- This article is about the film. For the character, see Dumbo.
Dumbo is a 2019 American fantasy period adventure film directed by Tim Burton, with a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The film is a live-action adaptation and re-imagining of Walt Disney's 1941 animated film of the same name, which is based on the novel by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl. The film stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Eva Green. The story follows a family that works at a failing traveling circus as they encounter a baby elephant with extremely large ears who is capable of flying.
Plot[]
In 1919, equestrian performer and World War I amputee Holt Farrier returns after the war to the Medici Brothers' Circus, run by Max Medici. While Holt is short one arm, his kids are happy he’s back. The circus has run into financial troubles and Medici had to sell the circus' horses after Holt's wife and co-performer, Annie, died from the Spanish flu outbreak, so Medici reassigns Holt as the caretaker for the circus' pregnant Asian elephant "Mrs. Jumbo" whose baby is due any day now, as the last caretaker had run off with the Bearded Lady. Mrs. Jumbo gives birth to a calf with unusually large ears and Medici orders Holt to hide the ears before allowing the public to see the calf.
However, the calf accidentally reveals his ears in his debut performance in Joplin, Missouri, and the crowd laugh and mockingly name the calf as "Dumbo" while pelting him with peanuts and other objects. Mrs. Jumbo, horrified and enraged by her son's mistreatment, rampages into the ring, causing extensive damage and accidentally collapsing the big top, which results in the death of abusive handler Rufus. Afterwards, to prevent a public relations problem, Medici resorts to selling Mrs. Jumbo and will place Dumbo in the clown act until he can think of something else. Holt's son and daughter, Joe and Milly Farrier, comfort Dumbo and discover that he can fly by flapping his ears. The children also discover that feathers are the key to Dumbo's willingness to fly.
In another performance, Dumbo plays the role of a firefighter clown to put out a fire with water sprayed from his trunk, but the performance goes awry, and Dumbo is trapped on a high platform surrounded by flames. Milly delivers a feather to Dumbo, giving him the confidence to fly. The audience is astounded when Dumbo flies and word of his talent begins to spread. V.A. Vandevere, the entrepreneur and owner of a bohemian amusement park called Dreamland in New York City, decides to pay a visit to the circus. With Dumbo being a huge success, all of Medici's shows in their current location are sold out. After arriving, Vandevere approaches Medici and proposes a collaboration; Medici would become Vandevere's partner and the Medici Brothers' Circus' troupe would be employed to perform at Dreamland.
Later, Vandevere demands that Dumbo should fly with French trapeze artist, Colette Marchant. While she normally flies solo, Colette is willing to work with Dumbo. At first, rehearsals don't go well, but they both learn how to trust each other. Colette and Dumbo's debut performance at Dreamland goes awry with Dumbo nearly falling off a high platform, leading to him trumpeting in alarm since there is no safety net. Dumbo hears his mother's call in response and realizes that his mother is in an exhibit (Nightmare Island) elsewhere in Dreamland. Dumbo flies out of the circus ring, reuniting with his mother, much to the disappointment of the audience. Even the bank manager who is funding Dreamland tells Vandevere he is not impressed, in fact until he sees any improvement, the bank is closed for Vandevere. The family tells Vandevere the reason Dumbo flew out of the coliseum was because he recognized his mother's call. They also tell him Dumbo just wants to be with his mother again, but Vandevere does not allow it however, fearing that Mrs. Jumbo may become a distraction to Dumbo and ruin his reputation, so he orders her to be terminated. Despite the kids' protests, Vandevere won't listen, Millie runs off with Holt following, while Colette comforts Joe. When Holt checks on Joe and goes to look for Millie some more, he wishes he could talk to the kids. Colette assures Holt he doesn't need to be perfect, his kids just need to know he believes in them. After finding Millie in the Science Exhibit, he tells her she's going to do great things. Vandevere also fires all the Medici performers from Dreamland.
When Holt and the rest of the Medici troupe learn that Vandevere intends to kill Dumbo's mother and it's no longer safe for the two elephants to live with them, they resolve to set both her and Dumbo free. The circus performers utilize their various talents to break Mrs. Jumbo out of her enclosure while Holt and Colette guide Dumbo to fly out of the circus. Vandevere attempts to stop them, but starts a fire triggered by the mismanagement of Dreamland's electricity system, which spreads and destroys the park. The kids are pursued by one of Vandevere's employees, Neils Skellig, but Holt stops him. Unfortunately, they are trapped in the fire, but Dumbo gets the family out of the tent and off to the docks. Vandevere confronts Medici about this whole thing, but Medici tells him he has more to worry about than an escaped performer. As a result, Vandevere is officially bankrupt and is arrested and tried for misconduct.
