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Released for Donald Duck's 10th birthday/anniversary, The Three Caballeros features a series of shorts and segments tied by the premise of Donald (Clarence Nash) opening a series of presents from a group of friends. Most notably, he receives presents from José Carioca (José Oliveira), a Brazilian parrot, and Panchito Pistoles (Joaquin Garay), a Mexican rooster, and then the three get to spend some time traveling around their respective countries.
This film was released at the peak of World War II, and was part of an effort from Walt Disney to improve US relations with Latin American countries. It is comprised of a handful of segments featuring countries like Perú, Ecuador, Uruguay, and finally Brazil and Mexico, during which our three main characters interact with locals, including live-action musicians and dancers.
This is a film I remember seeing back when I was a kid. I think it was one of the first films I rented in the 80s when we got a VHS, so there's a bit of nostalgia tied to it. But for the most part, the film manages to be fun and entertaining. The structure is a bit of a mess, and the narrative ranges from loose to non-existent, but the way the "caballeros" interact makes it fun and breezy.
The film is hindered by some racial stereotypes and problematic representations, but overall, you get the sense that the intention to honor Latin American culture was genuine. This is mostly evidenced by the use of actual Latin American voice actors and musicians. Both Oliveira and Garay are from the countries where their characters come from, and the way they highlight Latin American music is solid.
Certainly not Disney's best effort, but given the circumstances when it was released, I give them props for coming out with a film that has endured to some extent and that managed to shine a light on other cultures at a time when that wasn't the norm.
Grade:
THE THREE CABALLEROS
(1944, Ferguson & Co.)
A film with the number 3 (Three, Third, etc.) in its title
(1944, Ferguson & Co.)
A film with the number 3 (Three, Third, etc.) in its title
♫ "We're three caballeros, three gay caballeros
They say we are birds of a feather ♪
♪ We're happy amigos, no matter where he goes
The one, two, and three goes, we're always together" ♫
They say we are birds of a feather ♪
♪ We're happy amigos, no matter where he goes
The one, two, and three goes, we're always together" ♫
Released for Donald Duck's 10th birthday/anniversary, The Three Caballeros features a series of shorts and segments tied by the premise of Donald (Clarence Nash) opening a series of presents from a group of friends. Most notably, he receives presents from José Carioca (José Oliveira), a Brazilian parrot, and Panchito Pistoles (Joaquin Garay), a Mexican rooster, and then the three get to spend some time traveling around their respective countries.
This film was released at the peak of World War II, and was part of an effort from Walt Disney to improve US relations with Latin American countries. It is comprised of a handful of segments featuring countries like Perú, Ecuador, Uruguay, and finally Brazil and Mexico, during which our three main characters interact with locals, including live-action musicians and dancers.
This is a film I remember seeing back when I was a kid. I think it was one of the first films I rented in the 80s when we got a VHS, so there's a bit of nostalgia tied to it. But for the most part, the film manages to be fun and entertaining. The structure is a bit of a mess, and the narrative ranges from loose to non-existent, but the way the "caballeros" interact makes it fun and breezy.
The film is hindered by some racial stereotypes and problematic representations, but overall, you get the sense that the intention to honor Latin American culture was genuine. This is mostly evidenced by the use of actual Latin American voice actors and musicians. Both Oliveira and Garay are from the countries where their characters come from, and the way they highlight Latin American music is solid.
Certainly not Disney's best effort, but given the circumstances when it was released, I give them props for coming out with a film that has endured to some extent and that managed to shine a light on other cultures at a time when that wasn't the norm.
Grade: