The fourth of the Disney omnibus films, 1947’s Fun and Fancy Free features two roughly half hour segments. The first, Bongo, is follows the story of a circus bear who escapes and has to adjust to life in the wild. The second segment is a retelling of the Jack and the Beanstalk tale, casting Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as Jack, titled Mickey and the Beanstalk, and is most notable as the last time Walt Disney himself provided the voice of Mickey.
Both of the stories are simple, but are quite entertaining. The animation is clean, very comparable to the shorts the studio was producing at the time. The two segments are held together by interstitials of Jiminy Cricket as he explores two neighboring houses. One of the surprisingly enjoyable aspects of this set up is the inclusion of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, a popular entertainer at the time. The sarcastic commentary by the puppet Charlie are easily one of the highlights of the film.
Like the other omnibus films, Fun and Fancy Free is ultimately not as satisfying narratively as the true feature length films. It is, however, enjoyable from start to finish, and for a Disney fanatic worth watching solely for Walt’s final performance as his most famous creation.
Next: Melody Time (1948)
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