My Weird Love Affair With Disney’s Pete’s Dragon (1977)

Original poster of Pete’s Dragon (1977) © Disney

CW: references to racism, child physical abuse and exploitation, kidnapping, sexual harassment, slavery, cannibalism, fatphobia, and graphic violence

Welcome to my Pete’s Dragon extravaganza!

While writing my forthcoming sci-fi romance, a story element in Pete’s Dragon sparked an idea for the book. The story, an f/f time travel romance, features geeky characters doing geeky things, so adding a Pete’s Dragon reference fit right in. Then, feeling nostalgic, I decided to re-watch the movie, which I hadn’t seen in decades but remember pretty well.

Despite fond memories of the movie, I’d never bought a copy of it. Conveniently, my family recently signed up for Disney+ (purely to watch the Ms. Marvel show but there were other benefits, too, like having access to the classic Kurt Russell film The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. Kidding—we could barely get through thirty minutes of that schlock.). Therefore, I could easily re-watch Pete’s Dragon. If nothing else, it counted as research for my WIP, heh.

Talk about a nostalgia trip! Pete’s Dragon is still entertaining in its goofy way even if the musical numbers dragged a bit at times—but that could have been because I was no longer a member of the target audience. One thing I appreciated more as an adult viewer was the actors’ performances. The acting is solid even though most of the characters were portrayed in wildly over-the-top ways.

The re-watch also gave me new insights into the story as well as a few Deep Thoughts. Therefore, I decided to unpack some of the questionable messages in this film, including some I consider downright problematic. I first watched Pete’s Dragon as a child, so I lacked any kind of historical context for the scenes unspooling before me. Nor did my parents have the analytical skills to deconstruct the themes and subtext, let alone the inclination.

All art is political, and Pete’s Dragon is no exception. Therefore, I’m going to examine some of the film’s scenes with the knowledge I’ve gained decades later as an adult. Pete’s Dragon is weirdly entertaining, but also has a lot of content worth questioning. That said, this won’t be a comprehensive analysis. I’m going to provide a bit of social commentary and also have some fun doing a basic recap of the movie.

Note #1: I don’t have a background in film criticism, but I do have a passion for analyzing movies and shows with regard to their strengths and weaknesses, sometimes with regard to social justice issues.

Note #2: This post is ideal for folks who have already seen the movie and therefore have context for my observations. If you haven’t seen it, beware of major spoilers!

New promotional image of Pete’s Dragon (1977) © Disney

What is Pete’s Dragon?

Pete’s Dragon is a 1977 Disney fantasy musical film that takes place in the early 1900s. Like many Disney movies, it’s a mix of animation and live action. It’s about a boy, Pete, and his dragon, Elliott. The story begins when Pete escapes the abusive family that bought him—yup, bought—and Elliott helps protect him while they’re on the run. They end up at a Maine fishing village called Passamaquoddy, where lighthouse keepers Nora and her father take Pete under their wing. It’s basically a found family story.

American screenwriter Seton I. Miller had written the story of Pete’s Dragon waaaay back in 1957. He sold it to Disney, but development on the project stalled for another two decades. Disney initially planned on turning the story into an episode of its Disneyland series, but ultimately reshaped it into a feature film.

The Pete’s Dragon 1977 cast

Here’s a list of the main cast members. Some of these actors had been longtime movie and television stars by the time 1977 rolled around, which gives you an idea of how old school Pete’s Dragon is!

Sean Marshall (Pete)

Helen Reddy (Nora)

Jim Dale (Dr. Terminus)

Mickey Rooney (Lampie)

Red Buttons (Hoagy)

Jeff Conaway (Willie Gogan)

Gary Morgan (Grover Gogan)

Shelley Winters (Lena Gogan)

Charles Tyner (Merle Gogan)

Cal Bartlett (Paul)

Jim Backus (Mayor of Passamaquoddy. Incidentally, Backus also played Mr. Howell on Gilligan’s Island. Small world, that Hollywood)

Charlie Callas as the voice of Elliott.

Movie poster of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. © Disney

An interesting bit of Pete’s Dragon trivia

During my re-watch, I thought the animation as well as the compositing held up fairly well. While researching the film for this post, I discovered that assistant director Don Hahn later worked on one of my favorite films, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). Now I know why the animation and compositing in Pete’s Dragon seemed so familiar!

