Reviews & Ratings for
Three Little Pigs More at IMDbPro »

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Hide Spoilers:

Page 1 of 2:

[1] [2]

Index

17 reviews in total

---

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Beautifully Rendered Bit of Depression Era Cinematic Graffatti, Also one of the Finest Representation of the Art of Film of any locale or any era., 11 December 2008

Author: John T. Ryan (redryan64@hotmail.com) from Chicago, Illinois, United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

HAVING been raised up with the knowledge of and familiarity with a particular work of Art, Music or Cinema often leads one to lack a proper appreciation for them. It's strictly a matter of lack of maturity, lesser wisdom and taking them for granted. This is a condition that usually finds a cure with a reviewing of the work in question; particularly if it is screened again after a substantial length of time has elapsed.

TAKE the case of today's special honored guest, THREE LITTLE PIGS (Walt Disney Productions/United Artists, 1933). To someone who had viewed it originally, during its first release theatrically, or to a Baby Boomer (like Schultz and Me!), who've seen this on TV since we were kids, this is perhaps just another cartoon. However, when one takes a good step back and views it freshly; one realizes just how great a work it is.

IN dissecting the animated 8 minutes, we find a much more complex movie than we would first imagine. Yes, it is a Cartoon Short; a very good one. Yes, it has beautiful Technicolor, the finest of Artwork and flawless animation; we concede all these amenities. It possesses the most lively and beautiful Original Musical Score imaginable. All of these things are true, but we can easily overlook one particular aspect; one that well may be the catalyst which rendered it so special.

THAT almost invisible ingredient is Poetry. The whole narrative of the short is tastefully done in rhyme. This is an aspect that is so well rendered as to be virtually unnoticed. All of the rhyming dialogue, regardless of which of the four characters delivered it, blended in a nearly flawless and seamless fashion. This is a highly important and possibly redeeming quality; for many a movie goer would be prejudicially affected about seeing and listening to "that sissy stuff."

INSTEAD, we're told that this 8 minute cartoon, this musical short had a great effect on our people in Depression Era America and the World. The original theme song of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" was heralded as the unofficial rallying call of the common folk and high society types alike. It certainly has a peppy, upbeat sound and mood about it and has a certain feeling of having one uplifted just to hear it. As far as longevity, it is about as well known now as it was 75 years ago.

WE did read of one particular problem that Disney and the Production Crew faced early on with THREE LITTLE PIGS; one that seems incredible today, but true nonetheless. It concerns the Wolf's masquerade as a salesman coming to the door of the Practical Pig.

IN the film we see, the Wolf says he's …"Working my way through College" and "you want to buy a brush?" Both of these are certainly long established clichés; as, who hasn't heard that 'Working my way through College" or the Brush remark's being an obvious reference to the Fuller Brush Company.

BUT the scene originally called for the Wolf to be using a decidedly Yiddish Accent as he was supposed to be disguised as a Jewish Door-to-Door Salesman. Even Big Bad's costuming is reminiscent of the manner of dress used today by Observant Hasidic Jews, many of whom are active in any number of businesses.*

WHATEVER the reason, the scene was changed to a gag about a "College Kid, working his way through School." OTHER than that point, it's extremely difficult to find fault with this edition of Walt Disney's SILLY SYMPHONY Cartoon Shorts. It remains a near perfect masterpiece in 1933, today and for all of the tomorrows on our bountiful planets vast horizons.

NOTE: * There were many such similar stock characterizations or stereotypes used in Film, as a tradition borrowed from the legitimate theatre's stage. For example in the highly acclaimed CIMARRON (RKO Radio Pictures, 1931), character actor George E. Stone portrays a traveling salesman by the name of Sol Levy. His costuming was just about the very same as that used by B.B. Wolf uses in THREE LITTLE PIGS. Well, for whatever the reason, Disney changed the scene; although it is neither better nor worse for its happening.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

---

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Tra-La-La-La-La, 13 January 2008

Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

One of the most enduring of animated classics is Walt Disney's Three Little Pigs, taken from the old fairy tale about three juvenile little oinkers, only one of whom meets the challenge of the Big Bad Wolf.

Coming out as it did in 1933 it's both a metaphor for the Great Depression, the consequence of no financial planning for a rainy day and the steps we must take to reform the system as the New Deal attempted to do. A lot of people thought the same way as the Three Little Pigs did in poopooing the notion of a Big Bad Wolf, but only Practical Pig took practical steps in building his house of bricks so the wolf was kept from his door.

In Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse became the first of Walt Disney's animated creations, but in Three Little Pigs, the first of many songs identified with the Magic Kingdom was written and has certainly endured. Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf is probably sung by so many parents to their children in reciting this tale that they probably think it came with the fairy tale. It probably was what won Disney his Oscar for Best Short Subject for the cartoon.

It was a mega-hit during the Depression, not an easy thing when people weren't buying records. I happen to have a rollicking version by Thirties band-leader and entertainer Ben Bernie of the Frank Churchill- Ted Sears classic. It's still quite a hoot.

And as a lesson in planning ahead, Three Little Pigs for children and former children can't be beat.

---

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Three Little Pigs is a classic Walt Disney Silly Symphony, 31 December 2008

Author: tavm from Baton Rouge, La.

I remember first watching this before Pollyanna on "The Wonderful World of Disney" in 1981 and enjoying it so I decided to see this again on YouTube. Still enjoyable and hearing "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" brings such nice memories of being a child. Did not see the controversial version with the wolf posing as a Jewish peddler with the big nose but that's the only disappoint I got from this. (Just to make this clear: I'm disappointed not because I wanted to see a Jewish stereotype but because I wanted to see this short the way it was originally presented.) Burt Gillett really did a fine job as director with the music and the houses being blown down and the first two pigs still not completely learning their lesson as evidenced by the worker pig doing a trick on them at the end. So with all that said, I highly recommend The Three Little Pigs. Update 3/3/11-I just saw the excised scene on YouTube.

---

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Different Versions of The Three Little Pigs, 24 August 2006

Author: Tashtago from Vancouver, Canada

I've seen the second version with the Wolf dressing as a fairy but it is in Japanese and was a gift from my in-laws (my wife is Japanese) to my daughter. It's weird in that it combines the stories of the three little pigs with Little Red Riding Hood with the practical Pig coming to Riding Hood's rescue. This version doesn't have the Jewish Peddler sequence in it. I recently rented another video version which sounds like the one most viewers are commenting on as it does not have the Red Riding Hood sequence. The animation, colour, are excellent and the Wolf is terrifying even as an adult. Something about how Disney drew predators in these early films is extremely effective even today.

---

3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A True Classic!, 12 July 2002

Author: Dagurasu from Japan

This short assumed a symbolism that few cartoons do as America stumbled through the Great Depression of the 1930's. "Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" was false bravado for many Americans who were losing their jobs and homes. I remember hearing this short as well as seeing it. Our school had an audio version of it.

---

Horrible, 30 May 2012

Author: Foreverisacastironmess from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Well I thought it was. Three ugly annoying pigs constantly showing off their gross pink little pig fannies, are menaced by a wolf who at least had the decency to wear pants! I just thought this whole rotten excuse for a silly symphony was stupid and babyish, especially when the pigs prance around like little idiots and sing "who's afraid..." I found the pigs to be so irritating that I found myself rooting for the wolf. It would have been a pleasure to see him catch the little blighters and "wolf"(ha-ha) them down in bloody chunks! And the bit where the wolf disguises himself as a negative Jewish stereotype-whoa, that is just TERRIBLE that's REALLY gonna bring about the fall of mankind that is(!) If, like me, anyone's watched this rubbish cartoon and not enjoyed it whatsoever, I would suggest you go and watch the final episode of Tales from the Crypt:The Third Pig. It will ease the pain. Pretty damn horrible, it's the worst silly symphony that I've ever seen, it sure sent me squealing all the way home...

---

A memorable and excellent classic. Teaches the good morals of smarts and clever, and it prepares to be ready!, 10 February 2011

Author: Danny Blankenship from Petersburg, Virginia

I remember as a kid reading and flipping thru the pages of the classic storybook "Three Little Pigs". I highly enjoyed it as it taught good moral lessons of hard work, courage, and to be prepared and ready when danger strikes always be alert! I as a kid was even afraid of the big bad wolf! So it was a real treat when I just recently watched the 8 minute Disney short. It's one of Disney's best animated classics. It moves along beautifully by the sounds and singing of the three pigs saying "Who's Afraid of the big bad wolf"? And remember I'll huff and puff and blow down your house! Anyway the wicked wolf begins his journey thru the wooded landscape towards the pigs dwellings. And the first two pigs who are both laid back and take things as a joke clearly are not concerned with the wolf and both put up their new homes. One made of straw the other of sticks, yet after the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down their houses, the two seek shelter and protection with their brother the third pig and this serious and hard working swine very wisely made his home of bricks! So no matter how much huffing and puffing this house will not be blown down.

