The 101 Dalmatians Part 1 – 101 Audio Adaptations, Well… Not Quite
The Hundred and One Dalmatians (or The 101 Dalmatians) is one of those franchises that has a ton of side content. It’s easy to get drowned in a sea of dalmatian puppies. Hopefully, this guide will alleviate some of the confusion about the audio content that exists for the original novel by Dodie Smith, and in Part 2, for the Disney movie and its spin-offs.
Title: The Hundred and One Dalmatians
By: Dodie Smith
Publisher or Label: Listen For Pleasure
Narrator: Joanna Lumley
Release: 1983
Format: Cassette
Type: Abridged Audiobook
Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
This is the first audiobook adaptation of Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel I could find. If you’re used to the Disney adaptation, the original book has several differences. Mr. Dearly/Roger almost always has a different job in adaptations. In the original, he is described as “a wizard of finance” who is so skilled in economics that the British government exempted him from paying income tax for life after he rendered them a service. The biggest difference is that there are two adult female dalmatians. Pongo’s wife is just called Missis in the book, and Perdita is a dog who was brought in to help nurse the fifteen puppies. The broader beats of the story are similar, but the difference is in the many details.
Joanna Lumley has a quiet and soothing voice that makes this version great for bedtime reading. Unfortunately, this version is abridged, so the whole story is not here. Otherwise, this would be a very good version.
Title: The 101 Dalmatians
By: Dodie Smith
Publisher or Label: Listening Library – Random Hosue
Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
Release: 2003
Format: Digital
Type: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
The first unabridged audiobook of The 101 Dalmatians that I could find. Thank goodness one exists at all. Martin Jarvis reads the story well, with his narration matching the matter-of-fact tone of the book’s prose. He is able to read the book’s quirkier lines without breaking the overall feel of the narrative. Fortunately, this is also one of the easiest versions to get hold of since it is still on the market at this time.
Title: The Hundred and One Dalmatians
Series: Jackanory
By: Dodie Smith
Publisher or Label: BBC
Narrated by: Sarah Greene
Released: 1994
Format: VHS
Type: TV Series
This is a VHS of the BBC kids' show Jackanory. This show, which ran from 1965 to 1996, featured actors reading various children’s stories. Sarah Greene is the narrator for The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The video begins with her entering a house with a dalmatian and starting the story as she sits down in the living room. Every now and then, the camera will change angles, zoom in, or switch over to illustrations for the book made by Jake Tebbit. Richard Kelly adapted the story for the show.
This adaptation stays fairly faithful to the book, offering both a visual and narrated experience of the original story. Sarah Greene does a great Cruella. It doesn’t hurt that adorable dalmatian puppies are also brought onto the set during the reading.
Title: The Hundred And One Dalmatians
Series: BBC Children's Classics
By: Dodie Smith
Publisher or Label: BBC Audio
Narrated By: Dramatisation
Release: 1996 (aired), 2006 (published)
Format: CD/Digital
Type: Audio Dramatization
Length: 1 hr and 45 mins
A full cast adaptation of the book, complete with music and sound effects. It’s interesting to listen to, but like other BBC radio dramatizations, some of the added dialogue can feel out of character. There are also added songs that sound a little too discordant with awkward lyrics. I don’t mean to be too negative about this one. The narration and acting are mostly competent, but overall it’s not as good an adaptation as the Jackanory show.
Title: The Starlight Barking
By: Dodie Smith
Publisher or Label: Audible Studios
Narrated By: Delia Corrie
Release: 2011
Format: Digital
Type: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
What a strange direction for a sequel to take. There are some odd, possibly Magical Realism-like elements in the first 101 Dalmatians, particularly relating to Cruella de Vil, but this book takes it to the next level. The plot as described by Audible is, “Waking up late one day, Pongo finds that none of the humans will wake up. He finds out that the same has happened all over the country, and then dogs everywhere hear the voice of Lord Sirius the dogstar, offering to free them from their humans.”
The story somewhat reminds me of Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones, which features Sirius the Dog Star, sentenced by celestial beings to become a dog on Earth until he can locate the Zoi, a deadly weapon. I have not read this book yet, but I will add more of my thoughts here when I get a chance.
So far, that is all the audio content I could find adapting the original novel. I’ll cover the 2009 and 2022 musical soundtracks if I write an article on soundtracks for The 101 Dalmatians. If I come across anything else, I’ll be sure to include it in an update. The next article in this series will cover the Disney movie spinoffs, so be sure to check back for that
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