Saludos Amigos (1942)

Disney animators tour South America and present four animated shorts inspired by their trip.

Directors:

Wilfred Jackson, Jack Kinney

Writers:

Ted Sears (story research), William Cottrell (story research)

Stars:

Fred Shields, José Oliveira, Lee Blair

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred Shields	...	Narrator
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
José Oliveira	...	José Carioca (voice)

Storyline

Live-action segments show members of the Disney staff touring South America and recording their impressions in sketches. These segue into four animated sections: "Lake Titicaca" depicts tourist Donald Duck's troubles with a stubborn llama; "Pedro" tells of a little mail plane's adventures flying over the treacherous Andes; "El Gaucho Goofy" transplants an American cowboy into the Argentine pampas; and in "Aquarela do Brasil," Jose Carioca shows Donald the sights and sounds of Rio de Janiero.

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Plot Keywords:

south america | disney | duck | jose carioca | cowboy | 

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Taglines:

Walt Disney goes South American in his gayest musical Technicolor feature

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Family | Fantasy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

6 February 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hello Friends

Filming Locations:

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

42 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The segment "El Gaucho Goofy" is not the first gaucho-themed Disney animated film. It follows "The Gallopin' Gaucho" (1929), one of the earliest appearances of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Here's an unusual expedition: artists, musicians and writers setting out for a trip through Latin America to find new personalities, music and dances for their cartoon films. So, adios, Hollywood, and saludos, amigos.

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Crazy Credits

The original end title ended with the Portuguese word "Fim", with the English translation "The End" below in in parenthesis. Under that is the words "A Walt Disney Production - Distributed by R.K.O. Radio Pictures, Inc."

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Alternate Versions

The initial DVD release removes a scene where Goofy is seen smoking a cigarette and blowing smoke rings. It was finally released completely uncensored for historical purposes on the Blu-ray release and as a bonus on the DVD release of Walt & El Grupo. (Uncensored, but not the original version: on the Grupo DVD the RKO distribution card which dissolves into the Disney card has been replaced with the later Buena Vista distribution card, which fades to black and then the Disney card a little later than the dissolve. It's also in 5.1 sound instead of mono. On the Blu-ray release, neither the RKO distribution card nor the later Buena Vista distribution card wasn't used at all and just began with the Disney card.) The collector's edition laserdisc is uncensored with the original logos and mono sound.

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Connections

Featured in The Disney Family Album: Milt Kahl (1984)

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Soundtracks

Aquarela do Brasil
Music and Portuguese Lyrics by Ary Barroso
Sung by Aloysio de Oliveira (as Aloysio Oliveira)

User Reviews

sweet nostalgia

I think the reviews of the other posters has been pretty accurate. It is very nice in the era of pixar to see the lush animation of Disney. The special feature South of the Border is fascinating. I hope these Disney travelogues are preserved and digitally enhanced because it would be a great shame to lose them. The picture quality is poor but it is better than not having any recollection at all. The narration is pure Disney and its all about the research that went into the main feature. Of course its testimony to history that seen through the eyes of middle upper class Americans its not really as accurate as Walt thought it was. Some of the facts are not facts at all. They call one creature a rabbit in the documentary but its certainly not a rabbit. It is a capybara. In the cartoon they even have an ostrich in South America!! Still despite the flaws the documentary is a charming bonus with some nostalgic images. Saludos is a pretty good cartoon although I thought the little aeroplane story was quaint it is anthromorphism gone crazy. Everyone's favourite duck with a speech impediment is fun. I never understood a word Donald said but loved his attitude. Goofy steals the movie. It took me years to realise Goofy was a dog! Its a pleasant Disney movie while not being a great one.