The Three Caballeros

This is Disney’s seventh full length feature film and is a sort of follow up to Saludos Amigos which, coincidentally, is the sixth. We are revisited here by Joe (José) Carioca and the ineffable Donald Duck as they explore together the mysteries and magnificence of Latin America. Well, mostly magnificence, not so many mysteries.

Walt Disney’s interest in experimentation with the medium is still ongoing at this stage. Fantasia is long since in the can, so in 1943, Saludos Amigos is released, followed in 1945 by The Three Caballeros, both utilising a little of the experimental nature of Fantasia. These films were produced after a goodwill tour of Southern America by Disney and Co. and were in fact underwritten by The American State Department to the tune of $50,000. Amigos is still hailed as the better movie; there are some far nicer highlights than in the Caballeros’ patchy remnants, constructed from the spare parts of leftover ideas. During the war, these package films (made up of smaller shorts, rather than one long narrative) brought in a lot of money for a lot less work, and Disney decided (at war’s end) to follow up with three more to generate more revenue toward feature films. Hence 1946’s Make Mine Music, 1947’s Fun and Fancy Free and 1948’s Melody Time. By today’s standard, not a lot of these films really stand up to the scrutiny of something like Pinocchio or Sleeping Beauty, although each have their moments.

However, Caballeros does have its charm and we are introduced to a new character in Panchito, a sombrero wearing, gun-toting rooster with more than a little excitability. Here a series of live action parts are interspersed with the cartoons, but I can’t imagine people really ever looked or sang or dressed like they do in this film. It seems a little patronising to me 59 years away in the future and I am having trouble deciding whether today’s Wiggle-hungry kids could find the same thrill in this as they do with their colourfully-skivvied pals.

Still, this is an historical document in terms of animation and while the special effects may be a little ordinary compared to today’s computer-controlled films, it’s definitely worth a look for the diehard fans of old-school or even those wishing to enjoy something a little more naïve - a little more sedentary.

As usual with Buena Vista releases, they’ve done a fairly bang-up job of delivering an older film to the newer medium of DVD in as painless a fashion as possible. However, in a film of this one’s age, there are naturally going to be those impossible to repair faults. Some pretty major film and cel artefacts crop up sporadically, with two good examples at 08:18-22 and 14:11-14. These are just the first two and involve some hefty scratches and fibres adhering to the original cels. It’s a shame, but to be expected really.

The colours during the live action sequences are a bit washed out, but I imagine this is due to the original lighting for the special effects. However, the animated birds all look bright and shiny and eclipse the drab humans. Lingering traces of Fantasia all look brilliant with their beautiful range of colours in the last third of the film and, of course, this picture is delivered in the fullscreen aspect of 1.33:1.

There are some pretty cool pieces of animation (even for today!) scattered about within with some notable animators like Ward Kimball, Fred Moore and Eric Larson credited, so it isn’t all bad by a long chalk.

Delivered here in the ever relied upon Dolby Digital 5.1, it might as well have been mono for all the good the surrounds do. Basically, music is all that thrums through them and even this isn’t window-rattling. However, it sounds fine without any horrid old noises coming across or static ruining everything.

Dialogue is all well-spoken and while containing some politically incorrect statements (you can’t tell me people actually used to call women ‘Toots’?) there is a quaintness about it that isn’t offensive to the enlightened modern viewer. Charles Wolcott has scored the film and this is definitely of the time, but is also suited to the film, so it works okay. The musical numbers kinda suspend disbelief a little, but that’s just me wondering if people frequently sang in this manner or what.

Two related cartoons are all we’re given here, which makes me feel this is a sorta Disney cheapie akin to budget releases from other houses. Still, they are a nice inclusion I suppose, particularly as there’s probably no way we could ever get them in any other format.

The first is Don’s Fountain of Youth which runs for 6:10 in 4:3, naturally. This was made in 1953 and features Huey, Dewey and Louie (who all sport red jumpers instead of their later individually coloured ones) and Donald Duck playing with the generation gap. Donald is the link to the main feature here, while Mexico is the link to the next one. Mickey and Pluto star in Pueblo Pluto which runs for a longer 6:32 and was made in 1947. This features Pluto coming to grips with a young whelp who’s after his bone among some cactuses.

A pretty empty little parcel of extras here, but worth having a look at for their uniqueness and rarity.

Thankfully, the film runs for but 69 minutes through its four shorter pieces which, oddly, is almost twice as long as Amigos. All are tied together by Donald receiving a parcel of gifts from his Southern American friends (forgot to mention that earlier) and while interesting, the appeal of a real singular narrative is sadly missing. Not a lot of it going around at the time either, as another two shorts playing as one film followed those mentioned above in 1949 with The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. However, for fans of the older animated characters who have since been put to pasture, this is a welcome manner in which to enjoy their antics.

There are some laughs to be had here, surprisingly, and the animation is naturally of top quality. While not among Disney’s better releases this one does have its own quirkiness that true fans will no doubt find appealing.