Troppo vento per Winny Puh

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was the second part of the 1977 release of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. 'Many Adventures' was probably more crucial to me than I'll ever remember since it was the first film I ever saw, over and over, before I could even speak. Looking back on it, as well as on the film, I realized this entry had the biggest effect on me- it had lots of humor (and some of it still funny, if only in the 'cute' sense), everlasting themes, splendid songs, and Tigger too. But more than anything else I think what was most fascinating about this entry (and possibly what the Academy saw in it to give the film an Oscar) was the dream sequence. I can't really be sure of it, yet on a recent viewing I realized much of what goes into that dream of Helfflumps and Woozles is akin to surrealism (another example could be of the Pink Elephant sequence in Dumbo). For young children it is perhaps the most frightening and intense sequence of the film as a whole (a couple of images from it stayed with me through the years), and that gives it the edge to appeal to older audiences. While I would usually recommend The Many Adventures, if one just wants to see part of the film, this is the one to see. A+ (as much for quality as for nostalgia)

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Oscar-winning short from Disney has Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and the rest of the gang being forced to leave their homes after a storm with heavy rainfall comes through. I'll admit right up front that I'm really not that big of a Pooh fan. I didn't care too much for him as a kid and my tolerance level hasn't grown much more in the three decades that followed. With that said, I think even a person who hates Pooh would still find this film to be a winner simply because of the imagination that's on full display. The greatest sequence in the entire film happens during a dream sequence where the term psychedelic would certainly fit. The song is a very good once but the wonderful use of colors is what really makes this sequence jump off the screen. There are also some very funny bits to be found in the film including one inside Owl's house where everyone keeps sliding around the place. The animation quality is certainly very high but that's exactly what you expect when it comes to Disney. Fans of Pooh will certainly love this film but even those non-fans should be entertained.

Disney's track record when it comes to adapting other source material to the screen is mixed, to say the least. But with their adaptaions of Pooh,they succeed marvelously. This short won the Academy Award for Animated Short and it's easy to see why: everything clicks. The voice casting is great, the design is superb, animation is top-notch and the source material is accorded with the respect and affection it merits. By all means, find this and watch it if you can. As of this writing, it is in-print. Most joyously recommended.

By that, I mean that I absolutely love all the Pooh vignettes, with or without Tigger. But Tigger, marvellously voiced by Paul Winchell, absolutely hilarious he was, was so memorable in this vignette that I can't help mention him.

The vignette has a great story, the animation is wonderful, and the songs are highly memorable. I loved the songs, every one of them memorable in every way.

Especially the Heffalumps and Woozles song, that did scare me as a child, but now it is very entertaining. The voice acting is terrific from all involved, Sebastian Cabot as the narrator shines particularly.

Overall, a hugely entertaining gem, flawless from the start, but Tigger's presence elevates it to a greater level. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Winnie the Pooh has always been a favorite of mine. The original stories are in the realm of the Mary Poppins stories, i.e., difficult to translate to film. In this instance, Disney has managed to transfer the charm of the Pooh stories intact to the screen. Winnie is simply adorable as an animated character, and Sterling Holloway gives him the perfect voice. All the other characters are voiced with perfection, too, especially Tigger, who makes his debut in this short film. Tigger almost steals the show from Pooh; when he's onscreen, you don't notice anything else. Sebastian Cabot adds just the right touch as the narrator.

The entire film has the feel of the pink elephant sequence in Dumbo; inspired, creative and unforgettable. During the storm, pages from the book blow away as the wind rises, rain washes text down the page and away into a stream, etc. Everyone should love this adaptation; Disney soon cranked Pooh out as a series, and it got tedious and sloppy. But this early effort is a real masterpiece.