The Old Mill Pond

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The fish and frogs gather at the old mill pond to hear a jazz concert. Performers include caricatures of Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and tap dancer Bill Robinson ("Bojangles").The fish and frogs gather at the old mill pond to hear a jazz concert. Performers include caricatures of Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and tap dancer Bill Robinson ("Bojangles").The fish and frogs gather at the old mill pond to hear a jazz concert. Performers include caricatures of Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, and tap dancer Bill Robinson ("Bojangles").

Director
- Hugh Harman
Writers
- Norm Blackburn
- Jonathan Caldwell
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

360

YOUR RATING

Director
- Hugh Harman
Writers
- Norm Blackburn
- Jonathan Caldwell
Stars

9User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Photos8

+ 2

Top cast3

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Harland Evans

Louis Armstrong Frog
(uncredited)
…

The Four Blackbirds

Vocalists
(uncredited)

Geraldine Harris

Ethel Waters Frog
(uncredited)

Director
- Hugh Harman
Writers
- Norm Blackburn
- Jonathan Caldwell
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Bill Robinson (aka Bojangles), Louis Armstrong, Stepin Fetchit, Ethel Waters, and The Mills Brothers are caricatured.

Alternate versions
Re-released in abbreviated form by Soundies Distributing Corporation on March 2, 1942 under the title "Hot Frogs."

Soundtracks
Down By the Old Mill Stream
(uncredited)
Written by Tell Taylor
Performed by studio orchestra

User reviews9

Featured review

10/10

The Old Mill Pond is excellent tribute to African-American entertainers of the '30s

The Old Mill Pond is more of a tribute to the African-American entertainers of the '30s than any denigration of the entire race (Stepin Fetchit caricature notwithstanding). Besides who I just mentioned, there's also frog or fish versions of Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Joesphine Baker, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Louis Armstrong. This Happy Harmonies cartoon from Hugh Harmon and Rudolf Ising is very entertaining musically with perfect characterizations all around. They all sound so much like the real thing that half of me thinks they could possibly be. If not, they're certainly very flattering impersonations. Even the lazy, shiftless Fetchit characterization gets an exciting workout here when he gets chased by a tiger as "Hold That Tiger" plays on the score. Highly recommended for fans of '30s animation and jazz music.