Walt Disney Treasures - More Silly Symphonies (1929-1938)

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The second set of Silly Symphonies completes the series of music-themed cartoons Walt Disney began in 1929 with "The Skeleton Dance." Disney used these films to train his artists and to experiment with new techniques and visual styles. Viewers who watch the Symphonies in chronological order can see the artists' work improving at an astonishing pace. When a ring of imps dances around a fire in "Hell's Bells" (1929) the flat-looking flames move stiffly, like paper cut-outs; five years later in "The Goddess of Spring" (1934), the flames ripples and crackle, and their changing hues produce multi-colored shadows on the cavern walls. The imps in the earlier film are rubbery golliwogs who just bounce and stretch to the music; in the later film, the rounder, more dimensional devilkins perform a complicated jazz dance. "Goddess of Spring" and "Broken Toys" (1935) also represent the artists' first efforts to animate a believable female character, as they prepared for the challenges of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Many of these films were consigned to the vaults for years because of their racial imagery. In the Oscar-nominated "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood" (1938), a gaggle of Hollywood celebrities cavort to familiar nursery rhymes, but the caricatures of Stepin Fetchit and Cab Calloway are no more unflattering or mean-spirited than the ones of Katharine Hepburn, W.C. Fields, and Clark Gable. The outrageous "Cannibal Capers" (1930) and a few other shorts may embarrass viewers today, but as host Leonard Maltin observes, ignoring these film falsifies the past of animation and the United States. This important and entertaining collection will delight anyone interested in the history of the Disney Studio, animation or American popular culture. (Rated G, suitable for ages 5 and older: cartoon violence, tobacco use, ethnic stereotypes) --Charles Solomon

Description

From the beginning, Walt Disney's SILLY SYMPHONIES series was a mecca for innovation and unabashed creativity. This second volume of the revolutionary series boasts some of Disney's rarest cartoons, including over a dozen never before released on DVD or video. Among the many animation treasures celebrated here are the never-before-released HELL'S BELLS and the original unedited MOTHER GOOSE GOES HOLLWYOOD, plus the Academy Award(R)-winning THREE ORPHAN KITTENS (Best Cartoon, 1935). Enriching the collection even further are several optional commentaries by some of the world's foremost animation and film music experts, who also take part in a lively conversation about the series that let Walt Disney push the envelope of animation art to unimaginable flights of fantasy. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

Customer Reviews:

Great Collection of Classic Cartoons.......2007-03-29

This is a great collection of classic Disney cartoons aimed to some extent at fans and collectors. Great animation and great music, although some of these cartoons are not the funniest ones from the period. May seem a little dated to today's older kids, but the younger ones should like it. Disney has to be congratulated on this set.

Wish more people knew about these cartoons!.......2007-03-10

Those who know about the "Silly Symphonies", know what the fuss is all about, and will not hesitate to buy this collection! These cartoons should be arranged chronologically, both for artistic and historical reasons, and the current set allows us to view them so. The "next time" the Disney people put out the "Sillies" on video, they should publish them all, and in chronological order.

Re the title of my review. I so wish the Disney organization would do more to publicize these cartoon gems and to make more people aware of them. As it stands, if you know about these cartoons, you are one in 10,000 people! Also, this "once in 10 years limited edition" business is certainly not helping either. Video software is not likely to become a collectible in the long run, as new formats are invented.

I so appreciate Leonard Maltin's role in this. He is a true old film buff, and has done a wonderful job with popularizing 1930's films!

Essential Disney Animation.......2007-02-19

After a lengthy wait, Disney has issued the remaining "Silly Symphony" cartoons in this excellent two-disc set. There are several lesser-known gems such as "The Fox Hunt" (1931), "The China Shop" (1934), "Broken Toys" (1935) and the Oscar-nominated "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood" (1938) -- along with 1929 efforts from legendary animator Ub Iwerks and composer Carl Stalling ("Hell's Bells" and "Springtime"). Like its DVD predecessor, "More Silly Symphonies" is essential animation history and a fascinating chronicle of the Disney Studio's artistic evolution.

Should I replace the DVD's?.......2007-02-09

Hi, I just found this information on the Walt Disney Treasures website.

WALT DISNEY TREASURES: MORE SILLY SYMPHONIES

In an effort to present the classic cartoons contained on MORE SILLY SYMPHONIES as originally intended, Walt Disney Studio recently recreated the original title cards that were to appear at the start of each film. Due to a production error, these restored cards were inadvertently not included on this new DVD collection. We sincerely apologize for this mistake, and are currently working to rectify the issue. Please check back for an update as to when the replacement discs will be ready. We anticipate them sometime in early March.

If you have purchased MORE SILLY SYMPHONIES and would like to have them replaced with the corrected DVDs, call 1-800-723-4763 (U.S.)/1-888-877-2843 (Canada). Please note, you will receive replacement discs, not replacement packaging. Please hold on to your current packaging.

I just bought this DVD because I really like classic cartoons, but I'm not a collector so I don't really understand what was the mistake and if I should exchange them.

