Peace on Earth (1939)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Release Date:

9 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Drama

Plot:

Two baby squirrels ask grandpa to explain what "men" are when he comes in singing "peace on earth, goodwill to men". Grandpa tells the story of man's last war.

Plot Keywords:

Squirrel | Grandfather | Peace | Extinction | Machine Gun

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Mel Blanc

...

Grandpa Squirrel (voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

9 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5738) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | UK:U

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Recognizing its value, MGM gave the cartoon special promotional treatment.

Quotes:

Grandpa Squirrel: Good will to men, yes, good will to men.
Baby Squirrel 1: What are men, Grandpa?
Baby Squirrel 2: Yeah, Grandpa, what are men?
Grandpa Squirrel: Huh? What's that?... Well there ain't no men in the world no more, sonnys... nope, no more men. But as I remember the critters, well they was like monsters. They wore these big metal pots on their heads. They walked on their hind legs, and they carried terrible-looking shootin' irons with knives in the end of them. Their eyes gleamed, and they had these tremendous big snoots, like this, that curled down and fastened down to their stomachs.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remade as Good Will to Men (1955)

Soundtrack:

Silent Night, Holy Night

A Beautiful Page of History

The States had not yet entered World War II. England and France had just declared war on Germany. While the US strove to remain neutral, Hitler invaded Poland and already took Austria. We were standing on the brink.

This short is a wonderful reflection of that time. Two baby squirrels listen to their grandfather as he sings "Peace on Earth, good will to men" and ask what "man" is. Grandfather explains about the race of man and how their violent and ugly ways destroyed them. The visuals and images are startling and poignant. It shows a war in the 30s & 40s and still touches a person watching it today. It's a brilliant commentary on the world and humanity. Presented through the eyes of animals, it is an amazing cartoon. Cartoon shows used to show it infrequently when I was growing up, but in the "politically correct" times we live in now, it has disappeared. Don't miss the opportunity to see it if you can.