Melody Time (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Melody Time (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
Donald duck presents disneys tenth animated masterpiece a combination of animation and storytelling beautifully restored to its original brilliance. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/12/2005 Run time: 75 minutes Rating: Nr
Customer Review: Disney's nearly forgotten classic, MELODY TIME
MELODY TIME (1948) is one of the finest cartoons you'll ever see-- truly a timeless work of the highest art. Hosted by Buddy Clark, the feature is divided into seven distinct segments. They are: UPON UPON A WINTERTIME - An idyllic ice skating expedition almost ends in tragedy. Title song by Frances Langford. BUMBLE BOOGIE - Freddy Martin's orchestra with Jack Fina on keys play a solid rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee" against a most surrealistic animation. This same arrangement was later a 1961 pop hit for B. Bumble & the Stingers. THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY APPLESEED - A small masterpiece for Dennis Day, who is Johnny, the narrator and all other voices. At one point, Day sings a duet with himself, as an old and young man. Many have forgotten how talented this Irish tenor really was. LITTLE TOOT - A very cute animation of Hardie Gramatky's tugboat fable is livened up by the vocals of the Andrews Sisters. TREES - Beautifully pastoral. Fred Waring & his Pennsylvanians provide peaceful music and voice for the famous Joyce Kilmer work ("I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree"). This gentle lull leads us to the final two segments, which are Melody Time's best. BLAME IT ON THE SAMBA - Donald Duck and his parrot friend José Carioca (from "The Three Caballeros") meet the Aracuan Bird. He looks much like Woody Woodpecker's predecessor, and acts far more mischievously. Virtuoso organist Ethel Smith is an island of live action surrounded by cartoon mayhem. All dolled up in her Latina best, Ethel's lightning fast fingers and nimble feet play the title song as Aracuan Bird creates havoc. He eventually explodes the organ with a stick of TNT. Ethel continues to play an animated keyboard until the shreds of her instrument reassemble. A very impressive animation. ROY ROGERS and THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS AND PECOS BILL - A lovely star-filled animated night on the desert contains a far-away group of live humans. A slow zoom reveals Roy, his singing companions and kids Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten sitting around a campfire, where we hear (and see) the story of Bill, his horse Widowmaker and Slue-Foot Sue. It's a superb ending to one of Disney's greatest and least appreciated animated features. ALSO RECOMMENDED: MELODY TIME was the third of a trilogy of animation/music features issued by Walt Disney after the end of WWII. The others are MAKE MINE MUSIC (1946) (VHS edition (DVD edition) and FUN AND FANCY FREE (1947) (VHS edition) (DVD edition)
Customer Review: Melody Time
It is a great video for going down memory lane,and also a great educational video of great music and artistry of great cartoons. Real creativity, education, and entertainment all wrapped up in one package.