HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY (Released to Theaters USA 1937)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Hawaiian Holiday—cute, suitable watch—does not have the comical element like other short, animated films. It is a bit bland but still serves as a fair watch. Look for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and Goofy the Dog in this movie.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto the dog, and Goofy the Dog all go to a Hawaiian beach to have fun.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Ben Sharpsteen for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Walt Disney and John Sutherland for making the film possible. Cast includes Walt Disney, Marcellite Garner, Pinto Colvig, and Clarence Nash. Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Maybe. It's good to see the Mickey Mouse gang in one movie. This is a suitable short animated film. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

MOOSE HUNTERS (Released to Theaters USA 1937)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Moose Hunters—comical and funny short film—portrays Goofy, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse combined in one toon. It has well-colored animation and good presentation.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline Goofy the Dog, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse go moose hunting.    Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ben Sharpsteen for directing effort. Thank you to Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Pinto Colvig and Clarence Nash.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a nice mix of three cartoon characters who usually appear in their own toons. The mix provides a good watch.   Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DONALD'S DECISION (Released to Theaters USA 1942)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì Donald's Decision—short, animated film—is cute and fun to watch.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Donald Duck is told through a radio broadcast that he needs to take his money and spend it on war bonds to help WWII US soldiers win WWII.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Ford Beebe for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible.  Cast includes Clarence Nash, John Dehner, and Don Brodie.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes.  This is a time-encapsulated 'toon' and provides a good look at ways the USA used different kinds of media to sell war bonds. It is cute and fun. Thank you to everyone involved in producing this very nice piece of history. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

BELL BOY DONALD (Released to Theaters USA 1942)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Bell Boy Donald—cute, animated, short film—has the first appearance of P.J., the son of the cartoon character, Pete. P.J. becomes Max Goof's best friend in later movies and television series. In this movie, he is younger and quite obnoxious to Donald Duck. P.J.'s voice moves from the gravelly voice in this film to a softer voice in later films. P.J. is not used in later films until the series of Goof Troop and in toon movies.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Donald Duck is a bell boy and has one last chance to be nice to the hotel guests. But then he meets Pete and Pete, Jr. (P.J.) and the story is on.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Jack King for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible.  Cast includes Clarence Nash, John McLeish, Glen Couch, and John Dehner.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. This is a cute short film that tells a sweet, comical story. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

DONALD'S OFF DAY (Released to Theaters USA 1944)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì  Donald's Off Day—short animated film—features Donald Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Watch for good animation.  Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  Donald Duck has a day off and wants to go golfing but the weather becomes bad the moment he is outside.  Additional Thanks  Thank you to Director Jack Hannah for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes Clarence Nash.  Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? Yes. This is a good watch and has good presentation. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE NIFTY NINETIES (Theatrical Release USA 1941)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

The Nifty Nineties—cute and honest—fully illustrates what entertainment needs to encourage. WOW! This is a wonderful short film. It has a perfect, light conclusion and quickly assigns itself to the great animated film for child/adult share category. Watch for nice cameos of Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. This short film features at the beginning of the Pollyanna movie DVD.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

 Storyline

 Mickey Mouse woos Minnie Mouse.

 Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Riley Thomson for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer  Cast includes: Thelma Boardman, Bill Days, Walt Disney, Florence Gill, Ward Kimball, Fred Moore, Clarence Nash, John Rario, Max Smith, and The Sportsmen Quartet. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. Sweet story—honest and full of integrity—becomes a very good, child/adult share cartoon. WOW! Golden entertainment. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers

THE THREE CABALLEROS (Theatrical Release USA 1944)

 Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.0|5.0 Starsìììì 

The Three Caballeros—an overview of the different cultures of South America and Mexico—uses Donald Duck as the primary animated character for the movie. A parrot named Jose Carioca adds variety and color to this anthology.  Donald Duck is shown as a character with high interest in attractive females, but this focus is child-watch friendly although it gets old in the overall series.

 Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline 

An anthology of animated cartoons featuring Donald Duck on location in South America and Mexico. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Norman Ferguson for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Walt Disney for making the film possible. Cast includes:  Aurora Miranda, Carmen Molina, Dora Luz, Sterling Holloway, Clarence Nash, Jose Oliveira, and Joaquin Garay, Frank Graham, Fred Shields, Nestor Amaral

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This animated anthology presents an interesting look at South American and Mexican cultures with strong emphasis on insights into those cultures.

 Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers