The Aristocats on Disney Blu-ray Today!

I remember going to see “The Aristocats” in the theater when it came out in 1970, yep-I’m that old! It has always been one of my favorite Disney movies because of the music. I didn’t know it back then but years later I realized that most of my favorite classic Disney movies had the same songwriting team, The Sherman Brothers, behind them. 

Disney’s spectacular 20th full-length animated feature “The Aristocats” arrives for the first time ever in stunning Blu-ray high definition as a Special Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) and Digital, on August 21, 2012. Featuring a beautiful new digital restoration and great new bonus features, “The Aristocats” invites audiences to relive all the tune-filled feline fun, comedy and adventure of this Disney classic.

The exciting tale takes place in the heart of Paris where a kind and eccentric millionairess, wills her entire estate to ‘Duchess,’ a high society cat, and her three kittens. When the bumbling butler Edgar tries to pull off the ultimate catnap caper in order to secure the fortune for himself, it’s up to alley cat Thomas O’Malley and his band of swingin’ jazz cats to save the day. “The Aristocats” features the voice talents of Eva Gabor, Phil Harris, Sterling Halloway and legendary French singer Maurice Chevalier, who performs the film’s titular opening song. The legendary Disney songwriting team of brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman, get the joint jumping with the jazz-inspired musical numbers “Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat,” “Scales and Arpeggios,” and “Thomas O’Malley Cat.”

“The Aristocats” Special Edition is a purr-fect treat for the whole family. It includes a brand new bonus featurette “The Lost Open” with Richard Sherman taking viewers through the storyboards of a never-before-seen alternate beginning which introduces a deleted character and a deleted song “How Much You Mean To Me” and “Court Me Slowly” written and performed by the Sherman brothers. This song demo was one of the few times Richard and Robert ever sang together. Additional classic bonus features on “The Aristocats” Special Edition include the delightful deleted song, “She Never Felt Alone” and “The Great Cat Family (Excerpt),” which explores the history of cats.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of the bonus features, especially the three that feature Richard and/or Robert Sherman. I love learning about the songs and scenes that don’t make the final edit and this movie had some great songs that have only survived in the Disney archives for over 40 years! I am excited to be able to share a brief clip of “The Lost Open” with you!!!

Add this and all the other great Disney classics that are available today to your shopping list and enjoy sharing these great family films with your family!