Released in 1977, “Pete’s Dragon” is a live action, animated feature film. Using a radical new mixture of live-action and animation, the story centers on a young orphan boy named Pete and his dragon, Elliott. The movie was the first Disney feature film to be released on home video in 1980. Animators chose to make Elliott an oriental dragon as oriental dragons are associated with good fortune. In “Pete’s Dragon,” Elliott is a do-gooder, constantly trying to dragon do-gooder for the protection of a little orphan boy, and those in need.

The plot follows the beleaguered orphan, Pete, as she escapes from his abusive family in Maine. While the grim family hunts for him, an invisible dragon named Elliott intervenes. Pete thanks Elliott and the two form a close friendship. It is then that Elliott reveals he can be invisible or visible when he chooses. Pete thinks Elliott should stay invisible for his own protection. As they travel further from the Gogans, they land in the fishing town of Passamaquoddy, where the town drunk, Lampie stumbles out of a tavern and sees Elliott. To his chagrin, none of the townspeople believe him. Meanwhile, Pete and Elliot are taken in by Lampie and Nora live in a lighthouse, where Nora keeps a lookout for her missing fianc, Paul.

Finding shelter in a nearby cave, Pete and Elliott are soon found by the local lighthouse keeper, Nora. While staying at the lighthouse, Pete sees the picture of Nora’s fianc, Paul and tells Nora that his dragon, Elliott can find him because he has a way of knowing things. Nora thinks that Elliott is an imaginary friend. Eventually, con men come to Passamaquoddy, who have learned of the dragon and try to persuade Pete to sell Elliott. The Gogans also wander into town trying to reclaim Pete. What follows is joint turmoil for the townspeople and Pete, Nora and Lampie as they try to escape all of them, with Elliott’s assistance.

When a electrical wire falls, threatening the mayor and a schoolteacher, Elliot swoops to the rescue, revealing his existence. Meanwhile, off the coast, a ship is headed for jagged rocks when the lighthouse is hit by a monstrous wave that shatters windows, drenching the oil-lamp. Elliott arrives just in time to light the lamp with his fiery breath. Nora is stunned to discover he exists. The ship is saved and Elliott becomes a hero. Nora’s fianc, Paul finally returns, the sole survivor of the shipwreck. Paul lost his memory until intervention by Elliott made it return and he was on the ship that Elliott saved.

When all the action dies down and life returns to normal, Nora and Paul ask Pete and Elliott come live with them. Pete is overjoyed, but Elliott insists he must move on. Since Pete is safe in a loving family, he must move on to help the next child in need. As the film ends, Pete bids his flying friend a bitter-sweet farewell.

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