Thanks!

More Silly Symphonies .......2007-02-08

I'm disliked because The walt disney Treasures items often arrive with the tin damaged.
I usually was your exclusive customer, in USA, but now I buy also by Movies unlimited (my experience with their package is very positive.

In syntese: MORE PROTECTION OF THE TINY ITEMS!!!

GABRIELE MARCHESI
VIA FONTI DI CASAGLIA 10
40136 BOLOGNA
ITALY

Walt Disney Treasures - Silly Symphonies

Average customer rating:

Awesome Collection of Early Disney Animation
Good, but BEWARE!
A Slightly Altered Version of the Old Fable
The Platinum Group of Silly Symphonies
Disney's labor of love

Walt Disney Treasures - Silly Symphonies
Starring: Billy Bletcher , Dorothy Compton , Mary Moder , Pinto Colvig , and Bernice Hansen
Director: Burt Gillett , Wilfred Jackson , and David Hand
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005KARF
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Amazon.com

In 1928, when Walt Disney's artists completed "The Skeleton Dance," the distributor of the Mickey Mouse shorts rejected the first "Silly Symphony" with a two-word telegram: "MORE MICE." Disney arranged to screen "Skeleton Dance" at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles, where it received an enthusiastic response, and the series took off. Seven "Silly Symphonies" won Academy Awards, beginning with "Flowers and Trees." Disney used these musically themed shorts to train young artists and test new styles, effects, and technologies: every film represented an innovation of some sort. In "Three Little Pigs," characters who looked alike demonstrated different personalities through the way they moved. "The Old Mill" showcased the newly invented Multiplane camera. The Sugar Cookie Girl in "Cookie Carnival" was one of several female characters the artists created while learning to animate a believable heroine for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The well-chosen selections in this set demonstrate how quickly Disney advanced the art of animation during the '30s. Only eight years separate the crude black-and-white version of "The Ugly Duckling" (1931) from the moving Technicolor Oscar-winner of 1939. Over 60 years later, these films have lost none of their charm. The jazz-dancing insects in "Woodland Café," the wonderfully animated caricature of Mae West in "Who Killed Cock Robin," and the instrument-characters in "Music Land" remain as delightful as ever. Leonard Maltin makes a genial host, and two hidden cartoons include Walt's introductions from the old Disneyland program. --Charles Solomon

Description

This groundbreaking series of 31 uncensored cartoons, released between 1929 and 1939, includes six Academy Award(R) winners and provides an astonishing look inside the evolution of animation. Each boasting a unique cast of characters, these musical shorts served as Walt Disney's proving ground for emerging technology, new musical styles, and experimental forms. In addition to the cartoons themselves, join Academy Award(R)-winning composer Richard M. Sherman (MARY POPPINS) for an overview of the "Silly Symphony" series, and take a peek inside the Disney archives to view some rare and remarkable merchandise, conceptual art, and theatrical posters. Enjoy a nostalgic look back at the original musical shorts that launched a revolution in the world of animation. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Collection of Early Disney Animation.......2006-12-27

This collection of Disney shorts includes cartoons that are classics, set standards, and won awards. This collection includes the 1932 Oscar winner "Flowers and Trees," the 1933 Oscar winner "The Three Little Pigs," the 1934 Oscar winner "The Tortoise and the Hare," the 1935 Oscar nominee "Who Killed Cock-Robin" (which needs a little work to find - see below), the 1936 Oscar winner "The Country Cousin," the 1937 Oscar winner "The Old Mill," and the 1940 Oscar winner "The Ugly Duckling." The presence of these cartoons alone makes this collection an outstanding addition to any collection of classic animation.

Beyond these award winners are more cartoons that helped Disney perfect the techniques that he would eventually use in full length animated features. The special features on this DVD make it clear that it was more than just a single cartoon that helped Disney perfect the techniques that would eventually appear in movies such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Pinocchio."

According to one of the DVD extras, the beginning of the Silly Symphonies was "The Skeleton Dance." This marvelous black and white cartoon seems simple and yet sophisticated. The quality of the animation borders on crude, but the number of frames and the detail far exceed the crude animation we typically see on television today. There are other black and white cartoons in this collection, though they make up a minority of the collection.

One of the greatest cartoons of all time is "The Old Mill." Though the cartoon is relatively short, the cartoon tells its story with great drama and sophistication. The cartoon transcends mere animation and has achieved art. Again, the number of frames per second provides quality rarely seen in contemporary animation. The exception to this statement is computer generated animation, though in most cases computer animators have been focusing on technique and comedy rather than art. Perhaps that will change.

Most of these cartoons are enjoyable and fun for their comedy. Many cartoons were directed toward children, but some, like "Who Killed Cock-Robin," were probably more for adults than children. That particular cartoon had a number of adult elements, including a sexy female bird whose voice did a good job of impersonating Mae West.