Deep Thoughts About Disney’s Pete’s Dragon

It’s an interesting narrative choice to begin the movie with Pete and Elliott already in a friendship. The backstory of how they met is barely there—“he just came to me”—Elliott explains. It’s not really a technique studios would let a filmmaker get away with today, as evidenced by how the 2016 Pete’s Dragon remake revealed how they met. Maybe Miller’s original, unpublished short story includes more information, but I fear that part of the tale will be forever lost to history.

Anyway, when the film begins, Pete is on the run from his abusive “family,” with Elliott as his willing accomplice. We’re introduced to the Gogans, the shittiest mountain family this side of the Appalachian. I gotta wonder if the chase scene between the Gogans and Pete is an homage to Deliverance (1972). Seriously, there are some vibes.

The Gogan family villains from Pete’s Dragon (1977) © Disney

One detail that shocked me upon re-watching the movie is how violent the lyrics are for the first musical number, “The Happiest Home in These Hills.” Check ‘em out:

I'll cook you cake and gingerbread, bring you tea in bed, on a tray
We'll slave while you go fishin', you'll get permission to run and play
These tears oughta show you I care, come back, by crackin' we"ll share the happiest home in these hills, in these hills

Gonna stag him, gag him, drag him through town, put his head in the river, let the pup drown
Trap him, strap him, wrap him in a sack, yeah
Tie him screamin' to a railroad track

We'll have you sing in a chapel, you'll be the apple of Mama's eye
I'll tend to all your sewing, and do your mowing, so just rely on me
Dang, we know you're out there, it's late!
We're waiting to share the happiest home in these hills, in these hills

Gonna paw him, saw him in half, when he cries out for mercy, we'll just laugh
Beat him, heat him, eat him for dessert, yeah
Roast him gently so the flames won't hurt, yeah

You'll swim, and you'll go campin', you'll be a champ in your own backyard
Our love is overflowin', it keeps on goin'
We'll sleep good knowin' you're home, in these hills

We're gonna string him from a tree
In these hills
We're gonna sting him like a bee
In these hills
We're gonna spill him on his head
In these hills
We're gonna fill him full of lead
In these hills
In these hills
In these hills
In these hills
In these hills

Can you believe it? The Gogans are going to SAW PETE IN HALF AND EAT HIM FOR DESSERT. That’s cannibalism. They’re admitting to being cannibals. But first, they’re going to hang him from a tree. I don’t need to spell out what that means. That visual is horrifying.

Before I discuss the song’s content further, I need to point out that the song is catchy and memorable. Overall, the music in Pete’s Dragon is decent. Dare I say…good? I must have owned the soundtrack album as a kid because during my re-watch I remembered the songs like it was yesterday. I think I had this one:

Soundtrack album from Pete’s Dragon © Disney

Naturally, the whole point of the scene is to show how vile the Gogans are—and they’re despicable with a capital D. But this is a family movie, one especially aimed at children, so the graphic nature surprised me upon revisiting it. That said, I don’t consider the lyrics to be gratuitous. They’re an integral part of the story and characterization. I’m more so shocked by their subtext.

This story clearly broadcasts that child abuse and exploitation are bad and that cannibals like the Gogans are evil. They’re meant to be unlikeable and condemned, but given Pete’s skin color, an unsettling subtext emerges: abuse is horrible and abusers are clearly villains—when the victim is a white boy like Pete.

Pete’s Dragon struck me as, in part, a projection about many white peoples’ fear that they are in danger of being subjected to the same atrocities as enslaved Black people were in the United States. Case in point: “We’ll fill him full of lead” and “We’ll slave while you go fishin’.” Yikes.

Many white authors have channeled this fear in numerous science fiction and fantasy stories. For example, stories that feature enslaved white people in futuristic settings.

In the case of Pete’s Dragon, that abuse must be stopped! For unknown reasons at first, Pete automatically gets a dragon as his knight in shining armor and the movie sends the message that he’s entitled to this magical and wondrous protection. Can you imagine a Black version of Pete getting the same help in a fantasy film like this? Think about how subversive that would be. Of course, this is America and Hollywood, so naturally, the white filmmakers imagined this story in terms of the threat to a white male child (who is probably also cisgender). I doubt it even occurred to them to make Pete a character of color. Or a girl of color, for that matter.