Holt, Colette, the kids, and the troupe bring Dumbo and his mother to the harbor, where they board a ship back to their native home in India, before leaving Dumbo says a final goodbye to everyone. Some time later, the renamed Medici Family Circus is re-established and flourishes with Colette as the newest troupe member, Milly as host of a science lecture exhibit, and performers dressed as animals in line with the circus's new policy of not using wild animals in captivity for entertainment.
Meanwhile, Dumbo and his mother reunite with a herd of wild elephants who applaud their newest members as he flies with joy for their future to come.
Cast[]
- Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier
- Michael Keaton as V.A. Vandevere
- Danny DeVito as Max Medici
- Eva Green as Colette Marchant
- Alan Arkin as J. Griffin Remington
- Nico Parker as Milly Farrier
- Finley Hobbins as Joe Farrier
- Roshan Seth as Pramesh Singh
- Lars Eidinger as Hans Brugelbecker
- Deobia Oparei as Rongo
- Joseph Gatt as Neils Skellig
- Miguel Muñoz Segura as Ivan the Wonderful (as Miguel Muñoz)
- Zenaida Alcalde as Catherine the Greater (as Zenaida Alcalde Alcalde)
- Douglas Reith as Sotheby
- Phil Zimmerman as Rufus Sorghum
- Sharon Rooney as Miss Atlantis
- Frank Bourke as Puck the Organ Grinder
- Ragevan Vasan as Pramesh’s Nephew
- Michael Buffer as Baritone Bates
- Sandy Martin as Verna the Secretary
- Tom Seekings as Teenager in Crowd
- Heather Rome as Stuffy Society Lady
- Scott Haney as Rancher
- Erick Hayden as Rancher
- Greg Canestrari as Heckler
- Chris Rogers as Heckler
- Max Gill as Mean Teen
- Peter Brookes as Mean Teen
- Simon Connolly as Stage Manager
- Nick Bartlett as Armored Truck Driver
- Harry Taylor as Power Tower Guard
- Vincent Andriano as Bridge Guard
- Liam Bewley as Nightmare Island Guard
- Ben Crowe as Dreamland Guard
- Josef Davies as Dreamland Security Guard
- Clive Brunt as Burly Engineer
- Richard Leeming as Pipsqueak Engineer
- Angela Sant'Albano as First Maid (as Angela Ashton)
- Alice Bonifacio as Second Maid
- Philip Rosch as Reporter
- Joseph Macnab as Reporter
- Rob Heanley as Reporter
- Amerjit Deu as Indian Ship Captain
- Lucy DeVito as Coat Check Girl
- Richard James-Clarke as Joplin Man
- Matthew Castle as Joplin Man
- Bret Jones as Joplin Man
- Zee Asha as Joplin Woman
- Carol Been as Joplin Woman
- Jessica Barker-Wren as Joplin Woman (as Jessica Barker Wren)
- Arabella Neale as Woman
- Rosie Akerman as Woman
- Tim Southgate as Vendor
- Edd Osmond as "Dumbo" Performer
- Anatoli Akerman as Clown
- Richard Garaghty as Clown
- Daniel GonÇalves as Clown
- Marjo Nantel as Clown
- Paddy Waters as Clown
- Sergii Shadrin as Knife Thrower
- Nataliia Shadrina as Knife Thrower
- Tom Gaskin as Juggler
- Mehari “Bibi” Tesfamarian as Juggler
- Binyam “Bichu” Tesfamarian as Juggler
- Zolzaya Batmunkh as Contortionist Dancer
- Otgonchimeg Chuluunzorig as Contortionist Dancer
- Ariunchimeg Enkhsaikhan as Contortionist Dancer
- Oldokh Ganbold as Contortionist Dancer
- Benjamin “Bendini” French as Contortionist
- Chirame Shapra as Pramesh’s Troupe
- Govinda as Pramesh’s Troupe
- Iran Singh as Pramesh’s Troupe
- Jana Posna as The Poodle Act
- Jo Osmond as The Cook
- Jewels Gold as Mademoiselle Flambé
- Zelda Rosset Colon as Annie Farrier
- Kristian Kristof as Troupe Leader
- Larysa Semeniuk as Top of the Cake Performer
- Olha Shutiak as Top of the Cake Performer
- Olena Kosiuchenko as Top of the Cake Performer
- Ievgeniia Potas as Top of the Cake Performer
- Nika Amchyslavska as Layer Cake Dancer
- Yulia Bandaliuk as Layer Cake Dancer
- Alexandra Demeter as Layer Cake Dancer
- Liudmyla Dolia as Layer Cake Dancer
- Olena Dolgikh as Layer Cake Dancer
- Radina Filipova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Viktoriia Galishcheva as Layer Cake Dancer
