Summer of Magic- "Saludos Amigos"

The films produced by Disney during the 1940's, after the first five classics, are never going to be at the top of a Disney fan's list, but that should not diminish their value and legacy. They are these "combination films," or, as more properly termed, "package films." When World War II engulfed the nation, Disney was suddenly left with very limited resources and a scant staff of animators. They simply could not produce full-length feature films while the war was going on, so instead of shutting down the studio entirely, Disney came up with this brilliant idea of combining short films that were much cheaper to produce to make one full-length film. Thus, the "package film" was born, and even though they are not the greatest of Disney's films, their importance to the history of Disney cannot be overstated. Without them, who knows what Disney would have done, if anything, to keep the studio afloat due to the scarcity of money.

The first of these package films was Saludos Amigos in 1942. This film consists of four short films that celebrate the culture of South America. Saludos Amigos, along with tomorrow's film The Three Caballeros, was created by Walt Disney during the war to improve America's relations with South America after being commissioned by the US State Department to take a goodwill tour of the continent. Film critic Alfred Charles Richard Jr. said that Saludos Amigos "did more to cement a community of interest between peoples of the Americas in a few months than the State Department did in fifty years." One reason this film worked in such a way is that it is such a delightful combination of films. Featuring appearance from such iconic Disney legends as Jose Carioca, Goofy, and Donald Duck, Saludos Amigos is no Snow White, but it certainly deserves a viewing from all fans of Disney animation.

The first segment is entitled Lake Titicaca in which Donald Duck acts as the typical American tourist as he meets with the locals around Lake Titicaca. Donald, as per usual, is hilarious, especially when he comes in contact with an uncooperative llama (trust me, just watch it). The second segment, Pedro, is the only one with solely originally characters. Set in Chile, Pedro tells the story of a young airplane who must deliver the mail over the monstrous mountain Aconcagua. This is a sweet short that will undoubtedly leave a smile on your face. The third segment stars the one and only Goofy in El Gaucho Goofy. In this short, Goofy is transported from the plains of Texas as the typical American cowboy to learn the ways of the native gauchos in Argentina. As you would expect, Goofy is incredibly funny as this is a remarkably great short. The final segment introduces Jose Carioca in Aquarela do Brasil. Teamed up with Donald Duck, the dynamic duo stroll down the streets of Brazil as they experience the delights of the Brazilian culture. It's Donald Duck and Jose Carioca, and therefore, this is a fantastic short. All together, Saludos Amigos is one fine package film.

Rating: 7.5/10

Historical Significance: While the animated segments rightfully receive a majority of the praise for Saludos Amigos, film historians have suggested that the live action segments featuring actual citizens of these South American countries had the most impact on American culture during the war. Capturing images of elaborate skyscrapers and beautiful landscapes, the perception of the South American culture was reversed tremendously upon the release of Saludos Amigos because Americans in the 1940's believed South America was a predominantly rural area inhabited primarily by peasants. The film received credit for changing the mindset of Americans towards South Americans during World War II.

Behind the Scenes: Occasionally, the film shows shots of the animators boarding the plane en route to South America. This footage was staged because once the crew originally returned from their trip, Walt Disney realized that they had no footage of the crew boarding the plane or interacting on the plane, so he ordered the exact same crew to dress in the exact same clothing they had wore on the plane in order for the film crew to capture this sequence for the final product.

Favorite Character: Donald Duck starring in not one, but two shorts in Saludos Amigos is a really neat aspect of the film. As we have come to expect from Donald, he is hysterical during every minute
of screen-time he is granted. If you're a fan of Donald Duck (and let's be honest: who isn't?), you must watch Saludos Amigos.

Favorite Scene: El Gaucho Goofy is my favorite scene of the film because it is such a classic take on Goofy. He is everything you
would expect Goofy to be in the short. Plus, the narration during the segment is quite hilarious as well. The physical comedy on display, as per usual in a Goofy short, is worth viewing in and of itself. It is an absolute delight.

Miscues: As delightful as Pedro is, with the other three segments featuring classic Disney classics, its inclusion in the package is quite odd, leading to the general consensus that it is the least favorite of the shorts. Since the other three segments star characters we all know and love, why shouldn't the fourth segment be the same way? I applaud the originality, but the consistency is broken with Pedro making the cut.

Updated Ranking: I really enjoy Saludos Amigos, but it is nowhere near the level of the first five films.

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
2. Pinocchio
3. Dumbo
4. Bambi
5. Fantasia
6. Saludos Amigos

Tomorrow, we'll watch the compliment to Saludos Amigos with The Three Caballeros and complete Disney's goodwill tour of South America!

-Cody Fleenor