The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) Directed by Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi and James Algar Synopsis Two longer shorts again, each about thirty minutes long. The first is an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows, in which Mr. Toad becomes obsessed with the new invention of automobiles in 1909 England. He’s … Continue reading The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
1940s
Melody Time
Melody Time (1948) Directed by Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske and Wilfred Jackson (supervisors) Synopsis Our tour of Disney’s 1940s package films continues. This time, we have a follow-up to Make Mine Music, with another seven shorts set to various popular and folk songs. Unlike the earlier package film, this one has Fantasia-style introductions … Continue reading Melody Time
Fun and Fancy Free
Fun and Fancy Free (1947) Directed by Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts and Hamilton Luske (animation) and William Morgan (live-action segments) Synopsis Another week, another package film. This time there’s just two longer segments, with some connective tissue involving Jiminy Cricket and a live-action sequence with ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his puppets. The first, “Bongo”, is … Continue reading Fun and Fancy Free
Make Mine Music
Make Mine Music (1946) Directed by Jack Kinney et al (supervisors) Synopsis Much like Fantasia before it, this is a collection of shorter animated segments, each inspired by and incorporating a piece of music. This time around, the theme was the popular music of the day instead of classical works (with a couple of exceptions), … Continue reading Make Mine Music
The Three Caballeros
The Three Caballeros (1944) Directed by Norman Ferguson (supervisor) Synopsis Donald Duck receives a bunch of wrapped presents for his birthday. The first contains a film projector, which shows him three Latin American-themed shorts. Upon opening the second, he finds a pop-up book of Brazil, containing a miniaturized Jose Carioca. Carioca shrinks Donald, and they … Continue reading The Three Caballeros
Saludos Amigos
Saludos Amigos (1943) Directed by a whole bunch of different people Synopsis The first of Disney’s package films, collections of shorts with a unifying theme. In this feature, there are four: Donald Duck visiting Lake Titicaca, Goofy becoming a gaucho in Argentina, the story of a mail-delivering plane named Pedro on his first trip over … Continue reading Saludos Amigos
Bambi
Bambi (1942) Directed by David Hand (supervisor) Synopsis Two years in the life of the mule deer Bambi, from birth, through adolescence with his friends Thumper and Flower, the death of his mother to human hunters, young love, and eventually a great forest fire and the birth of his own children. Production Notes Bambi was … Continue reading Bambi
Dumbo
Dumbo (1941) Directed by Ben Sharpsteen (supervisor) Synopsis Baby circus elephant Jumbo Jr. is given the derisive nickname “Dumbo” on account of his big ears. After his mother is locked up for defending him from abuse, he is forced to become a clown. After getting drunk, he learns that he can use his ears to … Continue reading Dumbo
Fantasia
Fantasia (1940) Directed by Joe Grant, Dick Huemer and Ben Sharpsteen (supervisors) Synopsis Seven dialogue-free animated shorts, each inspired and accompanied by a piece of classical music, with introductions to each short done in live action featuring music critic Deems Taylor. The shorts are: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, by Johann Sebastian Bach, accompanied … Continue reading Fantasia
Pinocchio
Pinocchio (1940) Directed by Ben Sharpsteen and Hamilton Luske (supervisors) Synopsis After an elderly woodcarver wishes for his recently-completed marionette to become a real boy, he is visited by the Blue Fairy who grants his wish. The next day, Pinocchio is sent to school, accompanied by a cricket to be hi “conscience.” He is repeatedly … Continue reading Pinocchio
Cinematic Nostalgia 