- Iaryna Gerych as Layer Cake Dancer
- Heather Gould as Layer Cake Dancer
- Olivia Grainge as Layer Cake Dancer
- Hanna Hapii as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasiia Hladun as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daria Hopka as Layer Cake Dancer
- Yana Hristova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Yevheniia Hulchak as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasiia Ilina as Layer Cake Dancer
- Zhanina Ivanova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasiia Kanunnikova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Natalia Kara as Layer Cake Dancer
- Krystyna Kholodenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Ganna Kulbida as Layer Cake Dancer
- Zsuzsanna Lakatos as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daria Lytvynenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daria Malikova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasiia Morenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Liubov Myronets as Layer Cake Dancer
- Inna Nahasiuk as Layer Cake Dancer
- Oleksandra Ohiienko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Kateryna Pavlenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Tetiana Plis as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anna Pugachova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Kateryna Roshkovska as Layer Cake Dancer
- Liudmyla Sarzhynska as Layer Cake Dancer
- Volha Shapavalava as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anna Shumeiko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Yana Solodzhuk as Layer Cake Dancer
- Inga Solovyova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daria Sovik as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daria Tsyhipa as Layer Cake Dancer
- Olena Makiievska as Layer Cake Dancer
- Iuliia Slobodian as Layer Cake Dancer
- Réka Szabó as Layer Cake Dancer
- Petya Tocheva as Layer Cake Dancer
- Klaudia Tóth as Layer Cake Dancer
- Zhenina Trashlieva as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anhelina Tsapenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasia Tyshchenko as Layer Cake Dancer
- Daryna Veresiuk as Layer Cake Dancer
- Srebrina Zhelyazkova as Layer Cake Dancer
- Anastasiia Zorina as Layer Cake Dancer
- Terri-Lee Blake as Additional Dancer
- Suan-Li Ong as Additional Dancer
- Beth Willetts as Additional Dancer
- Tom Ball as Clown
- Connor Bartlett as Clown
- Sammy Dinneen as Clown
- Dan Edwards as Clown
- Jonathan Fee as Clown
- Adam Fullick as Clown
- Joe Livermore as Clown
- Chris Lodge as Clown
- David McDuff as Clown
- Hauk Pattison as Clown
- Andrew Rothwell as Clown
- Hillas Smith as Clown
- Dan Thomas as Clown
- Kirk Zammit as Clown
- Jemma Ellison as Horse Rider
- Helen Gilbertson as Horse Rider
- Jasmine Hope Lusher as Horse Rider
- Rosie Howard as Horse Rider
- Harriet Hulbert as Horse Rider
- Claire Jones as Horse Rider
- Jade Lye as Horse Rider
- Vanda Móczár as Horse Rider
- Darcy Nott as Horse Rider
- Kerry Potter as Horse Rider
- Olivia Robertson as Horse Rider
- Kathleen Robinson as Horse Rider
- Philippa Ruth Wilmot as Horse Rider
- Nynke van der Horn as Horse Rider
- Natalie Wood as Horse Rider
- Julian Kershaw as Orchestra Conductor
- Simon Adams as Orchestra
- Navid Asghari as Orchestra
- Andres Austin Bennett as Orchestra
- Robert Bauco as Orchestra
- Stephen Bayley as Orchestra
- Mircea Belei as Orchestra
- Morton Bekkenes as Orchestra
- Jonathan Brooks as Orchestra
- Ken Byrd as Orchestra
- Peter Crebbin as Orchestra
- Hereward Cruttwell-Reade as Orchestra
- Francesco Corallini as Orchestra
- Martin Dare-Edwards as Orchestra
- Jorge Espadas as Orchestra
- Antonio de Faria as Orchestra (as Antonio Faria)
- Harry Farrant as Orchestra
- Sandro Franchini as Orchestra