Abuse and labor exploitation are horrible no matter who the victims are. But by making Pete white, the movie made a choice to center the pain of a white boy. White male children have been victims of abuse through the ages—that’s not the issue. What’s at issue are the thousands, if not millions, of Black children whom white people harmed during the centuries of slavery upon which the United States was built.

Where is their dragon savior?

Ironically—maybe—the villains in Pete’s Dragon—the Gogans, Doctor Terminus, and the female elementary school teacher who physically abuses Pete onscreen—are white. It’s as though the filmmakers are admitting that white people can be so evil that they turn on other white people and should be stopped, particularly by “good” white people.

The subtext seems muddled to me, so I can’t parse exactly what the filmmakers are trying to convey on this topic. Yet the film doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Pete’s Dragon exists in a world with systemic racism and subtly acknowledges that in one of its songs. How much of Pete’s Dragon is about a general condemnation of abuse (which just happens to default to a white boy) and how much of it is an attempt to launder the reputation of white people (“We’re not all bad; only some of us enslaved Black people for hundreds of years.”)?

Screenshot of Lampie and Pete from Pete’s Dragon © Disney. Lampie is so drunk in this scene you gotta see it to believe it.

Passamaquoddy: den of depravity

After another musical and some traveling, Pete and Elliott seek refuge in Passamaquoddy. Pete has a challenging time keeping Elliott a secret even when the mischievous dragon is invisible. But honestly, that’s the least of this kid’s problems.

There are no less than two alcoholic characters in this film, Lampie the lighthouse keeper and Hoagy, Doctor Terminus’ sidekick. Naturally, their conditions are played for laughs. Sigh.

It’s wild how freely the alcohol flows in this film! One of the musical numbers is set in the local bar, with customers guzzling beer all over the place. There’s also a jaw-dropping musical number involving Lampie’s daughter Nora, who’s been dancing on a beer barrel. Toward the end of the song, a spray of beer foam shoots up in front of her. The framing makes it appear like one of the dudes in the bar is ejaculating right below her.

Nora dancing on a beer barrel as “beer foam” spurts into the air all around her. Pete’s Dragon © Disney

And she’s happy about this huge spurt. What the ever-loving f**k?! That shot can *not* be some innocent mistake. The subtext—whew!

On a more serious note, some of the bar patrons sexually harass Nora. It’s not funny when they grab her; it’s disturbing. What’s even the point, that she has sex appeal? We know that just by looking at her. Also, wouldn’t these townspeople know she has a fiancé? Just because Paul has been lost at sea for a year and is probably never coming back doesn’t mean the other single men can try and get with Nora. Talk about disrespect. I hate those guys.

Moving right along…

Later in the movie, even Elliott gets drunk! Is Pete’s Dragon a family film, or a beer commercial?

The alcoholism and beer drinking are interesting, though, because the story doesn’t shy away from depicting the reality that many adults drink and develop addictions to alcohol. Passamaquoddy is populated by hardworking fishermen and other working-class folks, so I guess they need alcohol to unwind at the end of the day. Well, except for the women-only the men do the drinking and smoking in this town, apparently.

The Mayor smokes a big-ass cigar—or tries to.

Mayor of Passamaquoddy (Jim Backus) from Pete’s Dragon © Disney

Anyway, Pete then meets Lampie, Nora, and a bunch of the townspeople. Nora gives him shelter. Meanwhile, rumors start flying about a dragon being in town.

Doctor Terminus and his sidekick Hoagy from Disney’s Pete’s Dragon (1977) © Disney

How To Fillet Your Dragon

Doctor Terminus is the other main villain of Pete’s Dragon. I mean, THIS GUY! He’s such a grifter, always scheming for ways to make money. He’s the king of snake oil salesmen and literally sells bogus tonics to gullible customers. I do question if he’s even a real doctor.

His partner in crime is Hoagy. These two conspire to trap Elliott so Doctor Terminus can make potions from the dragon’s various body parts. Nasty, nasty men—but great villains.

Check out the “Passamaquoddy” musical number on YouTube if you like. In addition to showcasing Doctor Terminus’ quackery and slick dance moves, this sequence reveals that there are actually some Black citizens in Passamaquoddy—and one of them even has a speaking part! Another way you can tell Pete’s Dragon is diverse is that one of the white male characters is uncommonly tall. Representation matters! /sarcasm

During this song, there’s an unfortunate example of fatphobia on display when a previous customer accuses Doctor Terminus of selling her a weight-reduction potion that made her fat. He responds by saying there’s now more of her to love—and she eats it up! Difficult to say if his comment is subversive or merely his attempt to positively reframe his shoddy product.

