Late night Valentine’s Day film: Lady and the Tramp

With Cupid spreading out his wings and everyone dressed head to toe in a label that never goes out of style – love – it’s the perfect time to bring some old world romance back into our lives.  If the umpteen clichés are turning your love ideas rather prosaic, then perhaps we need to learn something from our canine friends.

Still confused? Remember Lady and the Tramp? The famous spaghetti scene from Walt Disney’s iconic animation film is stamped rather well in our memories and does a wonderful lot to ring in the love message.

The movie came out in 1955 and was Disney’s fifteenth fully animated film. Jim Dear and Darling are the devoted owners of Lady, a cocker spaniel.  Feeling a bit left out from the family due to the arrival of a baby, Lady abandons her home. Alone in the big, bad streets she meets Tramp, a lovable vagabond. Tramp teaches Lady to live a “collar-free” life on the other side of town.

An accidental kiss between the scruffy mongrel and the pampered pooch occurs when the two share a dish of pasta and meatballs and slurp the same strand of spaghetti. This wonderful scene almost makes them the Romeo and Juliet of the canine world – perhaps a bit more romantic.

Disney’s most famous couple will now be re-creating this scene, inspiring many of us to follow suit, as Disney has come out with a Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition, available on Disney Digital Blu-Ray and DVD since 7 February.

Charming and simple, this is a love story that can melt any heart, and Lady and the Tramp is our favourite pick for Valentine’s Day.

Bring out the spaghetti, we say.

Dhanya Nair