Disney Animation Collection: Vol. 1: Mickey and the Beanstalk

Sunday, while doing a search for Disney on Netflix streaming service, I discovered they have Disney Animation Collections Vol. 1-5 available! I actually have many of the cartoons available in these volumes on DVD, but the quality of the picture in HD is superb!

I watched Disney Animation Collection: Vol. 1: Mickey and the Beanstalk.

 
It starts off with Mickey and the Beanstalk, which was originally released  September 27, 1947 as part of the "package film" Fun and Fancy Free.  It was originally narrated by Edgar Bergen. The version in this collection is from Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, aired in 1963, and is narrated by Ludwig Von Drake. 

This is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, with Mickey, Donald and Goofy going on an adventure.
The highlight of this, in my opinion, and what I remember being most amused of as a child, is the beanstalk growing scene. It's full of hilarious and imaginative gags with perfectly orchestrated music accompanying it.

Next up is my favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon, the 1938 masterpiece, The Brave Little Tailor. I've written about several of my collectables from this classic, and have many more to come. Past articles can be found by typing in "Brave Little Tailor" in the "Search This Blog" block to the right. I don't think I've ever seen it as beautifully as it is here in HD. Just stunning. I watched it twice in fact!

Then I was treated to an almost as wonderful, certainly in my top 5 Mickey Mouse cartoons, Thru the Mirror, from 1936. Mickey falls asleep while reading Alice In Wonderland, and has quite the dream!
Also included a black and white Mickey from 1934 Gulliver Mickey. Mickey tells a group of young orphan mice a fanciful tale.

Rounding out the set is Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip, from 1940, where Mickey and Pluto try to avoid train conductor Pete, and have many problems doing so! I'll be checking out the rest of these animated classics for sure!

Professor Ludwig Von Drake

A couple weeks back, I highlighted a terrific box set, "Music of Disney: Legacy in Song." Upon listening to this collection for the first time back in 1992, I heard a song titled "The Spectrum Song," by voice actor Paul Frees as Professor Ludwig Von Drake. I knew I'd heard that song before, a memory from childhood. Professor Ludwig Von Drake first appeared on September 24th, 1961 in the cartoon An Adventure in Color as part of the first episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color on NBC. In this episode he sings "The Spectrum Song."

You can find this song on iTunes, along with several others, including:
"I'm Ludwig Von Drake"
"Green with Envy Blues"
"It Gets You"
"Von Drake Variations on 'The Blue Danube"
"Professor Von Drake Discourses On Sound Recording and Takes You On an Adventure In an Echo Chamber"

If you want a fun, entertaining and off-beat listen, check it out for yourself. Look for more Ludwig Von Drake in future posts.