Movie Musings: Disney and More

Cruella De Vill: That’s It!

Cruella De Vill is undoubtedly one of Disney’s most incredible villains! We love to hate her! For one thing, she is very cruel to animals — puppies in particular — and she is also a rich, spoiled brat who believes that her way is the only way.  We get frustrated with her frustration  — and when Cruella isn’t getting her way, EVERYONE has a rough time!  The woman we love to hate - was still a lot of fun - and furnished a lovely canvas for some talented actresses.

Dodie Smith, who wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians novel in 1956, was inspired to create the character of Cruella De Vill, when a friend said of one of her own dalmatians (with no malice intended!), “You know, those dogs could make a lovely fur coat!” The very thought of dalmatians being murdered and skinned just to make fur coats scared Ms. Smith to death, and hence that character of Cruella De Vill was born. Disney purchased the film rights to the book the very next year in 1957, and the animated film was released 4 years after that in 1961. The film was readapted for live-action by Disney in 1996 under the production of renowned teen angst film producer John Hughes, which also led to a sequel, 102 Dalmatians (2000). The character of Cruella De Vill was even written into Disney/ABC’s hit show Once Upon a Time in the show’s 4th season. The novel was also adapted into stage musical which toured the U.S. in 2010. Throughout whether stage, screen or small screen, Cruella De Vill has had many different incarnations, by a number of different actresses.

Betty Lou Gerson voiced Cruella in 101 Dalmatians (1961). Gerson’s first Disney film was Cinderella (1950), where she provided the opening narration for the film. When she lent her voice to Cruella, she also lent her voice to one of the characters in the scene in the film where Horace and Jasper are watching the game show on television, Miss Birdwell. While Gerson provided Cruella’s voice, Mary Wickes did the live-action, referential modeling for the film. (Wickes’s final film role was the voice of Quasimodo’s gargoyle friend, Laverne in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)). In Mary Poppins (1964), Gerson appears as the creepy, elderly woman in the scene where Jane and Michael are running away from their father at the bank.   

2-time Golden-Globe-Winner Glenn Close portrayed Cruella De Vill in its first live-action treatment, 101 Dalmatians (1996). Close received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Cruella, but was beaten by Madonna in Evita (1996). Close reprised the role for 102 Dalmatians (2000). Besides playing nasty Cruella De Vill, close also lent her voice to Tarzan’s loving “ape” mother Kala in Disney’s Tarzan (1999) and also reprised that role for the direct-to-video sequel, Tarzan & Jane (2002). Close also played Nova Prime in Disney/Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and will be reprising that role for the sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (2017).

Rachel York originated the role of Cruella De Vill for 101 Dalmatians: the Musical, which followed the book instead of the Disney films. I had the rare privilege of seeing Ms. York perform the part when the show came to Music Hall at Fair Park in downtown Dallas. 

Susan Blakeslee, who is also voices Wanda and Mrs. Turner in The Fairly OddParents (2001-) voiced Cruella in the direct-to-video sequel, 101 Dalmatians 2: Patch’s London Adventure (2003), and is the current voice behind many of the classic female Disney villains whenever they make an appearance on Disney channel, or in a video game, including The Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, Maleficent, and many others. 

Victoria Smurfit currently plays Cruella De Vill in Once Upon a Time (2011-). Emma Stone has also been attached to star in a live-action prequel film of Cruella’s life entitled Cruella with a released date yet to be set.  

Cruella has one of the most intriguing histories of any Disney character at the studio. She’s been played by many talented actresses over the years, all of whom brought their own unique qualities to the role. It is ironic to think that she was first created by Dodie Smith out of a comment that her friend made, rather than a person that she knew. Cruella will no doubt forever be remembered in film history as one of the most remarkable villains, not just in the history of Disney or of animation, but in films in general as well.