Fun & Fancy Free (1947)

Jiminy Cricket hosts two Disney animated shorts: "Bongo," about a circus bear escaping to the wild, and "Mickey and the Beanstalk," a take on the famous fairy tale.

Writers:

Homer Brightman (story), Harry Reeves (story),

Stars:

Edgar Bergen, Dinah Shore, Charlie McCarthy

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edgar Bergen	...	Edgar Bergen
Dinah Shore	...	Narrator (voice)
Charlie McCarthy	...	Charlie
Mortimer Snerd	...	Mortimer
Luana Patten	...	Luana
Walt Disney	...	Mickey Mouse (voice)
Anita Gordon	...	Singing Harp (voice)
Cliff Edwards	...	Jiminy Cricket (voice)
Billy Gilbert	...	Willie the Giant (voice)
Clarence Nash	...	Donald Duck / Cat (voice)
The King's Men	...	Singers (as The Kings Men)
The Dinning Sisters	...	Singers
The Starlighters	...	The Starlighters

Storyline

Disney version of fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk", featuring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in the main roles. Also contains another short film, re-released as "Bongo".

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Plot Keywords:

bear | jiminy cricket | circus | goofy holler | full moon | 

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Taglines:

It's Got That DISNEY MAGIC! (original print media ad - many caps)

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bongo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa register number 107057 delivered on 28-8-2003.

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Quotes

Edgar Bergen: Are you listening, Mortimer?
Mortimer Snerd: Uh... Happy Valley?
Edgar Bergen: That's right, yes. Now, just try to imagine it. Can't you just close your eyes and see it?
Mortimer Snerd: Well, I can't see very good with my eyes closed. My eyelids get in the way.
Edgar Bergen: Well, you create a picture in your mind's eye.
Mortimer Snerd: Oh.
Charlie McCarthy: That's not easy for him. His mind gets in the way.

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Crazy Credits

Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd, Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, and Donald Duck are billed as if they were actors, when they are fictional characters.

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Connections

Featured in DTV: Golden Oldies (1984)

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Soundtracks

"My, What a Happy Day"
(1947) (uncredited)
Written by Bill Walsh and Ray Noble
Performed by Anita Gordon and Chorus

User Reviews

Great getat

This package film from the Disney studio is simple but just irresistible as it features two colorful and cute cartoons interwoven with Edger Bergen and his famous dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd.

The first segment is "Bongo" based on a short story by Sinclair Lewis. With the exception of narrator Dinah Shore, the whole thing is dialog free and although it moves along at a leisurely pace, it is good enough for the kids but adults will most certainly squirm.

The next segment is "Mickey and the Beanstalk" which has Bergan doing the narration of the classic fairy tale starring Mickey, Donald and Goofy as they face Willie the Giant (voiced amusingly by Billy Gilbert). Although the cartoon is cute and amusing, Bergen and his dummies along with the adorable Luana Patten provide the bulk of the laughs. I can't help but compare the approach in this segment to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" because of the good-natured riffing done by Charlie and Mortimer. It makes you wish that Walt Disney had used this formula for other films like "Alice in Wonderland" or "Cinderella." It goes without saying that Charlie's riffing on Bergen's storytelling is a particular highlight.

I say see this film. It'll warm your heart and keep you amused. Plus, it doesn't have the blatant pop culture jokes you get in contemporary animated films.