Once Upon A Disney #10: Melody Time

It might have taken 7 months, but – we finally made it to double figures, lads! 

If your patience for musical compilation films is wearing thin, you only have one more to endure, and that is... 

Melody Time (1948)

We're almost at the end of the 1940s, but there is always time for a little melody (or 6). Indeed, Melody Time picks up where Make Mine Music left off, showcasing popular artists of the age alongside some charming – and some slightly weird – animated sequences. 

Beginning with the pleasantly jazzy titular refrain 'Make Mine Music,' we're taken on a magical journey which pitstops at ice-skating bunnies, angelic farmers, an anthropomorphic boat, cowboys, and – gulp – the Three Caballeros. Oh yes, Donald the creep is back. 

Name a stranger collection of characters. I'll wait.

The animated variety show kicks off with 'Once Upon A Wintertime,' a sequence in which a rabbit couple mirrors a human couple as they frolic on the ice, the woman gets moody and falls in, and the man inevitably rescues her. Oh, Hollywood. However, casual sexism aside, it's a sweet musical number, and conveys a romantic little tale in colourful Disney style. 

Following a short interlude section 'Bumble Boogie,' where a bee has to escape from some musical notes against a swing-style version of 'Flight of the Bumblebee,' we zip into the next main story – 'The Legend of Johnny Appleseed.'

Before Gaston started his egg-eating regimen

Following the fabled life of turn-of-the-century American pioneer and tree-planter John Chapman, this section is the definition of Christian wholesomeness. The basic plot: a humble apple-tree farmer wants to go on an adventure with the pioneers, but doesn't know what he'd be useful for. An angel visits him and encourages him to roam the country planting apple trees, and voila – his life's purpose is complete. When he eventually dies after years of appley service, the angel returns to tell him he's needed in Heaven, as they're short on apples. 

Yes, that's it. However, this section is a lot more than the sum of its parts – the simplicity of the story allows for messages of kindness and tolerance (a rarity thus far in some of the previous, violent shorts), a surprising meditation on mortality, and an illustrative animation style that feels like a pretty children's book is being read to you by a loved one. It's just a bit heartwarming, really. 

Enter the Andrews Sisters, last heard in Make Mine Music, narrating the love story of a bonnet and a top hat. This time, a cheeky boat child called 'Little Toot' – who is unreasonably adorable – is up to no good and has to grow up and prove himself if he's going to win the respect of his family (his dad is also a boat). 

Can you adopt a boat? 

Of course, he's given the chance to weather stormy seas and become the hero, which is lovely. Musically, this is by far the catchiest tune so far, with the Andrews' faultlessly blending vocals narrating the entire story in rhyme. We'll ignore the fact that this is essentially an American rehash of 'Pedro' the plane tale from Saludos Amigos. 

After another nature-themed interlude – this time a sparkling, gorgeously animated tribute to Trees (creatively called 'Trees') – we're on the home straight. I'm sorry, I can't avoid it any longer. It's Samba time *shivers*.

Honestly. LEAVE HER ALONE.

Luckily, our final visit from Donald and José the parrot – at least I hope they won't make an appearance in a future film – is fairly inoffensive. Treading the same Latin boards as previous outings, the feathered friends reunite with the Aracuan Bird of The Three Caballeros fame, in a section fittingly entitled 'Blame it on the Samba.' Oh samba, you are to blame for so much. With the obligatory real-life woman dancing and playing an instrument, the birds sort of dance around her legs a little and then we're let off the hook. Phew. 

The finale takes a leaf out of Fun and Fancy Free's book – minus the inherent creepiness – and is framed by IRL actors spinning a yarn for a captive audience of kids. This time there's a boy AND a girl, they seem like they might actually be related to the adults, and there is no ventriloquist dummy. But there is a Western, Calamity Jane aesthetic. So far, so good.  

That's a bounce she'll regret

'Pecos Bill' is supposed to answer a little boy's question – 'Why do Coyotes howl at night?' It gives the most convoluted answer you could imagine, involving a feral child raised by Coyotes who becomes a gun-toting cowboy, lusts after a woman, gets married, and then loses her when she is propelled into outer space by bouncing on her bustle (i.e. butt). No word of a lie. Old Bill is so sad at this turn of events that he turns back to his Coyote ways and howls in grief for his lost love every night. 

... Anyway, 'Pecos Bill' aside, Melody Time is probably the most successful Disney compilation movie of the '40s. Each section looks nice visually, tells a succinct story, and the movie as, a whole, clips along at a manageable pace. But I cannot wait for a return to form soon. 

Villain Rating: 4/10 - That bustle has a lot to answer for 

Best Song: 'Little Toot,' cos he's so cute (see, I even rhymed!) 

Disney Detail: Aside from the references I already mentioned, Melody Time has just as much right as every other 1940s Disney animation to act as a musical time capsule of where the studio was at the time, warts and all. 

Why it's a Classic: It shows that Disney has learned something in the last decade. While it doesn't reach the dizzying heights of Fantasia, it's a definite improvement on Make Mine Music, and Fun and Fancy Free, in both animation quality and tone.