Disney Treasures DVDs...

[Brian Cruz]

A lot of people have wondered if the new Disney Treasures DVDs are censored or not. I picked up the Mikey Mouse and Silly Symphonies DVDs today, and browsed throguh them quickly. here's what I found:

Pluto's Judgement Day: The Uncle Tom cat is there!

Who Killed Cock Robin: The Black crow is there!

Three Little Pigs: The Jewish peddler stereotype is NOT there, but a clip of it is shown in Leonard Maltin's introduction.

What other cartoons should I check for cuts?

[Nelson]

I heard there are some bonus cartoons on both dvd's, what would those cartoons be?

[Thad Komorowski]

Cool, I hope I get at least one of these for Christmas, preferably the Silly Symphonies set.


-Thad

[sealwhale]

This is great news. Who Killed Cock Robin is a bonus cartoon as far as I'm concerned as it isn't listed as one of the included shorts. I'm thrilled that it's been included uncensored. As for the Three Little Pigs, wasn't the Jewish stereotype changed sometime in the 1940's? I wouldn't expect the original version if the altered version has been around that long.

[Glenn]

Here is a cut & paste from a Disney Message Board:The New Treasures DVDs came out yesterday, and while I've not
had the time to watch them completely, I have watched a few, and
compared them against the "cut scenes" notations listed on this
site. So far, so good!

Silly Symphonies --- "Woodland Cafe" and "Who Killed Cock Robin"
were both complete. "Three Little Pigs" was the version where
the wolf was re-animated sans mask and soundtrack redubbed. I
don't know if this would be considered censorship, as this was
altered as far back as the forties when Walt was still around.

Only watched a couple Mickey Mouse shorts; they looked complete
to me, but I'm not an expert on "cuts".

One note on quality--while not quite as perfect as the recent
Snow White transfer, I have never seen these shorts look as good
as they do on these DVDs. The Mickeys I've watched looked
incredible! "Farmyard Symphony" on the SS disc has some spots
and flecks, but still looked a lot better than any print I'd
seen previously.

I don't doubt that many here will still complain about Disney
censorship, and continue beating the long dead and buried Disney
Channel horse. But based on the nature and marketing of these
releases, I think that it is very possible we could see more
uncut shorts, including the World War II-themed features--IF,
we, as consumers, show our support for these products now.

[laugh4me]

Here's part of another positive review of the Mickey Mouse DVD from DVDfile (http://dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_4/waltdisneytreasures_mickey.html) - it also talks about some of the extras on it:

---------------------------------------------------------------
What can I say about the transfer of these animated shorts? Quite simply, this is the best these have ever looked, proving that good things come to those who wait. Disney has done a splendid job in presenting these shorts with their original vibrant color palettes intact. Unfortunately, I no longer have my original laserdisc to compare some of the short too, but trust me, these animated gems have never looked this good.

....

Some people may find the supplement lacking on this release, but I'm just stoked to just have this collection of shorts at all! On the first disc of the set, there is a brief Introduction by film historian (and apparent Disney fiend) Leonard Maltin. He points out Mickey's place in not only film and pop culture, but the world. I never really thought about it, but Maltin points out how Mickey is a huge part of most kids childhood's, yet few have even seen any of his full-length cartoons.

A real treat for most animation freaks will be the inclusion of the Pencil Test versions of "Mickey's Fire Brigade," "Pluto's Judgment Day" and "On Ice." All of these shorts are presented in their last phase before going to final ink and paint. As with the finished product, the audio tracks are complete with captions accessible via your DVD player subtitle function. Also included on disc one is the short Parade of Award Nominees, created for the Academy Awards a few years ago. As you would expect, this features Mickey leading a select group of Academy Award Nominees in animated form.

Disc two doesn't include much, but there are a couple extras of note. First we have a Still Gallery which features rough drafts, poster art and other archival materials. There are a total of 52 stills, which is a little disappointing - I hoped there would be something for every cartoon featured on this set. Finally there is a featurette called, Mickey in Living Color, hosted by Leonard Maltin. Disney animator Ward Kimball assists in explaining some of the major design changes Mickey went through during his transition from black and white to color. Running just about nine minutes, there's a surprising amount of info included on this featurette

---------------------------------------------------------------

[Thad Komorowski]

It says at Amazon that an Easter Egg on the Mickey set, is the produced for Nabisco cartoon, "Mickey's Surprise Party". Is this the original version, with Mickey's cookies and snacks being from Nabisco, or is it the redone version that was on the Spirit of Mickey tape?

