Pete's Dragon Production Drawings

Based on a story by Hollywood old-timers Seton I. Miller and S. S. Field, Pete's Dragon divides its time between its flesh-and-blood characters and an animated blue dragon. Pete (Sean Marshall), a lonely orphan boy in turn-of-the-century Maine, runs away from his abusive foster family. He stumbles upon a lovable dragon named Elliot, and the two become inseparable companions. Elliot is visible only to Pete, leading the townsfolk to assume that the boy is a trifle tetched. Pete finally finds happiness with his "new" family, lighthouse-keeper Mickey Rooney and Rooney's daughter Helen Reddy (who sings and sings). By 1977 standards, the combination of animation and live action is acceptable if not remarkable. The best moments belong not to the title characters but to British comic actor Jim Dale as the wacky Dr. Terminus. Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide