Selected by Manouchka Labouba (Research Assistant, Curatorial) 

Disney first developed this original fantasy in the 1950s for the Disneyland TV series, but 20 years later it emerged as a lavish musical mixing live-action and animation in the style of Mary Poppins (1964). In turn-of-the-century New England, a plucky orphan (Sean Marshall) escapes from an unhappy home life and unexpectedly finds a new friend in a large, green (and frequently invisible) dragon named Elliott. Directed by Don Chaffey (Jason and the Argonauts), Pete’s Dragon features an impressively eclectic cast including popular singer Helen Reddy, musical theater great Jim Dale, and big screen vets Red Buttons, Mickey Rooney, and Shelley Winters. The film, which inspired an acclaimed live-action remake in 2016, received nominations for its song score and the song “Candle On The Water,” performed in the film by Reddy

DIRECTOR: Don Chaffey. WRITTEN BY: Malcolm Marmorstein. CAST: Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Shelley Winters. 1977. 134 min. USA. Color. English. DCP.

Family Matinees in August present films chosen by Academy Museum staff. 

Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

Make It Dinner and a Movie

Fanny's Restaurant & Café

All guests who present a ticket for a film screening, Tuesday through Saturday (and the first Sunday of every month), receive 10% off all food and non-alcoholic beverages at Fanny's. Discount only applicable on the same day as the screening and cannot be redeemed for another screening or date. Dinner reservations can be made on OpenTable or Resy.