Also, since it's an Easter Egg, how do you access it? Amazon also says that there are a few Easter Eggs on the Silly Symphony set, what are they?


-Thad

[Nelson]

Maybe someone who has both sets already can answer this question for me...

Do the early b&w "Silly Symphonies" have their original Columbia Pictures opening & closing titles?

[Glenn]

Originally posted by Nelson
Maybe someone who has both sets already can answer this question for me...

Do the early b&w "Silly Symphonies" have their original Columbia Pictures opening & closing titles?

I don't know just yet. Both of my sets have been shipped today. Hopefully I should receive them on Monday or Tuesday:)

[rex racer]

It's a little disappointing that they chose the 1940's version of The Three Little Pigs. On the laserdisc "Disney Favorites" (Three Little Pigs / Paul Bunyan compilation) they used the original version, but mated it with the 1940's soundtrack. Still I'm looking forward to the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies Treasures DVDs. Maybe WB will finally get it together, "I hope, I hope, I hope...."

[Brian Cruz]

The B&W Silly Symphonies don't have the Columbia titles. Here's a rundown of the contents on the Silly Symphonies set, and the categories they are broken into:

Disc One:

Fables and Fairy Tales:
<ul><li>The Tortoise and The Hare
<li>The Country Cousin
<li>Babes in the Woods
<li>Elmer Elephant
<li>The Flying Mouse
<li>The Golden Touch
<li>The Robber Kitten
<li>Lullably Land
<li>Mother Goose Melodies</ul>
Favorite Characters:
<ul><li>The Wise Little Hen
<li>Three Little Pigs
<li>The Big Bad Wolf
<li>Three Little Wolves
<li>Toby Tortoise Returns</ul>
Leonard's Picks:
Note: These cartoons feature an intro by Leonard Maltin
<ul><li>Three Little Pigs
<li>The Flying Mouse
<li>Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
<li>The Tortoise and The Hare
<li>The Grasshopper and The Ants</ul>
Easter Eggs:
Note: These cartoons feature an intro by Walt Disney
<ul><li>Main menu: Highlight and select the "S" in "Symphonies" to watch "The Grasshopper and the Ants"
<li>Fables and Fairy Tales Menu, Page 2: Highlight and select the kitten's sword to watch "Water Babies"
<li>Favorite Characters Menu: Highlight and select one of the chicks to watch "Who Killed Cock Robin?"
<li>Leonard's Picks Menu: Highlight and select "Leonard" to watch "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"
<li>Captions Menu: Highlight and select one of the flower children to watch "The Practical Pig"</ul>


Disc Two

Nature on Screen:
<ul><li>Mother Pluto
<li>Peculiar Penguins
<li>The Old Mill
<li>Funny Little Bunnie
<li>The Ugly Duckling (1939)
<li>The Ugly Duckling (1931)
<li>Father Noah's Ark
<li>Birds of a Feather
<li>The Busy Beavers
<li>Just Dogs</ul>
Accent on Music:
<ul><li>Music Land
<li>The China Plate
<li>Egyptian Melodies
<li>Flowers and Trees
<li>The Cookie Carnival
<li>The Skeleton Dance
<li>Woodland Cafe</ul>
Supplemental Features:
<ul><li>The Song of the Silly Symphonies
<li>Silly Symphonies Souveniers
<li>Gallery</ul>
Leonard's Picks:
Note: These cartoons feature an intro by Leonard Maltin
<ul><li>The Ugly Duckling (1931)
<li>The Ugly Duckling (1939)
<li>Music Land
<li>Flowers and Trees
<li>The Skeleton Dance</ul>
Eater Eggs:
Note: These cartoons feature an intro by Walt Disney
<ul><li>Nature on Screen Menu, Page 1: Highlight and select one of the bunny's faces to watch "The Old Mill"
<li>Accent on Music Menu: Highlight and select the trumpet's hat to watch "Farmyard Symphony"</ul>

I'll break down the Mickey Mouse DVD later...

