A wholesome love story that’s perfect for fans of romance movies and animal lovers.

Lady and the Tramp is a 2019 live-action remake of the beloved 1955 animated film. The movie focuses on the love story between two dogs–the Cocker Spaniel, Lady, and the Schnauzer, Tramp. The two dogs are completely different from each other in terms of physical appearances and personality traits, but over the course of the film, they start to bond after realizing they have more in common than they expected.

This article will discuss how Lady and Tramp’s bond develops over the course of the movie, memorable scenes that tie into the original animated film, and elements that focus on animal welfare.

Lady and Tramp’s Bond

Overall, Lady and the Tramp focuses on the evolving friendship and romance between two dogs with different upbringings. In the beginning of the film, viewers can see how Lady and Tramp lived separate lives before they met. Lady lives in a house with a married couple who’s expecting their first newborn baby. Tramp wanders the streets as a stray dog, stealing food and causing trouble for Elliot, the antagonist of Lady and the Tramp. When Lulu, the couple’s baby is born, the couple becomes busier than ever, and Lady becomes doubtful about whether the couple still loves her. After all, Tramp warns Lady that “when a baby moves in, a dog moves out.” This quote sparks Lady’s uncertainty about her future as well as her interest in Tramp.

In the scene where Lady and Tramp first meet, Lady mistakes Tramp for Trusty, a friend of hers, due to how similar their voices are. She starts to build trust but after discovering Tramp’s identity, she dismisses him. However, when Lady is forced into a muzzle and tries to escape, she finds herself trapped by a vicious street dog named Issac. Tramp immediately comes to her rescue. After being released, Lady discovers that Tramp isn’t the gruff street dog she thought he was and strives to get to know him better.

One memorable and iconic scene from Lady and the Tramp is their spaghetti and meatballs dinner at Tony’s restaurant. As the two dogs have dinner, Tramp reveals that he once had owners who were a married couple. Unfortunately, he was abandoned after that couple had a child, an experience that Lady can relate to. The atmosphere of the restaurant is romantic; the song “Bella Notte,” the two dogs dining together, and the accidental kiss all fit a budding love story. Lady starts to develop trust in Tramp and confesses her insecurities about being discarded. After this vulnerable conversation, the two dogs create a close bond with one another.

Rescue from the Dog Pound

Lady and Tramp may have their differences but they nevertheless realize how important they are to each other. When Elliot takes Lady to the dog pound, she hears Peg and Bull, Tramp’s friends, discuss Tramp’s feelings for Lady. Lady asks herself why Tramp didn’t save her from being captured. Still, Tramp decides to confess his feelings about Lady and how much he cares about her. When Tramp arrives at Lady’s house, Lady, who is locked inside a room, warns him about the rat entering Lulu’s nursery. Before Elliot manages to harm Tramp, Lady and her friends Jock and Trusty set out to rescue Tramp, who she realizes is her true love.

Since both Lady and Tramp care about each other deeply, they display acts of selflessness and put the other dog’s well being before their own. Lady’s owners can see how much Tramp respects Lady and decide to adopt him for his own protection. The ending scene proves how Lady and Tramp’s romance has fully blossomed because they’ll have their canine fairy tale and “happily ever after.”

Setting and Representation

The story of Lady and the Tramp takes place during Christmas Day in 1909. The opening scene of the film sets off a romantic mood, with the soft snow falling, horse carriages on the roads, and romantic music playing in the background. The colorful skies during sunset, twilight, and evening also add to the romantic atmosphere.

Compared to the original animated version of Lady and the Tramp, viewers can see there is a lot of representation of Black people in this live-action adaptation. Many human characters presented in the movie are Black. One of these actors is Yvette Nicole Brown, known for playing Helen on the Nickelodeon teen sitcom Drake & Josh, plays Aunt Sarah, another antagonist of Lady and the Tramp. Still, the film would be vastly improved upon by the addition of minority characters in central and benevolent roles.

In addition, there are many elements of the film that are similar to the elements of classism presented in Disney’s Aladdin: Tramp wandering the streets for food and Lady living her life behind a closed fence with no knowledge of the outside world. This adaptation of Lady and the Tramp features lots of real dogs who talk when no humans are around them, suggesting that animals have their own vibrant personalities and are not, in fact, inferior to us.