The Three Caballeros

The Three Caballeros
Released 1945
Directed By Norman Fergusson, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney, Bill Roberts, Harold Young
Music By Edward H Plumb, Paul J Smith, Charles Wolcott

Happy Cinco de Mayo or … really Fiesta de Mayo Disney fans!!  I apologize for my absence in April as my schedule for work, performing and all around life madness!!  But I’m back in full force and ready to jump into this month’s film: The Three Caballeros!

The Three Caballeros was created in 1945 and features the animated talents of Donald Duck and his two amigos, the parrot Joe Carioca and roustabout rooster Panchito.  Much like the manner of Make Mine Music and Melody Time, Three Caballeros is a montage of films featuring the cultures south of the border, including all around Mexico and areas of South America.  Set on Donald Duck’s birthday (Friday the 13^th appropriately enough) and Donald receives a film reel projector with films about his feathered cousins from all over the world.  Donald is then taken on a whirlwind tour on a magic serape all-around Mexico to learn the different regionalisms and folk dances and music.  The live performers come from all over Central and South America: the vocal talents of Aurora Miranda from Brazil and Dora Luz of Mexico, and the dancing talents Carmen Molina, and, along with a multitude of musicians playing various indigenous musical instruments.  This film marks one of the first times Disney animators mixed live actors interacting with animated characters, and set the groundwork for later films such as Mary Poppins.  The Three Caballeros was made to help improve relations between the US and South America as a result of the Good Neighbor Policies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Within these shorts of music and stories, we are exposed to the cultures of Mexico, Central and South America from events and fiestas to language and folklore.  In the film we follow Donald and his feathered cousins through The South Pole, Brazil, and eventually all around Mexico. 

Really I find my blogs have a tendency to be research heavy … Like I’m writing a paper for film studies or musicology back in my Master’s days.  Oh yes, I do hold a Master’s in Music in Vocal Performance, which is why my focus on the Disney films I choose levitates towards the music.  This movie holds my favorite of all Disney songs, an honor that’s hard to bestow as I love most Disney songs.  But the section of “Quindin di Iaia” do this day makes me want to get up and dance.  The combination of fun Latin rhythms that later gets mixed into some big band sound and Aurora Miranda’s voice … Well that’s just a recipe for success right there.  A funny story I have about this film, growing up one of the few places in my little town of Ontario to rent movies was the local grocery store (Albertson’s just up the way from my house).  Well, movie or game rental was meant as a reward on Friday’s if the week had been especially busy or my sister and I had achieved something (good grades or passing that hard test).  Every time I saw The Three Caballeros I would pester my mom to rent it and inevitably the answer was “No you’ve already seen it!”  I knew this answer was coming but I asked anyways because … You never quite knew if she would turn around and say okay.  The areas visited in Mexico like Veracruz, or Patzcuaro, would later inspire me to travel to Mexico.  In fact, had I not seen this film from an early age and gotten a pique of curiosity about the world around me I probably wouldn’t be the traveler I am.  Disney’s ability to bring the world around you down to your television screen or even experience a slice of culture at his park Epcot in Florida, which was Disney’s vision for the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow, a place where countries are only a short trip away.  This I think started early with Disney’s love of literature that led to his amazing films … England gave us Mary Poppins, France gave us The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and from Australia we got Finding Nemo.  We have the world around us to inspire our imaginations to create what we wish to create.  Again the lesson of Disney in everything he created. 

The Three Caballeros: While a much older film, still a fun romp through cultures of our friends south of the border.  Fun music, folk dancing, and a little history on feather cousins as well.

Perfect For: The globe trekker

Most likely character you’ll see in the parks:  One of the rare instances you’ll see all three main characters at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot Center on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros (formerly known as El Rio Del Tiempo).  And if you’re lucky you just may see Donald by the ramp up to the pyramid for a photo op. 

Well Disney friends … Normally this is where I announce my next film for review for the next month but to be honest, I haven’t decided what that shall be yet.  There are a great many films I’ve been watching and looking through.  You see Pride is around the corner and my alter-shego, Stella Boheme, will be making some appearances.  So when I have decided what film I shall be reviewing I’ll post an update from my phone!!  I want to wish you all a wonderful summer as I know many of you fellow Disney addicts will be traveling to Disneyland and Disney World alike and I also want to wish my LGBTQA readers a happy Pride month, be safe and love each other!!

Be safe, be happy, and as always Make it a Magical Day  --Pat A