Pete's Dragon (1977)

Set in New England in the early 1900s, an orphan (Sean Marshall) is running away from his abusive family with the assistance of a dragon, who is able to render himself invisible. He hides out in a cave on the seashore where he is found by the lighthouse keeper's daughter (Helen Reddy), who takes the boy under her protection. Based on the short story PETE'S DRAGON AND THE U.S.A. by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and directed by Don Chaffey (JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS). The film received mixed reviews although the animation was praised which I find surprising because the animation (the dragon is the only animation in the movie) seems simplistic to me. This was a big budget Disney family musical but it doesn't look it. The film is full of rear projection shots and one is constantly cognizant of the actors reacting to something that isn't there when they were filming but animated in. It's also heavily sentimental. On the plus side, the songs by Oscar winners Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (best song, The Morning After from THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE) are very good and Onna White's (OLIVER!) choreography is lively. Disney was hoping for another MARY POPPINS type success but the film's grosses were disappointing though it still turned a small profit. With Mickey Rooney, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Jim Dale, Jim Backus and Jane Kean.