Post by joplin4 on Aug 24, 2009 20:52:20 GMT -5
As a follow-up to "Saludos Amigos", Walt Disney chose to feature Donald Duck in this package feature. Donald is celebrating his birthday on Friday the 13th. His friends from Latin America have sent him three birthday presents. Each segment is centered around a different gift.
The first gift is a film about strange birds. This is where Donald meets the Aracuan that will haunt him throughout the next few feature films, and even shows up in the House of Mouse later on. This is also where Sterling Holloway narrates "The Cold-Blooded Penguin" and we hear the story of the flying donkey.
In the second segment, Donald opens a pop-up book, featuring his old pal, Jose Carioca, whom he met in "Saludos Amigos". Jose tells him of Baia in a song. Afterward, we enter Baia through the pop-up book. We meet the locals who are portrayed as live-action characters. Donald falls for a local girl, and the three end up going for a night on the town as the book closes.
The third segment introduces a new character, Panchito, from Mexico. He brings Donald's third gift, a pinata. Donald, Jose, and Panchito become known as "The Three Caballeros", who travel through various scenes in a picture book of Mexico on the magic serape. The audience is offered a picturesque view of Mexican scenes and a look at the culture and history of Mexico. The film ends with a fantastic fireworks display, celebrating friendship that crosses cultural lines.
Walt Disney masterfully mixes live action actors with animated characters to display the history and culture of Latin America. With this film, he reached out to allies of the United States to drum up support for the war effort and friendship between the countries.
Released: World premiere in Mexico City on December 21, 1944. US release on February 3, 1945.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Sound: C. O. Slyfield
Best Scoring of a Musical Picture: Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, and Charles Wolcott
What are your thoughts about this film?
The first gift is a film about strange birds. This is where Donald meets the Aracuan that will haunt him throughout the next few feature films, and even shows up in the House of Mouse later on. This is also where Sterling Holloway narrates "The Cold-Blooded Penguin" and we hear the story of the flying donkey.
In the second segment, Donald opens a pop-up book, featuring his old pal, Jose Carioca, whom he met in "Saludos Amigos". Jose tells him of Baia in a song. Afterward, we enter Baia through the pop-up book. We meet the locals who are portrayed as live-action characters. Donald falls for a local girl, and the three end up going for a night on the town as the book closes.
The third segment introduces a new character, Panchito, from Mexico. He brings Donald's third gift, a pinata. Donald, Jose, and Panchito become known as "The Three Caballeros", who travel through various scenes in a picture book of Mexico on the magic serape. The audience is offered a picturesque view of Mexican scenes and a look at the culture and history of Mexico. The film ends with a fantastic fireworks display, celebrating friendship that crosses cultural lines.
Walt Disney masterfully mixes live action actors with animated characters to display the history and culture of Latin America. With this film, he reached out to allies of the United States to drum up support for the war effort and friendship between the countries.
Released: World premiere in Mexico City on December 21, 1944. US release on February 3, 1945.
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Sound: C. O. Slyfield
Best Scoring of a Musical Picture: Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, and Charles Wolcott
What are your thoughts about this film?