Overall this is one great memorable classic a Disney favorite it teaches the morals that can be applied in life like being clever, and smart plus with a little hard work one will be protected as you will not fall prey to the evil traps and destruction of your shelter! "Three Little Pigs" is an entertaining classic and educational for the lessons it teaches.

---

"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"- When I was little I was, 27 March 2010

Author: TheLittleSongbird from United Kingdom

Three Little Pigs is a cheerful, fun and lovable little classic that I have loved ever since I was a child. While the pacing is a tad too quick in places it is still hugely enjoyable for a number of reasons.

When I was little, I marvelled at how good the animation was for its time. From a 17 year old perspective it is still very very good, with colourful backgrounds and beautiful colours.

I also remembered singing along to the song Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? That song has to be one of the most memorable songs ever in a Silly Symphony, it is ever so catchy and easy to sing along to.

The dialogue is great. The Big Bad Wolf has some classic lines, but I think the best of them come from Fifer and Fiddler. There is one funny part when the Wolf dresses up in the sheepskin, the dialogue Fifer and Fiddler say cracks me up every time.

The Wolf, like the Three Little Pigs, is a truly memorable character. Sinister and rapacious, he did scare me when I was little, not so much now but the animation and voice work is wonderfully impressive even by today's standards. I do think the Wolf from Peter and the Wolf is scarier, me and sister haven't got over how scared we used to be of him.

The voice work is excellent. Billy Bletcher is perfect as the Big Bad Wolf and Walt Disney I recognised immediately from his voicing of Mickey in cartoons like Boat Builders and Mickey's Good Deed. Pinto Colvig, the original voice of Goofy, also does a stellar job.

Overall, hugely enjoyable childhood favourite. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

---

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Slightly Altered Version of the Old Fable, 27 August 2006

Author: aimless-46 from Kentucky

You know the basic story, the practical hardworking pig builds his house with bricks and mortar; one lazy buddy uses sticks and the other uses straw. Then when the time comes to keep out the Big Bad Wolf everyone heads to the brick house. It's an old fable and Disney wisely altered the original story where the wolf eats the two lazy pigs and is eaten by the remaining pig after falling into boiling water.

"The Three Little Pigs" was the 36th cartoon in Disney's "Silly Symphony" series and came just a year after "Flowers and Trees" forever changed the animation industry by introducing the first Technicolor cartoon. Technicolor was a process where three separate negatives (each a primary color) were combined to produce a color print. It took a while to perfect it for live action so it was first utilized for animation.

"The Three Little Pigs" was the most popular cartoon in history, on many theater marquees it was billed above the feature film. Disney had a two year exclusive on the use of the Technicolor process and had one animator work on giving each pig a distinct personality while another animator created the wolf. Frank Churchill wrote the "Big Bad Wolf" song, which unexpectedly became a monster hit-Disney's first published song. The wolf at the door was considered the symbol of the Depression and the song became a national rallying cry.

Disney would follow it up with three other attempts: "The Big Bad Wolf", "Three Little Wolves", and "The Practical Pig". None were nearly as successful as the original and Walt is said to have repeatedly stated: "You can't top pigs with pigs."

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

---

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
One Of The Greatest, 6 May 2005

Author: icet2004 from Estonia

"The two pigs building houses of hay and sticks scoff at their brother, building the brick house. But when the wolf comes around and blows their houses down (after trickery like dressing as a foundling sheep fails), they run to their brother's house. And throughout, they sing the classic song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?".

it's pretty good classic animation movie one of the greatest of all time without a question i think.wolf is pretty funny there and pigs are funny too.i recommend it strongly,but i can completely understand why some guys wouldn't ,because there is no style,but it's funny all the way and i still recommend it's classical movie one all time best animation films.

---

---

Page 1 of 2:

[1] [2]

Add another review

---

Related Links

Plot summary	Amazon.com summary	Ratings
Awards	External reviews	Plot keywords
Main details	Your user reviews	Your vote history