171. Pete's Dragon (1977)

J.B. and Eddie dive into Pete’s Dragon (1977), the live-action/animation hybrid that Disney hoped would recapture the magic of Mary Poppins. They break down the film’s unexpected musical format, its Broadway-style numbers, and how it compares to the 2016 remake. From discussing Disney’s obsession with orphan stories to the oddest elixir ever sold, they unpack the film’s quirks, its animation legacy, and its presence in the Disney Parks. Plus, stay tuned for the latest Disney news, including South by Southwest announcements, the Snow White PR disaster, and Disney’s massive pullback on Disney+ content.Timestamps00:00 – Intro00:02:34 – Initial reactions: “Wait… this is a musical?”00:03:36 – The film’s connection to Mary Poppins and The Apple Dumpling Gang00:05:52 – Disney’s obsession with orphan stories00:08:07 – Comparing the 1977 and 2016 versions of Pete’s Dragon00:13:06 – The most uncomfortable song in the film00:15:34 – The strangest elixir ever00:16:17 – Was this secretly a human trafficking story?00:18:02 – Pete’s Dragon in the Disney Parks: The Main Street Electrical Parade00:21:02 – Disneyland’s 90s Night: Where’s The Rescuers?00:26:25 – Disney Imagineering’s full PR push at South by Southwest00:28:05 – Disney’s bizarre, Snow White “no press allowed” premiere00:30:41 – The Snow White box office disaster: How bad will it be?00:36:28 – Disney officially pulling back from Disney+ original films00:40:40 – J.B.’s daughter is officially hooked on Disney Parks