Terrifying Tuesdays: 101 Dalmatians (1961 and 1996)

How could a movie about 101 Dalmatians possibly be terrifying?  By having a villain as horrific as Cruella De Vil, that's how!  The story lines for both the animated and live action versions of "101 Dalmatians" are very similar, and probably familiar to just about everyone.  In London, a man named Roger Radcliffe with a male Dalmatian named Pongo meets and falls in love with Anita, a woman with a female Dalmatian named Perdita.  They marry and move into a small but cozy home which they share with Nanny, who cares for them all.  They are quite happy, especially when it is discovered that Perdita is expecting a litter of puppies.  Unfortunately, Anita's old acquaintance, the monstrous Cruella De Vil, decides to pay them a visit.  The woman is obsessed with unique and unusual furs, and her devious mind dictates that she must have a coat made of gloriously spotted Dalmatian fur.  She plots to steal the Radcliffe family's Dalmatian puppies as well as many others to fulfill this evil goal.  All of the puppies end up at the remote De Vil estate, but luckily Pongo and Perdita, with the help of many dogs and other animals, are able to locate the pups and lead them away.  After a long trek they successfully make it back home to London.  Cruella De Vil's wicked deed is exposed, and the evil woman is sent to jail.  Roger writes a very successful song based on Cruella De Vil (in the live action version he creates a successful video game), and the Radcliffes are able to buy a large home with acreage in the country spacious enough to accommodate all 101 Dalmatians and the expanding human family as well.

Cruella truly is a terrifying personality in both movies:

From Listverse

From The Fan Carpet

However, these movies are kid-friendly, so the terror is minimal and good does triumph over evil in the end!  The live action version stars Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil, Jeff Daniels as Roger Radcliffe, Joely Richardson as Anita Radcliffe, Joan Plowright as Nanny, and Hugh Laurie as Jasper, one of Cruella's thugs.  Watch these movies to enjoy the outrageous wickedness of Cruella De Vil, as well as the heartwarming cuteness of the Dalmatians!

Interesting Fact: Here are the lyrics of the song "Cruella De Vil" from the animated movie version of "101 Dalamatians":

"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil,
If she doesn't scare you no evil thing will.
To see her is to take a sudden chill.
Cruella, Cruella...

The curl in her lips,
The ice in her stare,
The innocent children had better beware.
She's like a spider waiting for the kill.
Look out for Cruella De Vil!

At first you think Cruella is a devil.
But after time has worn away the shock,
You come to realize,

You've seen her kind of eyes,
Watching you from underneath a rock.

This vampire bat,

This inhuman beast,
She ought to be locked up,
And never released.
The world was such a  wholesome place until,
Cruella, Cruella De Vil!

At first you think Cruella is a devil.
But after time has worn away the shock,
You come to realize,

You've seen her kind of eyes,
Watching you from underneath a rock.

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil,
If she doesn't scare you no evil thing will.

To see her is to take a sudden chill.
Cruella, Cruella...

The curl in her lips,
The ice in her stare,
The innocent children had better beware.
She's like a spider waiting for the kill.
Look out for Cruella De Vil!"

Gore Guide (0=none to 5=extreme): 0