Movie Review: Melody Time (1948)

Title: Melody Time
Release Date: May 27, 1948
Director: Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wilfred Jackson
Production Company: Walt Disney Productions
Summary/Review:

This package film from Disney is meant to be the popular and folk music companion to Fantasia.  It contains seven segments and visually they animation has a greater continuity than other package films I’ve watched.  The shifts in music and storytelling styles are jarring though.  Two of the segments are interpretations of American folk tales, while others include a children’s story, experimental film, and an outtake from The Three Caballeros.

“Once Upon a Wintertime” is a romantic postcard of a man and a woman (as well as a pair of rabbits) ice skating, with vocals from the Andrews Sisters.

“Bumble Boogie” features a swing interpretation of “Flight of the Bumblebee” as a bee finds himself trapped in swirling, surrealistic visions of flowers and musical instruments.

“The Legend of Johnny Appleseed” set the tall tales of John Chapman to music and includes the most overt religiosity I’ve ever seen in a Disney film.

“Little Toot” tells the story of a mischievous tugboat in New York Harbor who has to learn to take responsibility.

“Trees” is a visual interpretation of the Joyce Kilmer poem set to music.

“Blame it on the Samba” reunites Donald Duck with José Carioca. They attempt to dance the samba while Aracuan Bird causes mischief.  Organist Ethel Smith appears in live action and Donald does NOT lust over her at all!

“Pecos Bill” is another tall tale about a man raised by coyotes who becomes the best cowboy and falling in love with the cowgirl Slue Foot Sue.  The story is narrated by Roy Rogers and his crew with live action scenes of them gathered around the campfire.

I haven’t watched all the package films yet, but this is the most enjoyable one so far.

Rating: ***

Podcasts of the Week Ending May 9

What Next

How Extremists Capitalized on the Pandemic – White nationalists are strategically using this crisis to advance their hateful goals.

A Biden Accuser on the Latest Biden Allegation – Despite the Democratic Party’s claim to be pro-women, their presumptive nominee has a long history of sexual harassment allegations.  This is a big problem.

99% Invisible :: The Natural Experiment

Isolating during the pandemic sucks, but it’s provided scientists the conditions for scientific research not possible during normal levels of activity, such as: air pollution, boredom, vaccination, and redesigning cities for people not cars.

This Day in Esoteric Public History :: Coya Come Home

An historical event I’ve never heard of before involves Coya Knutson, the first woman elected to Congress from Minnesota (in 1955), and the letter allegedly written by her estranged husband telling her to come home.  Her election opponent used this scandal to win the next election.

Code Switch :: What Does ‘Hood Feminism’ Mean For A Pandemic?

Author Mikki Kendall talks about race, feminism and COVID-19 and the divide between mainstream, white feminism and the greater goals of women of color.

Running Tally of Podcast of the Week Appearances in 2020

• Anthropocene Reviewed – 2
• Afropop Worldwide – 1
• All Songs Considered – 1
• BackStory – 3
• Best of the Left – 2
• Code Switch – 2
• Decoder Ring – 2
• Fresh Air – 4
• Futility Closet – 3
• Have You Heard – 1
• Hidden Brain – 2
• Hit Parade – 2
• Hub History – 1
• LeVar Burton Reads – 1
• Memory Palace – 2
• More Than Enough – 4
• 99% Invisible – 4
• 60-Second Science – 2
• Planet Money – 1
• Radio Boston – 1
• Radiolab – 1
• Risk! – 1
• Science Talk – 2
• Smithsonian Sidedoor – 2
• The Thirty20Eight – 1
• This American Life – 1
• This Day in Esoteric Public History – 1
• Throughline – 6
• The Tomorrow Society – 1
• Twenty Thousand Hertz – 3
• Wedway Radio – 1
• What Next – 5