Movie Info
Movie Name: Melody Time
Studio: Walt Disney Productions
Genre(s): Animated/Musical/Family
Release Date(s): May 27, 1948
MPAA Rating: G
Even Roy Rogers and Trigger are around for the fun!
Disney tells the stories of a couple trying to enjoy a winter day ice skating, a bee fighting to stay alive, Johnny Appleseed a legend of the Midwest, Little Toot a tugboat that doesn’t understand his responsibilities, the wonder of the forest, a trip south with Donald and his friend Jose Carioca, and Roy Roger’s presentation of Pecos Bill’s legendary adventures.
Melody Time was a “package” film by Disney that was mostly produced during World War II which explains the short animated segments. It is the 10th animated feature in Disney’s Animated Classics series preceded by Fun and Fancy Free in 1947 and followed by The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad in 1949.
“Once Upon a Wintertime”
“Once Upon a Wintertime”
A couple has a spat during a winter’s day of ice skating. When the girl storms off, she is washed down the river accidentally when the ice she is on breaks away. Her boyfriend attempts to save with the help of the forest animals. The title song is sung by Frances Langford.
“Bumble Boogie”
“Bumble Boogie”
A bee just trying to harvest pollen finds himself fighting to stay alive as the music comes alive and the flowers strike back. The movie adapts Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumble Bee” which is performed by Freddy Martin and his orchestra.
“The Legend of Johnny Appleseed”
“The Legend of Johnny Appleseed”
Johnny Appleseed decides to venture west with nothing to help him except a bag of appleseeds. As Johnny spreads apples across the West, he finds that the people and animals love him. Dennis Day provides the most of the voices with Dallas McKennon voicing Johnny Appleseed’s guardian angel.
“Little Toot”
“Little Toot”
Little Toot just never seems to grow up and brings disgrace to his family when he accidentally causes a ship to become grounded. Now Little Toot must find a way to restore Big Toot’s name. The Andrew Sisters perform the story of “Little Toot”
“Trees”
“Trees”
The beauty and wonder of trees is explored through the Alfred Joyce Kilmer. The poem is performed by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians.
“Blame It on the Samba”
“Blame It on the Samba”
Donald and his friend Jose Carioca walk into a samba bar run by the Aracuan Bird. When the samba takes control, Donald and Jose are sucked into a samba performed by Dinning Sisters with an appearance by Ethel Smith.
“Pecos Bill”
“Pecos Bill”
Roy Rogers tells his Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten the story of why the coyotes howl. Roy relates how Pecos Bill was raised by coyotes and grew up the toughest cowboy in Texas with his horse Widowmaker. When a woman named Slue-Foot Sue becomes involved with Bill, Widowmaker’s jealousy might cost Pecos the woman he loves. The story of Pecos Bill was edited after the release to remove Pecos Bill rolling and smoking a cigarette (but did leave Pecos Bill shooting at Native Americans to create the painted hills).
The stories in Melody Time are much more balanced than many of the other Disney’s package stories. There are fun little narrative stories like “Johnny Appleseed”, “Little Toot”, “Once Upon a Wintertime”, and “Pecos Bill” but they are able to temper them with stories like “Trees” and “Blame it on the Samba”. “Pecos Bill” long introduction allows Roy Rogers and his crew (including his horse Trigger) to sing a song and almost provide another segment with the popular Disney children actors Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten.
Melody Time is much more worth checking out than the other Disney wartime films. It was the last of the real segmented films with The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad being two short stories. Check out Melody Time for a fun, quick movie with little sketches for all to enjoy.
