photo by Martin Blanco
Disney at the Movies – Day 5
- Cartoon Shorts The Cookie Carnival and The Whoopee Party
- Main Feature Bambi
- Live Action The Love Bug
With the release of Bambi, the Disney studios achieved new milestones in animation. All the characters are animals, and the artists spent countless hours consulting zoological experts, visiting zoos, and drawing from live animal models Even though it was released in August 1942, the studios had been working on Bambi since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was nearing completion. The efforts and expense paid off. Bambi achieved a visual richness and beauty that the studios would not repeat for almost a decade. Of course every Disney fan knows Bambi is famous for more than its outstanding artistry, and the elephant in the room in this film is Bambi’s mother. Make sure you have a box of tissues and a therapist lined up for your children. You’ve been warned.
Because Bambi is so emotionally charged, we’ll pair it with light and exuberant fare. The Cookie Carnival (1935) is set in a world of sentient cookies. During the annual Cookie Queen beauty contest, a poor cookie girl wins the crown with the loving help of a poor cookie boy. After she is crowned Cookie Queen, the boy cookies compete for her affections and for the title of Cookie King. True love triumphs, and the imaginative renderings of baked goods will keep you smiling and make you hungry. Have some Pepperidge Farm at the ready. You’ve been warned.
The next short will be The Whoopee Party. This 1932 Mickey Mouse cartoon is the perfect remedy for social distancing doldrums. The music swings, the dancing is exuberant and the food and drink are plentiful. Minnie Mouse tickles the ivories with infectious glee and you’ll get to meet Goofy in his early incarnation of Dippy Dawg. A note of concern: this is an old cartoon and in at least one instance there is a racial depiction that is clearly out of line. Regrettably, this continues in the early Disney films, for they reflect their time both for good and bad. When we first watched The Whoopee Party with our children, we used it as a teaching moment to explain hurtful practices that are no longer acceptable. Otherwise this is a jubilant cartoon that may well compel you to kick up your heels. Keep it down, lest the neighbors call the police. You’ve been warned.
We’ll end the evening with The Love Bug. If cookies can come to life, why not a race car? This 1969 movie about is about Herbie, a Volkswagen Beetle, who helps a frustrated auto racer win titles while finding true love. The cast features Buddy Hackett, whom your children might be delighted to know provides the voice of Scuttle from The Little Mermaid). Buckle up for laughs and thrills. You’ve been warned.
The corn is popped, and we are ready to embark on Day 5 of Disney at the Movies. Hope you enjoy this!
#bambi #thelovebug #sillysymphony #disneymovienight #mickeymouse
Sources:
Disney A to Z The Official Encyclopedia Fourth Edition Dave Smith c. 2015 Disney Editions
The Disney Films Leonard Maltin c. 1978 Popular Library
c. Martin Blanco, Kathryn Blanco, and Disney at Home May 2, 2020
Disney at Home 