This two disk DVD collection does not have all its cartoons listed in its menus. There are "eggs" or "Easter eggs" that link you to additional material on the DVD's. "Who Killed Cock-Robin" is one of those features. There are several others, including several introductions by Walt Disney. Not every menu has an egg in it, but many do. To find these eggs, try moving your up/down and left/right cursor around each menu from different locations. At least one egg is in a menu title. Another egg is a hat. Finding this extra material can be a little tedious, but some people enjoy the hunt.

The 1930's was a golden age of animation for Disney Studios. The Silly Symphony features were partially experiments, and partially entertainment. They succeed at entertainment, and the Disney classics of the 40's and 50's shows that Disney learned much from these experiments. If you have young children who have yet to be exposed to the classics of animation, or if you want to relive an era where quality was valued in animation, then buy this set and give yourself a treat.

Enjoy!

Good, but BEWARE!.......2006-11-06

I enjoy these cartoons, Walt and his staff were brilliant. BUT, you have to contact Buena Vista to unlock the missing cartoons. For instance, if you click the "S" in Symphonies, that will lead you to one of the missing cartoons. The others can also be uncovered but you need to contact Buena Vista, the address is on the DVD.
--Peter Haugo. --john 3:16.

A Slightly Altered Version of the Old Fable.......2006-08-28

You know the basic story, the practical hardworking pig builds his house with bricks and mortar; one lazy buddy uses sticks and the other uses straw. When the time comes for keeping out the Big Bad Wolf everyone heads to the brick house. It's an old fable and Disney wisely altered the original story where the wolf eats the two lazy pigs and is eaten by the remaining pig after falling into boiling water.

"The Three Little Pigs" was the 36th cartoon in Disney's "Silly Symphony" series and came just a year after "Flowers and Trees" forever changed the animation industry by introducing the first Technicolor cartoon. Technicolor was a process where three separate negatives (each a primary color) were combined to produce a color print. It took a while to perfect it for live action so it was first utilized for animation.

"The Three Little Pigs" was the most popular cartoon in history, on many theater marquees it was billed about the feature film. Disney had a two year exclusive on the use of the Technicolor process and had one animator work on giving each pig a distinct personality while another animator created the wolf. Frank Churchill wrote the "Big Bad Wolf" song, which unexpectedly became a monster hit-Disney's first published song. The wolf at the door was considered the symbol of the Depression and the song became a national rallying cry.

Disney would follow it up with three other attempts: "The Big Bad Wolf", "Three Little Wolves", and "The Practical Pig". None were nearly as successful as the original and Walt is said to have repeatedly stated: "You can't top pigs with pigs."

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

The Platinum Group of Silly Symphonies.......2006-08-14

If you've seen any of Disney's video compilations from the 1980s, then you've seen these cartoons. That doesn't mean that they're bad. Honestly, all of these cartoons represent the best of the Silly Symphony franchise presented in bright, restored colors.

I'm a Super Disney Cartoon Fan, however, so I expected a completest package along the lines of the Mickey Mouse sets and the Goofy set. I was looking to get a glimpse at many of the more obscure cartoons in the series that are rarely shown anymore (except maybe early in the morning on the Disney Channel).

Good set, though, that I would highly recommend.

I hope a Volume 2 is forthcoming that will fill in the remaining cartoons.

Disney's labor of love.......2006-07-01

"Walt Disney Treasures Silly Symphonies" is a priceless collection of historical Disney cartoons ranging from the more primitive black and white animated shorts of the early 1930's to Disney's more sophisticated color cartoons which began to appear in the mid-1930's.

After delighting in this entire collection, I find it superior in many ways to modern computer generated animation which looks good but doesn't stay with you. Today's animated movies rely on big budgets, advanced technology, and high-profile celebrity voice-overs to make their point.

I find that the beautiful and meticulous hand-drawn visuals and the lovely symphonic scores in the Disney cartoons convey volumes more than their high tech counterparts. Many of the Disney cartoons contain no dialogue yet they are brimming with pathos, humor, and charm because of the richness of the stories and characters. It is almost inconceivable that Disney's gifted animators literally toiled day and night making THOUSANDS of precisely calibrated drawings by hand in order to create movement or emotion in a story.

Because hundreds of hours were required by a team of dedicated artists to complete just one ten minute cartoon, you get the feeling that these folks were doing more than just their jobs. For most of their waking hours, they poured heart, soul, and sweat into their creations. I think this is the reason Disney animation resonates so deeply.

Despite millions of dollars spent making animated features today, they fail to move me the way that an unassuming little masterpiece such as "The Ugly Duckling" does. Dialogue and special effects are unnecessary to express the character's plight. I cry every time I watch Disney's "The Ugly Duckling".

Another strength of the classic Disney cartoons are their pure and universal themes such as the longing and need in all of us to be loved and accepted. In modern movies simple messages are often lost amidst the hype and commerce.

I feel fortunate that I was able to find this rare and outstanding animated collection. My eternal thanks to Walt and company for the wisdom and vitality of their labor of love "Silly Symphonies".

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