Baritone Bates is a minor character featured in the 2019 live-action film Dumbo. He is the ringmaster of Dreamland, a circus-themed amusement park owned by V.A. Vandevere. He introduces Dumbo, the flying elephant, to the audience with his signature phrase "Let's get ready for Dumbo!".
Background[]
Personality[]
Baritone Bates is a charismatic and flamboyant showman who works for Vandevere. He wears a red coat, a top hat and a monocle. He has a deep and booming voice that commands attention. He is loyal to Vandevere and follows his orders without question. He seems to enjoy his job and the spectacle of Dreamland.
Behind the scenes[]
Baritone Bates was played by Michael Buffer, a famous ring announcer known for his catchphrase "Let’s get ready to rumble!". Buffer said that he was contacted by the casting director Susie Figgis to see if he was available for the role. He said that he enjoyed working with Burton and the cast and that he was impressed by the visual effects of the film.
His phrase "Let's get ready for Dumbo!" is a variation of Buffer's trademark "Let's get ready to rumble!", which he has used since 1984 in various boxing matches and other events.
Role in the film[]
Baritone Bates first appears when Vandevere visits the Medici Brothers' Circus, where Dumbo is performing. He accompanies Vandevere as he offers to buy Dumbo and hire Holt Farrier and his children, Milly and Joe, to work at Dreamland. He also witnesses Vandevere's proposal to Colette Marchant, a French trapeze artist. At Dreamland, Baritone Bates is in charge of announcing Dumbo's act, which involves him flying around a giant model of Paris with Colette on his back. He also introduces other attractions at Dreamland, such as Nightmare Island, where dangerous animals are kept.
When Dumbo learns that his mother, Mrs. Jumbo, is also at Dreamland, he flies away from his act to find her. Baritone Bates tries to stop him but fails. He then alerts Vandevere, who orders him to lock up Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo and send them away. Later, when Holt and the Medici circus performers plan to rescue Dumbo and his mother, they sabotage Dreamland's attractions and cause a fire. Baritone Bates tries to evacuate the audience and maintain order, but he is knocked down by a falling sign.
Trivia[]
- During the part where Bates announces Dumbo's act, he announces, "You've seen a horse-fly, you've seen a dragon-fly, you've even seen a house-fly... but you haven't seen anything until you see an elephant fly!", this is a reference to the song "When I See an Elephant Fly" from the original film, although it was not physically sung in the remake.
- Bates was created exclusively for the 2019 remake of Dumbo and has no original counterpart.
- ‘His quote “Let’s get ready for Dumbo!” is a parody of his actor Michael Buffer’s catchphrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!”