- Greg Hall as Orchestra
- Martin Kelmanson as Orchestra
- Don Lister as Orchestra
- Nigel Lowe as Orchestra
- Maria Madarova as Orchestra
- Alex Mann as Orchestra
- Lucio Martus Alonso as Orchestra
- Stuart Matthews as Orchestra
- Jon McVea as Orchestra
- Andrew Perry-McAlpine as Orchestra
- Christopher Redwood as Orchestra
- Matthew Rohman as Orchestra
- Alvin Roy as Orchestra
- Harley Stapleton Brister as Orchestra
- Julian Snell as Orchestra
- Shaz Shaz as Orchestra
- James Thomson as Orchestra
- Matthew Trinetti as Orchestra
- James Weight as Orchestra
- Peter White as Orchestra
- Ashely Yeates as Orchestra
- Marcello Zorzi as Orchestra
- Billy Burton as Audience Member
- Nell Burton as Audience Member
- Scarlett Crossley as Audience Member
- Tommy Featherstone as Audience Member
- Desmond Frey as Audience Member
- Che Grant as Audience Member
- Sayer Harrison as Audience Member
- Zaris-Angel Hator as Audience Member
- Faye Larkin as Audience Member
- Valeria Lebedeva-Alexopoulou as Audience Member
- Charlie McGonagle as Audience Member
- Glen Mexted as Audience Member
- Anna Novikova as Audience Member
- Ophelia Parsons as Audience Member
- Rocco Peacock as Audience Member
- Max Reader as Audience Member
- Rocco Wright as Audience Member
Uncredited[]
- Henrihs Ahmadejevs as Circus Roundabout
- Alfie Allen as Dreamland Teen/Reacting Teen
- Kim Allen as Dreamland Teen/Reacting Teen
- Fraz Anthony as New Yorker
- Charles M. Baker as New Yorker
- Charles Robert Barrett as Guard
- Michael Barron as New York VIP
- Sarah Bennani as Lindsay
- Trevor Bennett as New Yorker/Photographer
- Luke Benoit as Medici Worker
- Pierre Bergman as Train Driver
- Alan Brown as Extra
- Pippa Brown as Extra
- Christine Callaghan as Dreamland Visitor
- Luke Clampitt as Backstage Hand
- Jonathan Clifford as Circus Roundabout
- Victoria Coburn as Dreamland Choir
- Bern Collaço as Joplin Audience Member
- Ethan Collins as Child
- Virginia Coronado as Dreamland Audience Member
- David Thomas Coulter as Crowd Member
- Matthew Cox as New Yorker
- Mark Cross as Train Passenger
- Megan Crossland as Dreamland Girl
- Tom Dab as Soldier
- Stuart Daly as Parade Soldier
- Anthony Davies as Dreamland Gentleman
- Elena Deilamy as Child
- Nigel Eaton as New York Gentleman
- Chris Ecob as Dreamland Vendor
- Dimeji Ewuoso as Extra
- Marc Esse as Circus Goer
- Ndongo Faye as Fireman
- Roger Findlay as VIP Circus Audience Member
- Callum Forman as Dreamland Patron
- George Gjiggy Francis as New York Photographer
- Melodie Gibson as 1900's Girl
- Manj Gill as Choir Singer
- Linda Gray as Dreamland Audience Member
- Richard Green as Extra
- Eleanor Ham as Maid
- Ryan Hannaford as Farmer at Circus #1
- Sarah Sayuri Hare as Lady
- Keira Nicole Harris as Dreamland VIP
- Ian Harrod as Townsfolk
- Steve Healey as Dreamland Parade Guard
- Zak Holland as Dreamland Audience Member
- Anthony Hornby as Dreamland Vendor
- Tim Ingall as Joplin Audience Member
- Nick Ivakhiv as Joplin Audience Member
- Tanya J as Extra
- Zander James as Circus Boy #1
- Jiho Jung as Dreamland Girl
- Jackson Kai as Boat Crew
- Lampros Kalfuntzos as Dreamland Patron Guard
- Ethan Keaton ass Dreamland Audience
- Ben Kelleher as Townsfolk
- Simrita Khela as Townsfolk
- Craig Thomas Lambert as Candy Floss Vendor
- Hugo Lambert-Laurent as Medici Worker
- Lillia Langley as Dreamland Circus Audience
- Kamil Lemieszewski as Circus Attendant
- Mickey Lewis as Joplin Policeman
- Keith Lomas as Dreamland Socialite
- Anthony Lowery as Dreamland Engineer
- Nina Mangold as Circus Audience Member
- Daz Martin as Extra
- Matthew David McCarthy as Townsfolk
- Rita McDonald Damper as Dreamland Lady
- Cordelia McGowan as Circus Goer
- Stephen McGowan as Animal Handler
- Paul A Munday as Extra
- Despoina Natsiou as New York Lady
