Saludos Amigos (1943)

Written by Homer Brightman, et al.
Directed by Norman Ferguson, et al.

Well, Saludos Amigos takes us into the package films of the mid 1940’s, as WW2 tightened its financial grip around the world. Walt Disney would produce quite a few of these package films through the rest of the decade.

Saludos Amigos is the shortest of Disney’s 56 Animated Films (as of October 2018), clocking in at a mere 42 minutes. Personally, I had heard of it, but had never seen it, until now. Mixing animation shorts with live-action interstitials, it almost felt like Fantasia in a sense, so this review will follow the same format.

“Lake Titicaca”

The first in a short list of Disney llamas…

Besides the name that made my inner 5-year old giggle like an idiot, this short was a typical Donald Duck experience: everything is stacked against him, and he expresses his usual rage. The section with him and the llama on the rope bridge did bring a smile to my face, which elevated my grade for the segment.

Segment Grade: B

“Pedro”

Go, go, go, Pedro!

“Pedro” follows the adventures of a young plane (named Pedro, obviously), who has to undertake a perilous journey to pick up some mail and return it to the airfield. The animation here was surprisingly detailed, and when it ended, I found that I smiled the whole way through.

Segment Grade: B+

“El Gaucho Goofy”

Goofy and his equally hilarious horse

I have always enjoyed the Goofy shorts, and this segment didn’t disappoint. Goofy is transplanted from Texas to Argentina, and thrown into the life of a gaucho. He takes to it pretty well, and there was a surprise cameo by a Fantasia Ostrich!

Segment Grade: A-

“Aquarela do Brazil”

Donald and Jose, 2/3 of the Three Caballeros

Some excellent art, and the introduction of José Carioca, doesn’t quite save this segment from being a big bundle of “...what?”. It just...ends. Most of the segment is also in Portuguese, so it’s also difficult to follow. Add Donald into the mix, and it’s a short, sweet, confusing mess.

Segment Grade: B-

Overall, I didn’t know what to expect from this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not always the biggest Donald Duck fan, but luckily his appearances here are fairly brief, which I fear can’t be said for the next film, The Three Caballeros.

FINAL GRADE: B+