Pierino e il Lupo

This 1946 version of Prokofiev's "Musical Fairy-Tale" is probably my favourite of Disney's animated adaptations. Peter and the Wolf was clearly ideal for this type of film - I read somewhere that Prokofiev wrote the piece with Disney in mind - and Uncle Walt doesn't let us down. It's (hilariously) funny, genuinely scary and even touching. Favourite moment: the wolf drooling over Sacha the duck's prone body. Shiver. Note: After many years unavailability in the UK, this is now available on DVD either separately or as part of Make Mine Music, the compilation film in which it received its original theatrical release. From memory (and it's been years), Peter and the Wolf is vastly better than anything else in the larger film - the only other bit worth a glance is a segment about a whale singing opera.

This short film was released in the full-length Disney film "Make Mine Music"--a very, very uneven collection of short films with musical themes. I assume that because so many of the shorts in this film were just awful, that's why Disney later released several of the better shorts as stand-alone shorts. Heck, until I recently saw "Make Mine Music", I always thought that "Peter and the Wolf" was a stand-alone short, as that's how I saw it as a kid.

The film begins with Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh) narrating. First, he explains how each character in the story is represented by different musical instruments and then he narrates the story itself as the animation is presented. For the most part, it's great for kids who can tolerate classical and neo-classical music---others might be a bit bored. However, the animation is nice and there is a sweet charm to the story.

Childhood. Wonderful mother who bought the LP for me plus Dr. Seuss books in the early 50s. Ben and Me and so many others.

Now I'm 68 and still watching this gem. Love the music (Peter theme has always been MY theme; I whistle it regularly). Like that Sonia survives. Always have felt bad for the wolf. Sterling Holloway is the best! Walt Disney: thanks. (I also watch Ichabod and Mr. Toad every Halloween!).

Confession: I just bought Disney "Alice in Wonderland" DVD simply to hear Sterling and Ed Wynn! Really.

Disney is defintely a major part of American folk history.

P.S. Special mention as another voice and fillm actor: Eric Blore (Mr. Toad). One of my heroes Blore is.

Not quite as timeless or endearing as Sergei Prokofiev's original composition, but it's got its charm here and there. It follows the story pretty well and the animation team def had some fun with the bouncy characters, but Sterling Holloway thoroughly carries this whole short on his shoulders. The man could make even the most calm quiet scenes touching thanks to his charming voice.

On a side note, while you could argue that the final scene isn't faithful to the source material, I highly doubt you could get away with that in a 1946 American animated cartoon short, let alone one produced by Disney.

Disney's version of the Sergei Prokofiev musical composition. Originally part of the movie Make Mine Music, this cartoon was released later on its own as a theatrical short. I saw it as a kid as part of a compilation video. It wasn't until I was grown up that I realized it was originally part of another movie. It's nicely animated with some likable characters and plenty of that old school Disney charm. The music is great. Sterling Holloway provides the narration. He possessed one of those distinctive voices that, once you hear it, you'll never forget. I won't cover the plot to the story as most people pretty much know the plot to Peter and the Wolf, right? So, give it a shot if you can find it on its own or, better yet, watch Make Mine Music and see it with many other fun cartoons.