Toon Talk: Walt Disney Treasures: Silly Symphonies
Page 2 of 6
The Flying Mouse
July 14, 1934. Directed by Dave Hand.
Summary: A little mouse dreams to have his own set of wings. But when a fairy grants his wish, the results are not what he expected.
Behind the Shorts: The song "You're Nothin' But a Nothin'" was published as sheet music.
The Robber Kitten
April 20, 1935. Directed by Hand.
Summary: Ambrose is a mischievous cat who dreams of being a worldly bandit.
Behind the Shorts: Billy Bletcher, the voice of the Big Bad Wolf, voices Dirty Bill.
The Golden Touch
March 22, 1935. Directed by Walt Disney.
Summary: King Midas loves gold so much, he convinces the magical elf Goldie to give him the power to turn whatever he touches into gold.
Behind the Shorts: Walt thought it would be easy to direct, but he never did it again.
The Country Cousin
October 31, 1936. Directed by Jackson.
Summary: Abner Countrymouse is invited to the big city by his cousin, Monty Citymouse.
Behind the Shorts: Academy Award-winner for Best Animated Short Subject.
Elmer Elephant
May 28, 1936. Directed by Jackson.
Summary: Elmer Elephant is made fun of because of his big trunk, but it comes in handy when Tillie Tiger is trapped by a fire.
Behind the Shorts: Elmer was the first Silly Symphony star to get his own merchandise since the Three Little Pigs.
The Grasshopper and the Ants
February 10, 1934. Directed by Jackson.
Summary: While the ants are busy collecting food for the winter, the foolish grasshopper would rather dance and fiddle.
Behind the Shorts: Pinto Colvig voices the Grasshopper and later co-opted his song "The World Owes Me a Livin'" for another character he played, Goofy.
Easter Egg: On the main menu for disc 1, click on the "S" in Symphonies. Walt discusses moral fables through the ages; you'll hear Disney voice favorite Paul Frees in the Egyptian section.
Who Killed Cock Robin?
June 29, 1935. Directed by Hand.
Summary: Scandal erupts when Cock Robin is mysteriously shot by an arrow while he romances the sultry Jenny Wren.
Behind the Scenes: Jenny Wren is based on the bawdy screen legend Mae West.
Easter Egg: On the "Favorite Characters" menu, click on the lone chick above the word Wise. Walt discusses the history of the Cock Robin story.
Water Babies
May 11, 1935. Directed by Jackson.
Summary: Tiny babies who sleep on lily pads awaken to frolic in a stream with frogs, turtles and swans.
Behind the Scenes: Based on the Charles Kingsley story, it's sequel was the 1938 Merbabies, not included in this collection.
Easter Egg: From the "Fables and Fairy Tales" menu, click on Robber Kitten's sword. Frees can be heard again as the animated version of Kingsley.
Wynken, Blynken and Nod
May 27, 1938. Directed by Graham Heid.
Summary: The three babies of the title go sailing through the sky in a giant wooden shoe, fishing with candy canes for "star"-fish.
Behind the Scenes: Based on the tone poem, originally titled Dutch Lullaby, by Eugene Field.
Easter Egg: From the "Leonard's Picks" menu, click on "Leonard". Author Eugene Field is profiled.