The last in the series of forgotten works of by Disney animators in the 40's, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad provides evidence that the studio was finally beginning to climb out of the artistic rut it had been since the mid-40's. Although it really two long short films (there's an oxymoron) combined, the two films have a level of interest and wit to them fly over the heads of Make Music Mine or The Three Caleberos, even if only one of the stories is really successful. The three credited directors are James Algar, Clyde Geromini and Jack Kinney. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on who made what or whether the three worked on both parts as a team.
"The Wind in the Willows" ****
I never read Kenneth Grahame's children's classic when I was kid, mainly because it looked boring, but Disney's charming adaptation of it is a lost classic. Set in the English countryside in the early days of the 20th century, this story recounts the adventures of Mr. Toad (voice of Eric Blore) an eccentric rich guy who goes is prone to frequent obsessions and impulsive behavior. His friends, which consist of an old Scottish guy, a imbecilic horse an aristocratic rat and mole try to keep him under control both out of their genuine concern for him, as well as the reputation of the general community. Toad gets into trouble when he becomes obsessed with buying a really fast car and does something stupid, ending up in jail.
It is difficult for me to describe how genuinely entertaining this is. It is genuinely funny in a British, Wallace and Gromit kind of way and features some terrific character animation. Unlike so much of Disney's 40's work, "The Wind in the Willows" does not have a cold formality to it, and I was actually moved by the close friendship of the characters. Kudos should also be given to the directors for avoiding the temptation to make this into a musical with unnecessary songs, the movie is charming enough as it is. Basil Rathbone's fun narration is the icing on the cake, and it's fun to see what the actor can do with lighter material than he's usually given.
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" **1/2
I was exposed to various adaptations and abridgements of the Washington Irving short story all throughout my childhood and I never grew tired of it. Looking back on the story from a distance, I can now see that it's really about repression -all forms of it. Everything in the story is gouged in gossip, rumor and hearsay and there is an unnerving atmosphere to the piece. It also seems odd that the story is often told to children, as it's basically about a gangly, socially awkward guy getting murdered because he dared show interest in the town hunk's sweetheart, who gets away with it. The disturbing implication is, apparently, might makes right.
This is an odd choice for a family oriented Disney film and downright poor choice for a musical. But the movie is not as bad as it could have been, and some moments do have some charm to them. The biggest advantage is that it's narrated and mostly sung by Bing Crosby, whose work still seems fun and relevant today, unlike most of the singers that Disney featured in their films of the period. Crosby's easygoing style (he referes to Ichabod Crane as "Ick") is relaxing, even as the movie doesn't really go anywhere and spends far too much time on non narrative dance sequences. This tone of this movie also fights a desperate battle with the content- this story just isn't light and whimsical, no matter how much the directors try to convince us it is. When Ichabod finally meets the Headless Horseman, it's totally meaningless- certainly not whimsical, but not scary ether. Still, this segment is not that bad- the music is pretty good and the animation is up to par with "The Wind in the Willows", even if the final effect is a bit of a letdown.
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)