A revolutionary breakthrough in live-action and animation, “Pete’s Dragon,” was released by Walt Disney Production in 1977. The story of a young orphan boy named Pete and his dragon, Elliott, the movie was the first Disney feature film to be released on home video in 1980. Animators chose to make Elliott an oriental dragon as such dragons are associated with good fortune. Indeed, Elliott is a do-gooder out to protect his orphaned ward.
The story is set in Maine, where an orphan boy, Pete, runs away for his abusive adoptive family. While the family looks for him, an invisible dragon named Elliott intervenes. Pete thanks Elliott and the two form a close friendship. It is then that Elliott reveals he can be invisible or visible when he chooses. Pete thinks Elliott should stay invisible for his own protection. As they travel further from the Gogans, they land in the fishing town of Passamaquoddy, where the town drunk, Lampie stumbles out of a tavern and sees Pete and Elliott. Unfortunately, nobody believes him. Lampie and Nora live in a lighthouse, where Nora keeps a lookout for her missing fianc, Paul, who has been lost at sea for almost a year, after a shipwreck.
Hiding in a sea cave, Pete and Elliott are soon discovered by the lighthouse keeper, Nora. While visiting the lighthouse, Pete spies a picture of Nora’s fianc, Paul. Upon hearing how Paul was feared dead, Pete tells Nora his dragon, Elliott, can find him. Nora thinks that Elliott is an imaginary friend. Eventually, con men come to Passamaquoddy, who have learned of the dragon and try to persuade Pete to sell Elliott. The Gogans also wander into town trying to reclaim Pete. What follows madcap mania as each group tries to outdo the other.
When a electrical wire falls, threatening the mayor and a schoolteacher, Elliot swoops to the rescue, revealing his existence. Meanwhile, off the coast, a ship is headed for jagged rocks when the lighthouse is hit by a monstrous wave that shatters windows, drenching the oil-lamp. Elliott arrives just in time to light the lamp with his fiery breath. Nora is stunned to discover he exists. The ship is saved and Elliott becomes a hero. Nora’s fianc, Paul finally returns, the sole survivor of the shipwreck. Paul lost his memory until intervention by Elliott made it return and he was on the ship that Elliott saved.
Nora and Paul ask Pete and Elliott to live with them for life, but Elliott informs him he must move on now, that Pete is now safe and has a loving family of his own. He has to fly off to his next assignment to help other children, and with a sad goodbye, Elliott leaves. So ends this heart-warming story of hope and goodness for children everywhere.
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