Melody Time Discussion

[SleepingBeautyAurora]

I recently watched Melody Time and I have to say that I love the Johnny Appleseed chapter. There is alot of reference to God such as the Bible that Johnny carries and the song "The Lord Is Good To Me". I wonder if we will ever see another Disney movie praising God. What do you guys think ?

[blackcauldron85]

But seriously, the Andrews Sisters singing about a tug boat doesn't stand up as this generation doesn't know the Andrews Sisters.

I don't really agree- I didn't grow up with the Andrews Sisters, but "Little Toot" and "Johnnie Fedora & Alice Blubonnet" are my favorite segments from Melody Time & Make Mine Music- I really like their singing style. It might not be a musical style that all are familiar with these days, but it doesn't dampen the enjoyment factor, IMO.


The real reason I'm bumping this thread is because, as I was searching for info on Music Land, I found some interesting tidbits on both Melody Time and Make Mine Music:

http://www.tcmuk.tv/movie_database_resu ... e&id=83256

The working title of this film was Sing About Something.

According to a December 7, 1944 Hollywood Reporter news item, producer Walt Disney was planning to make a feature-length animated film entitled Currier and Ives, which was to be "based on the famous print collection." The news item announced that in addition to singer Frances Langford, Disney had hired Al Sack, the "maestro on the Maxwell House Coffee program," to compose the music score and direct the orchestra for the proposed production. February 1946 Hollywood Reporter news items reveal that in addition to the proposed Disney treatment of the story of "Johnny Appleseed," Robert Riskin of RKO and George Bricker of Universal were planning to produce films featuring the character. Also, Groucho Marx was reported to be "mulling" a Broadway musical about the "famed orchardist." Only the Disney version was produced, however.
Although a July 30, 1946 New York Times article reported that the "Pecos Bill" segment would be included in a feature-length film entitled All in Fun, along with cartoons based on Kenneth Grahame's book The Wind in the Willows and the story of "Casey Jones," those plans were altered. The Wind in the Willows was instead adapted for the 1949 Disney release The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, while the "Casey Jones" segment was not produced. According to a December 9, 1947 Hollywood Reporter news item, "Disney originally planned to use the tales built around Pecos Bill and [Johnny] Appleseed as separate pictures, but later decided a merging of the two would give Melody Time added box office strength."

On May 24, 1948, Film Daily reported that "for the first time...film from a modern Walt Disney production" would be presented on television when clips of Melody Time were broadcast on the Small Fry Club show on the DuMont Network.

The "Trees" and "Bumble Boogie" segments were combined into one short called "Contrasts in Rhythm."

What a snoozer half of that short would be!

[Sotiris]

Did You Know? 10 Tuneful Facts About Walt Disney’s Melody Time
https://d23.com/know-10-tuneful-facts-w ... lody-time/

[Jules]

Yes please Disney release this and MMM on blu-ray please. Please. Please. Pleeeeease.

[JeanGreyForever]

Supposedly Disney was very pleased with the sales for the DMC exclusive Saludos Amigos/The Tree Cabelleros so I imagine that Melody Time/Make Mine Music is more a matter of when than if.

[Jules]

Haha! Fingers crossed, Jean Grey.

[Disney's Divinity]

I can believe "Bumble Bee" was intended for another Fantasia film; it's the best segment in this, although all the shorts are good in this one, imo.

Yes, let's all hope it gets a Blu-ray release soon.