An Elephant War Pact….

Operation Dumbo Drop is a 1995 American action comedy war film directed by Simon Wincer. The screenplay was written by Gene Quintano and Jim Kouf, based on a true story by United States Army major Jim Morris. The film stars Danny Glover and Ray Liotta as Green Berets during the Vietnam War in 1968, who attempt to transport an elephant through jungle terrain to a local South Vietnamese village which in turn helps American forces monitor Viet Cong activity. Denis Leary, Doug E. Doug, and Corin Nemec also star. The film deals broadly with themes of war, politics and animal welfare.

Operation Dumbo Drop is based on a true story about the cooperation of South Vietnamese villagers and the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. The U.S. Army viewed many villages as having a strategic value due to their proximity to enemy supply routes, such as the Ho Chi Minh trail. Elephants found in villages were typically the primary source of farm labor. To appease hostile villagers, the U.S. offered elephants as a token of appreciation. According to Danny Glover, one such operation took place specifically on April 4, 1968, but received fairly little coverage due to the death on the same day of a Vietnamese military leader and also the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. The film is based on a story depicted by retired United States Army Major Jim Morris, who related his experiences surrounding the elephant air-drops during the war.

A 26-year-old Asian elephant Tai was used for the part of Bo Tat. The female elephant was chosen for the part because of her calm demeanor and friendly disposition, which allowed her to be placid and relaxed during scenes with simulated gunfire. Many depictions in the film such as the elephant being sedated and lying down or following that, moving her legs and standing up were actually accomplished with an animal trainer.

Operation Dumbo Drop is the Featured Film Blog of the month for November, for its peculiar true story within the Vietnam War. You can expect to read a critique of the 1995 film that evaluates the mixed reviews, and sentimalized story within the horrific war. You can also read a recommendation for the film that takes into account the reception of the film. There is also a review of Operation Dumbo Drop from the film’s original release by Roger Ebert. For the interview, Lainie Loo Entertainment looks back at the Disney film based on a true story that while dismissed by critics, has found an audience in the years since its original release. There is also a Top Ten List to commemorate the film being a Featured Film Blog of the month, and for Operation Dumbo Drop, the topic of the list is My Top Ten Elephant Movies! And finally, as a Featured Film Blog of the month, you can watch the Official Trailer for Operation Dumbo Drop, and then plan on streaming it tonight with your subscription to Disney+!

SCROLL DOWN AND WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER!

Operation Dumbo Drop is available now with a subscription to Disney+…