Pete's Dragon (1977 movie)

Pete's Dragon is a 1977 live-action/animated musical movie from Walt Disney Productions. It is a live-action movie but its title character, a dragon named Elliott, is animated. The story is about a young orphan named Pete who goes to the town of Passamaquoddy, a small fishing community in Northeastern Maine. His only friend is a dragon named Elliott. Elliott is also his protector and can make himself invisible.

Pete's Dragon
Directed by	Don Chaffey
Screenplay by	Malcolm Marmorstein
Story by	S.S. Field Seton Miller (short story)
Produced by	Jerome Courtland Ron W. Miller
Starring	Helen Reddy Jim Dale Mickey Rooney Red Buttons Shelley Winters Sean Marshall
Cinematography	Frank Phillips
Edited by	Gordon D. Brenner
Music by	Joel Hirschhorn Al Kasha (Songs) Irwin Kostal
Production company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date	January 1, 1977 (1977-01-01)
Running time	134 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10 million
Box office	$36,000,000[1]

Cast

• Helen Reddy as Nora, the kind daughter of the local lighthouse keeper.
• Jim Dale as Dr. Terminus, a scheming quack and showman.
• Mickey Rooney as Lampie, the local lighthouse keeper and Nora's father.
• Red Buttons as Hoagy, the assistant of Dr. Terminus.
• Shelley Winters as Lena Gogan, the matriarch of the Gogans.
• Sean Marshall as Pete, an orphan escaping the cruel Gogans.
• Jane Kean as Miss Taylor, the strict, no-nonsense, and abusive teacher.
• Jim Backus as the Mayor of Passamaquoddy.
• Charles Tyner as Merle Gogan, the patriarch of the Gogans.
• Gary Morgan as Grover Gogan, Merle and Lena's older sadistic son.
• Jeff Conaway as Willie Gogan, Merle and Lena's younger sadistic son.
• Cal Bartlett as Paul, a sailor who disappeared at sea and Nora's fiancé.
• Walter Barnes as the Captain of the ship Paul returns home on.
• Charlie Callas as the vocal effects for Elliott, a dragon who befriends Pete.

Awards and honors

Academy Awards

Pete's Dragon was nominated for two Academy Awards:^[2][3]

• Academy Award for Best Original Song - Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn for "Candle on the Water"
• Academy Award for Original Song Score - Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn and Irwin Kostal

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Awards

The movie was nominated for four Saturn Awards:^[2]

• Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film
• Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor - Red Buttons
• Saturn Award for Best Costume
• Saturn Award for Best Special Effects

Golden Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association nominated Pete's Dragon for one Golden Globe Award:^[2]

• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score - Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn