Make Mine Music (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Make Mine Music (Disney Gold Classic Collection)
Sometimes referred to as "the Poor Man's Fantasia," Make Mine Music (1946) was the first of the "package features" Walt Disney released after World War II. Instead of Bach and Beethoven, the artists illustrated segments set to popular music by Benny Goodman, Dinah Shore, and the Andrews Sisters. Originally set to Debussy's "Claire de Lune," "Blue Bayou" remains an atmospheric evocation of the Everglades. "The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met" is a charming fantasy about a cetacean with an extraordinary voice. "Peter and the Wolf," based on the Prokofiev score, offers brightly colored designs, but the narration by Sterling Holloway seems superfluous. "All the Cats Join In" is an upbeat evocation of the Bobby Sox era, but "Casey at the Bat" and "Johnny Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet" feel self-conscious and unfunny.

"Two Silhouettes" combines rotoscoped images of Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo stars Tatiana Riabouchinska and David Lichine with kitsch cupids, sparkles, and hearts. "The Martins and the Coys," a spoof of a hillbilly feud, has been excised in a bow to modern taste. The supplemental material includes The Band Concert, the first color Mickey Mouse short and one of the character's finest performances, and Music Land, a quirky Silly Symphony about clashing musical styles. --Charles Solomon
Customer Review: Disney's first of 3 follow-ups to 'Fantasia' is superb!
After Walt Disney's 1940 masterpiece FANTASIA failed at the box office, it's surprising he ever again tried illustrating music with animation-- yet he did, gratefully. Some of Disney's best and these days generally unknown 1940s animated features follow the format laid down in that groundbreaking film. Created in part from scraps left over when the majority of Walt's animators were involved in WWII, these musical montages are quite good. The first to be released was MAKE MINE MUSIC (1946). Using popular tunes and some classical, and with the talents of Nelson Eddy, Dinah Shore, Benny Goodman, the Andrews Sisters, Jerry Colonna, Sterling Holloway and crooner Andy Russell, this delightful work has 10 distinct segments: THE MARTINS AND THE COYS has since been removed because it contains comedic gunplay. BLUE BAYOU was intended for FANTASIA. The music is DeBussy's "Clair de Lune." ALL THE CATS JOIN IN is a real highlight. Benny Goodman's band accompanies a pencil that sketches out the action. WITHOUT YOU is a ballad sung by Andy Russell. Jerry Colonna reads CASEY AT THE BAT. TWO SILHOUETTES is two actual ballet dancers seen as silhouettes against animated backgrounds. Dinah Shore sings the title tune. Sterling Holloway narrates Prokofiev's PETER AND THE WOLF. AFTER YOU'VE GONE features Goodman again and some highly unusual-looking musical instruments. The Andrews Sisters provide vocals for JOHNNY FEDORA AND ALICE BLUE BONNET, a story of two hats in a department store that fall in love. The final segment is best. In the poignant THE WHALE WHO WANTED TO SING AT THE MET, the giant sea mammal is harpooned and killed because it's believed his lovely voice emanates from an opera singer the whale swallowed. Multiple singing voices provided by Nelson Eddy. Music includes an aria from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. MAKE MINE MUSIC is also available on DVD. In 1947, Disney studios released another excellent animated musical montage called FUN AND FANCY FREE. (VHS edition) (DVD edition)
Customer Review: Make Mine Music
This wonderful Disney Classic is a must for any true collector. It is made in the style of Fantasia and my kids all love it.


Disney's Elegant Book of Manners Ls
Customer Review: Manners taught by Goofy & Mickey!
Heedless of adolescence, my children will huddle up to share The Disney Book of Elegant Manners when I read it to my much younger nieces -- who clamor for it whenever they visit. Clever and thought provoking, this book gives you the chance to visit with children about the "why" of manners and makes it fun. The illustrations are captivating and employ all the esteemed Disney characters (of old, that is!) and the manners are instructed in verse.