Fun and Fancy Free is considered one of the ‘package films’ of the 1940’s, but to me is the least like a package film. The reason I say this is because that unlike the previous ‘package films’ there are only two segments. Each of these segments, according to production history, was originally to be developed as separate features. World War II is the excuse for why many of the ‘package films’ exist. It is also the reason why even after the war that the Disney artists were still unable to complete a single narrative film until 1950. Resources were stretched thin and this particular film was created from story ideas that were both in production in 1941, over five years before the film was released.
The film features a familiar narrator, Jiminy Cricket. By now, he was familiar to the viewing audience at the time and using a song originally drafted for his premiere feature Pinocchio, he implores the audience to “forget their troubles” and be a “Happy-Go-Lucky Fellow” and not let the news of the outside world (a direct reference to the end of the Second World War) keep you from going on with life. Like Fantasia, there are live action segments and celebrities of the time that provide narrative and ease the transitions between the two segments. Watching them now, they seem a little awkward to me, but I enjoyed the novelty of them because they were celebrities of their time. (Edgar Bergan! That was Murphy Brown’s DAD, you know!)
The opening segment is called Bongo, the story of a circus bear who longs to be able to live his life in the wild. While he is great at what he does (performing in the Big Top), the dream follows him as he travels with the circus. By a happy accident, he finds himself free to live in the forest. While learning the ropes of living on his own without the comforts of the circus, Bongo meets a girl bear in which he falls automatically in love with. After he proves himself worthy of her, they live happily ever after.
If that summary sounds rather short for a thirty-five minute feature, I would have to agree with you. It feels like the entire story could have been told in only seven minutes. There are two redeeming things about this segment that make it worth watching at least once. The first is that the overall animation of Bongo and the forest, while a bit “cartoony” are charming. The animators never claim to make this a real representation of life in the forest, but the attention to detail gives the characters a level of believability that will keep you engaged. The second is something that I have noticed in several of my children’s television shows; the use of a single voice to carry the story. The entire story is told much like a story book with Dinah Shore narrating and singing the songs. This gives it a level of warmth that lets one enjoy the simplicity of the story without dwelling that the story might be too simple for thirty-five minutes.
The second part of the film is the stronger of the two pieces: Mickey and the Beanstalk. Originally titled The Legend of Happy Valley, this is the last feature in which Walt Disney provides the voice of Mickey Mouse. While Mickey is his charming Middle American self, the original “Donald” Donald Duck is his short tempered manic self and Goofy shines with his large heart.
Jiminy is invited to a birthday party and Edgar Bergen entertains with the story of Happy Valley, setting the scene with a song performed by the animal residents of Happy Valley. Then Edgar tells us that one day, the joy of Happy Valley would come to an end as a “shadow” crept over the valley and the golden harp that kept the residents happy and the valley prosperous was gone.
The story shows our heroes struggling, near starvation and on the brink of madness. The next part segment is what I would consider quintessential Donald – the duck goes crazy trying to alleviate his starvation by raising an axe to their friend the cow. So the friends agree (albeit off screen as narrated by Edgar) to sell the cow for food. Mickey brings back the three magic beans which will set Donald off again, causing the beans to disappear into the floorboards.
After the friends retire for bed, the beans, encouraged by the full moon light, carry the house into the clouds. At this point the narration pauses, which as an adult I am glad for because Edgar’s side kick Charlie was being a bit obnoxious for my liking (even though I know that was part of Charlie’s charm in the day). The “sleep ballet” as the beanstalk grows is fun to watch and needed no commentary. This is probably why the Bergen commentary is replaced for television airings with Ludwig Von Drake. I’m going to see if I can get my hands on a copy of that or find it on the internet just for the sake of comparison.
Our heroes make the journey to the castle in the sky (ignoring the hunger and overall lethargic behavior) embracing the sense of adventure. Once they breach the castle, there is the table sequence where they enjoy themselves eating. On the table they locate the magic harp and hopes that they can rescue her. One note I have to make: there is a Tom & Jerry cartoon that would be dated near this same time frame that also uses a butter knife to eat peas. Goofy tries to eat some peas using a butter knife. Why? Is this something that was common sixty plus years ago that is not taught anymore? I just found it strange.
Anyone who has seen Mickey’s Christmas Carol will recognize the giant (or vice versa). The mispronunciation of pistachio is what indicates to the casual fan that they are in fact the same character. The reason that he has taken the harp is a selfish one; he needs her sweet songs to get him to sleep. She uses her charm so that the heroes (after a failed attempt to trick the giant) can try to get him to sleep. Mickey, ever the resourceful one, and the harp giving him directions in song mount an escape that is almost foiled a few times over.
The escape is centered mostly on Mickey and thereby is victorious with the return of the harp and the demise of the giant. I find it odd that the giant wanted to focus his anger on Mickey and not go after the others with the harp if he desired it the most. Even at the very end, the Giant (he’s named Willy, by the way) is more occupied with locating Mickey.
The DVD that I have did have a short feature about the making of Fun & Fancy Free featuring Ollie Johnson, Joe Grant and Leonard Maltin. The “Jack and the Beanstalk” story was not new to the Disney studios or Mickey. There was a short in the 1930’s called “Giantland” which was the same story in short form. This was the first time that the Disney “lead actors” were used for a feature. It also talks about the studio’s contributions to the war effort. This would be the third to last ‘package films’ before Melody Time and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
This is a feature that I’m not sure the modern audience would enjoy today. I also think that audiences of a certain age may feel that the narrations and the fragmentation of the Mickey and the Beanstalk sequence with Edgar Bergen would be pandering to them. I think that this would be a great feature for the very young who would enjoy the artistic choice of narrations for the two stories.