- Philips Nortey as Merchant Lewis
- Hugh O'Brien as Dreamland Gentleman
- Yasmine Odofin as Child at Circus
- Leandro Omuri as Circus Guest
- Rick Osman as Carny/Circus Audience
- Sasha Pal-Born as Edwardian Child
- Ella Parsons as Extra
- Bergman Pierre as Train Driver
- Victor Pietraru as Dreamland Vendor
- Ian Porter as Cavendish
- Leah R. Powell as New Yorker
- Richard Price as Dreamland Parade Guard/Joplin Townsfolk
- Alo Raptopoulos as Extra
- Tom Raybe as Extra
- Mark Reader as New Yorker
- Paul Riddell as Spectator
- Will Rowlands as Mr. Wilcox - Customer
- Rufus as Circus Goer #24
- Stephen Samson as New Yorker
- Bernardo Santos as Circus Attendant
- Ben Matthew Saunders as New York Teen
- Byron Schepen as Crowd Member
- James Thomas Scott as Circus Gentleman
- Zoë Scott as Lavish Apartment Maid
- Tim Secrett as Joplin Man
- Rashid Shadat as Parade Guard
- Venla Shalin as Circus Girl/Joplin Lady
- Jason Shillingford as New York Gentleman
- Mark Shrimpton as Joplin Circus Attendee
- Joakim Skarli as Joplin Audience Member
- John Southgate as New York Man
- Jaymes Sygrove as New Yorker
- Christine Symmonds as Dreamland Girl
- Muriel T as 1920's Circus Goer
- Georgie-May Tearle as Dreamland Lady/Joplin Lady/Medici Lady/New Yorker
- Emily Tebbutt as Dreamland Couple - Ferris Wheel
- Peter Trevor as Railway Worker
- Matt Truman as New Yorker
- Jessie Vinning as Dreamland New Yorker
- Stuart Whelan as Fireman
- Lucy White as Extra
- Arthur Wilde as New Yorker
- Peter Willoughby as Dreamland Orchestra - Trumpet 1
- Rebecca Wilson as Dreamland Woman/New Yorker
- Christian Wolf-La'Moy as Police Driver
- Paul Woodbridge as Crowd Member Running from Fire
- Samuel Woodhams as Ferris Wheel Male
- Charlotte Worwood as Circus Goer
- Ian Yexley as New Yorker
- Alicja Zubel as Extra
Production[]
Development[]
On July 8, 2014, it was announced that a live-action adaptation of Dumbo was in development for Walt Disney Pictures. Ehren Kruger was confirmed as the screenwriter, and Justin Springer will serve as the producer along with Kruger. On March 10, 2015, Tim Burton was announced as the director. On July 15, 2017, Disney announced that Dumbo would be released on March 29, 2019.
Casting[]
In January 2017, it was announced that Will Smith was "in talks" to play the father of the children who develop a friendship with the lovable elephant after seeing him at the circus. However, Smith later passed on the role due to "scheduling conflicts" among other reasons. Chris Pine and Casey Affleck were also offered the role but passed on it before Colin Farrell was cast.
In March 2017, Eva Green and Danny DeVito joined the cast. In April 2017, Michael Keaton joined the cast, rounding out the few prominent adult live-action roles. Tom Hanks was reportedly in discussions for the role before Keaton was cast. During the summer of 2017, Deobia Oparei, Joseph Gatt, and Alan Arkin joined the film.
Filming[]
Principal production on Dumbo commenced in July 2017, in the United Kingdom.
Music[]
- Main article: Dumbo (soundtrack)
Release[]
Dumbo was released in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 29, 2019.
Gallery[]
Posters[]
Principal Photography[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- This was the second live action Disney remake directed by Burton.
- While this film was different from the animated film, the story itself was true to the original.
- According to an interview with Farrell, he stated that all the elephants were CGI.
- In 2022 Burton claimed that after making this movie, Disney had basically become the company that produces the exact same type of films: Musicals, princesses, Marvel and Pixar films. As a result of this, and after being asked to direct a Marvel film, Burton left the company.
External links[]
Dumbo at the Internet Movie Database
