predators starting dragging away the Lions' moms in Real Life (as happens toward the close of LAMBERT THE SHEEPISH LION), these feckless felines doubtless would rush to get the Predators knives, forks, and napkins! At least the Chicago Cubs could quantify their futility, thanks to a Series Championship in 1908. Guess who they beat W-A-A-A-Y back then? (Hint: It starts with "D," ends with "T," and is followed by the name of the Lion's deplorable litter box mates.)

WE ARE ONCE again reminded of the old adage that there are only so many basic plots. All stories are derivative of these and are only variations; however well and fancifully disguised they may be.THEREFORE, WE WISH to publish our assertion that this, today's honored reviewee. LAMBERT THE SHEEPISH LION (Walt Disney Productions, 1952) is in fact a variation on the story of The Ugly Duckling. The story is also a natural for audiences; being that it brings into play the most elemental struggle between two symbolic opposites. The polar antagonists were the Lamb and the Lion, here displayed in the same venue.INSTEAD OF HAVING a protagonist that is a miscast swan in a duck family, we are treated to the story of a Lion Cub's being raised by a mother ewe as her own little lamb. Of course the little feline, Panthera leo (scientific name), finds it a very difficult way to go. His physical attributes were designed for predatory existence on the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa and not to grazing on grass in Western North America.THE STORY IS cleverly done and tends to give one not only a fine helping of laughs; but also does a good job in warming the old heart. The metamorphosis of the timid misfit lion cub/lamb to the ferocious and fully maned male big cat is done in a way that keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout its running time.IN AN OUTSTANDING move to underscore not only the story's action, but also the mood of the picture is its original musical score. In addition to the incidental music and musical queues, We have the original song, "Lambert The Sheepish Lion"; being sung in a sort of bleating sheep's style.STARTING OFF THE action is a case of a misdirected delivery. Reprising his voice characterization of the stork in DUMBO (Walt Disney Prod., 1942), we have Sterling Holloway. The Stork character was a real scene stealer and kit is no surprise that he would be used again. Our only question would be: How come he wasn't used much more?

I loved this when I was a kid, and as you have already guessed, I adore Disney and all the Silly Symphonies and shorts they did. Lambert the Sheepish Lion is narrated excellently by Sterling Holloway who also narrated the 1946 classic Peter and the Wolf. The short features an amusing title song, has beautiful animation and tells an Ugly Duckling-like story of a lion who can't fit in with his sheep family, as they tease him for being different. The short also has a wolf, who is very similarly designed to the wolf in Peter and the Wolf, and while not as terrifying, has a roar that made my hair stand up. Thank goodness Lambert saves the day and finally gets accepted. Overall, a wonderful jewel, that deserves a 10/10. Bethany Cox.

Three words: Hooray for DVD! DVD has allowed us to have access to things that were previously forgotten in remarkable ways. I ended up seeing this fun little Disney short as an extra on the Fox and the Hound DVD (by the way, The Fox and the Hound is one of my favorite Disney movies, but that's for a different review).This short tells the tale of Lambert, the sheepish lion... the lion that's sheepish cowardly, and lives with a family of sheep, so is sheepish. Get it? It's actually pretty funny, as Lambert tries to fit in only to learn that he has a stronger ability on his side, eventually to earn the admiration of the flock.It's like an ugly duckling story with a twist, one where the duckling rejoins the flock and is appreciated for his difference. Such shorts are always useful to children as they learn to appreciate uniqueness in individuality. This short's presence on The Fox and the Hound is complimentary because it helps reinforce the theme of accepting difference and removing prejudice.--PolarisDiB