Like its predecessor, Saludos Amigos, this is an omnibus feature that was partially funded by the United States’ “Good Neighbor” policy to promote good relations with Mexico and South America during WWII. Rather than including four discreet shorts this time, though, it is instead a collection of sixteen musical sequences that more or less run into each other.
The animation here doesn’t stand up when compared to Disney’s other feature output, or even most of its shorts. It’s primary defining feature was the incorporation of live action into the animated frame and vice versa. Though it was marketed as being the first time this had ever been accomplished, it was already a long standing technique, even being used by Disney as early as the 1920s in the Alice shorts. Enjoyment of the film depends heavily on your enjoyment of Latin American music. The sequences don’t deliver much humour, and there is almost no story to speak of, so it is let entirely to the music to carry the film. As a result, most audiences will likely find it dull and overlong.
While it was praised in its time, the film does not hold up for modern audiences. Lacking both the musical variety and stunning animation of Fantasia, it comes off as a pale, one note imitation. Fans of the musical style featured will get more mileage, but otherwise it only really needs to be seen by completionists.
Next: Make Mine Music (1946)