While dreaming of getting rich from dragon medicines, Doctor Terminus and Hoagy sing “Money by the Pound,” another fun musical number. Consider that unit of measurement for a moment—money by the pound would make these guys happy. Given the corruption of today’s tax-haven-loving billionaires who refuse to pay their fair share of taxes, that amount is so quaint.

Nora Vs. Ma Gogan

At this point in the movie, the Gogans show up in Passamaquoddy to claim Pete with their “bill of sale.” Like the lioness she is, Nora—with a lot of help from Elliott—prevents the Gogans from laying their greasy hands on Pete. But the Gogan sons, as if they weren’t bad enough, still had an opportunity to make skeevy remarks about sexually assaulting Nora. Pete’s Dragon really goes to some dark places at times.

During the “Bill of Sale” musical number, you can just tell that Nora and Ma Gogan were fixin’ to fight. My official headcanon is that Nora was going to kick Ma Gogan’s ass. The scene was flirting with the idea big time. If it weren’t for the need to have Elliott swoop in and save the day, we would have had that glorious fight scene.

Someone needs to write the fanfic of Nora having a knock-down, drag-out fight with Ma Gogan. I’d read the hell out of that.

The Legion of Doom

Doctor Terminus sprouts a genius evil plan to join forces with the Grumpy Fishermen (who are mad because Elliott has been scaring away the fish) and the Gogans to capture Pete and Elliott. The Gogans will get Pete, Doctor Terminus will get Elliott, and the Grumpy Fishermen will get their fish back. A win-win-win!

My Pete’s Dragon re-watch made me realize that this plot point is the root source of why I like the tropes of a) characters joining forces b) villains joining forces and c) grumpy fishermen.

Doctor Terminus, in his mustache-twirling way of rallying the villain troops, made this trope look pretty darn cool. Did I mention the really obvious way he goes about it? He should have won an “Over the Top” Oscar for his performance.

And the best romantic song award goes to…Candle on the Water

Screenshot of Nora as she sings “Candle on the Water” from Pete’s Dragon (1977) © Disney

Pete’s Dragon only had modest success at the box office, but Nora’s musical number, “Candle on the Water” became a breakout hit. She sings the song while standing at the top of the lighthouse. Nora is pining for Paul and you know what? Power to her.

Nora was one of my earliest on-screen crushes. “Candle on the Water” is really romantic and a touch bittersweet. Her performance gets you rooting for Paul’s return. I wouldn’t say the movie’s worth watching just for this scene, but honestly, that’s pretty much what I’m saying.

One aspect of the Nora-Paul subplot that amused me is how Pete goes about engineering a search for Paul. After Nora gives him shelter, he’s feeling super grateful. So what does he do? He marches up to Elliott and says,

“Nora's so nice to me, I want us to do something for her. I want you to concentrate on finding Paul for Nora.” [emphasis mine]

I mean, doesn’t that make Pete kind of an asshole? Poor Elliott has to do all the work. But Pete’s a kid, so you gotta laugh.

And the rest…

The villains unleash their plan, kidnap Pete and Elliott, and bumble about as bumbling villains are wont to do. Their plan unravels because they’re so freaking incompetent and then Elliott saves the day. The next morning, Paul returns to Passamaquoddy! He and Nora are happily reunited. And guess what, Paul? You’ve got a surprise kid you never consented to have. Congratulations, Pops!

Elliott departs so he can move on to saving the next kid on his list. And guess what? It turns out to be that white boy in the 2016 Pete’s Dragon reboot! Ah, well. Can’t win ‘em all.

Cue the end credits.

Despite its problematic elements, Pete’s Dragon is a heartfelt film that means well. But parts of the story reflect the dark side of human nature as well as reveal how the unconscious biases of filmmakers can make their way into a movie.

Well, it’s been one heck of a brazzle dazzle day working on this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.

P.S. Yes, I saw the Pete’s Dragon remake. It was underwhelming and not nearly as bonkers or entertaining as the original. I don’t remember any of it, so I won’t be taking questions at this time.

Screenshot of Pete and Elliott from Pete’s Dragon © Disney