Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else but Glenn Close playing Cruella de Vil. She didn't just play the role; she basically ate it.
Back in 1996, when Disney decided to take their 1961 animated classic and turn it into a live-action spectacle, the stakes were weirdly high. This wasn't just another remake. It was the birth of the "Disney Villain" as a fashion icon. If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember that laugh. It was sharp, cold, and a little bit terrifying.
The 101 dalmatians movie with glenn close didn't just succeed because of the dogs. It succeeded because Glenn Close decided to treat a kids' movie villain like she was performing Shakespeare at the Globe.
The Casting Choice That Almost Didn't Happen
You’d think Disney would have begged Glenn Close from day one, right? Not exactly. She was actually busy doing Sunset Boulevard on Broadway when the project first started moving.
The producers actually reached out to Sigourney Weaver first. She passed. Then they screen-tested Cathy Moriarty, but the higher-ups at Disney felt she was actually too scary for a family film. Talk about a compliment for an actress.
When the timing finally lined up for Glenn, she had one very specific, very legendary condition. She wanted to keep all her costumes. Every single one of them. Considering how intricate and expensive those pieces were, it was a massive ask. Disney said yes.
Today, she still owns that entire wardrobe. She even has them stored in a professional archive. That's some serious boss energy.
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How Many Puppies Does It Actually Take?
The title says 101, but the math on set was way more complicated. You can't just hire a hundred dogs and hope for the best.
The production ended up using 230 Dalmatian puppies. Why so many? Because puppies grow up fast. Like, really fast. A puppy that was the right size on Monday might look like a teenager by the following Friday.
Each litter of puppies could only "work" for about two weeks before they outgrew their roles. The crew had to constantly cycle in new groups of eight-week-old pups to keep the continuity.
- Puppy Housing: A 2,000-square-foot climate-controlled facility was built just for the dogs.
- Safety First: The American Humane Society was on-site, but so was the RSPCA because they were filming in the UK.
- The Disinfectant Ritual: Every cast and crew member had to walk through a footbath of disinfectant before entering the puppy areas to prevent parvo or other illnesses.
Training these dogs was a logistical nightmare. For the scenes where the dogs had to lick Jeff Daniels (who played Roger), the trainers didn't use magic. They used hot dog water. They literally smeared it on his face right before the camera rolled.
The Wardrobe Was A Weapon
Anthony Powell, the costume designer, didn't want Cruella to just look "mean." He wanted her to look like a predator. He used feathers, teeth, scales, and fake fur to make Close look larger than life.
She wore Manolo Blahnik heels that she later described as "torturous." But she never broke character. In fact, the dogs on set were genuinely scared of her. Whenever she walked onto the set in full gear—the two-tone hair, the massive furs, the sharp nails—the Dalmatians would actually slink away or hide.
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It’s worth noting that while the character "worships furs," every single piece of fur used in the film was fake. Glenn Close insisted on that. She’s a huge animal lover in real life, which makes her performance as a puppy-skinning sociopath even more impressive.
Why The 101 Dalmatians Movie With Glenn Close Still Hits
Most live-action remakes today feel a bit like they were made by a committee. But the 1996 version has a specific grit to it. John Hughes wrote the script. Yes, that John Hughes. The guy behind Home Alone and The Breakfast Club.
He brought that same "slapstick violence" energy to Horace and Jasper, played by Mark Williams and Hugh Laurie. Watching a future Dr. House get electrocuted or fall into a vat of molasses is objectively funny.
The film also changed Cruella’s backstory. In the original, she was just an old school friend of Anita’s. In the Glenn Close version, she’s a high-fashion mogul. She’s the boss. This shift made her obsession with the "perfect look" feel much more dangerous and modern.
Critical And Box Office Reality
Critics were a bit split back then. Some thought it was too loud or too much like Home Alone with paws. But the audience didn't care. It raked in over $320 million worldwide.
Adjusted for inflation, that’s a massive hit. It proved that people would show up for Disney villains if they were played with enough "camp" and conviction.
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Real-World Impact (The Not-So-Great Part)
There is a downside to the movie's success that experts often point to. After the film came out, there was a massive spike in Dalmatian sales. People wanted a "Pongo" for Christmas.
Unfortunately, Dalmatians are high-energy, stubborn, and can have health issues like deafness. Many families weren't prepared for a working dog breed. Within a year, shelters across the US and UK saw a huge influx of abandoned Dalmatians. It’s a classic example of "movie mania" having real-world consequences for animals.
What To Do Next
If you’re planning a rewatch of the 101 dalmatians movie with glenn close, keep an eye on the background details. Specifically, look at the "House of de Vil" office sets. The level of detail in the animal-themed architecture is wild.
If you're an aspiring costume designer or just a film nerd, you can actually see some of Glenn Close’s costumes on display at various museum exhibitions. Her collection is often loaned out to places like the Eskenazi Museum of Art.
Lastly, if the movie makes you want a Dalmatian, do the research first. Look into breed-specific rescues instead of breeders. They are brilliant dogs, but they aren't just "spotted accessories"—they’re a lot of work.
The film remains a masterclass in how to take a cartoon and make it feel physical, heavy, and delightfully stylish without losing the heart of the original story.