[Brian Cruz]

Disc One:

1935:
<ul><li>The Band Concert
<li>Mickey's Garden
<li>On Ice
<li>Pluto's Judgement Day
<li>Mickey's Fire Brigade
<li>Pencil Tests</ul>
1936:
<ul><li>Thru the Mirror
<li>Mickey's Circus
<li>Mickey's Elephant
<li>Mickey's Grand Opera
<li>Mickey's Polo Team
<li>Alpine Climbers
<li>Moving Day
<li>Mickey's Rival
<li>Orphan's Picnic</ul>
Bonus:
<ul><li>Parade of the 1932 Academy Award Nominees</ul>
Easter Eggs:
<ul><li>Main Menu: Highlight and select Mickey's head to watch 2 minutes of Walt Disney describing the history of Mickey Mouse, as excerpted from "The Disneyland Story" (10/27/54)</ul>
Disc Two:

1937:
<ul><li>Hawaiian Holiday
<li>Moose Hunters
<li>The Worm Turns
<li>Magician Mickey
<li>Mickey's Amateurs
<li>Clock Cleaners
<li>Lonesome Ghosts</ul>
1938:
<ul><li>Mickey's Parrot
<li>Boat Builders
<li>The Whalers
<li>Mickey's Trailer
<li>Brave Little Tailor</ul>
Bonus:
<ul><li>Gallery
<li>Mickey in Living Color hosted by Leonard Maltin</ul>
Easter Eggs:
<ul><li>Main Menu: Higlight and select "Mouse" to watch "Mickey's Surprise Party" (with all Nabisco references intact), introed by Leonard Maltin.</ul>

[Glenn]

I noticed on a few of the Silly SYmphonies, that the titles said: Columbia Pictures Presents with a background that had musical notes all over. Is that the Columbia Opening Titles??

[Thad Komorowski]

Brian, how do you "Highlight and Select" the words or characters? Do you need a computer to get the Easter Eggs?


-Thad

[Glenn]

Originally posted by Thad Komorowski
Brian, how do you "Highlight and Select" the words or characters? Do you need a computer to get the Easter Eggs?


-Thad
No. you just highlite it using the keys on the remote for the DVD as explained here for the Silly Symphony DVD:

Main menu: Highlight and select the "S" in "Symphonies" to watch "The Grasshopper and the Ants"
<li>Fables and Fairy Tales Menu, Page 2: Highlight and select the kitten's sword to watch "Water Babies"
<li>Favorite Characters Menu: Highlight and select one of the chicks to watch "Who Killed Cock Robin?"
<li>Leonard's Picks Menu: Highlight and select "Leonard" to watch "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod"
<li>Captions Menu: Highlight and select one of the flower children to watch "The Practical Pig"</ul>

[dougc]

Since there are no Disney stores within 50 miles of where I live, I was wondering if any of you have seen the DVD's in any other stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal Mart, K Mart or Target. I am hoping to put them on my Christmas wish list if they can be found in stores that are closer to home, since my mom won't be able to travel very far to shop.

dougc

[PlopKat]

dougc wrote:
Since there are no Disney stores within 50 miles of where I live, I was wondering if any of you have seen the DVD's in any other stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal Mart, K Mart or Target.


I found three of the Disney Treasures at my local Wal-Mart. They had the Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphonies, and Davy Crockett sets for $22.95 each. I found the Disneyland one at my nearest Disney Store (about 50 miles away) for the same price.

I did not see them at Best Buy (and I REALLY looked).

-PlopKat

[Nelson]

If you look really hard in any given video stores, you might be able to find the "Three Little Pigs" complete video, that came out several years ago.

In the video, does contain the original 1933 version, complete with the Jewish peddler stereotype scene left entact.But it has the re-looped dialog (something like Goofy's voice) in this cartoon, and I highly recomend everyone should pick it up while it's still available.

[Cartman]

I haven't looked for those DVD's yet since I am studying for final exams, but I hope my family gets a DVD player sometime. I'm glad that most of the cartoons are uncensored. I assume that the people who made these DVD's were unaware what was censored in what cartoon and probably don't have the passion to learn about Disney's history like fans do. That's probably how the censored version of THREE LITTLE PIGS got on that DVD.

[David Gerstein]

Hi Nelson! (Nyuk! Nyuk!)

You know, it's not *such* an offensive scene.
The gag is that if the wolf tries to pass himself off as Jewish (i. e. explicitly Kosher, the thing people tend to forget nowadays), those pigs (non-Kosher) animals) will never suspect that he wants to eat them.
I'm Jewish, and the idea always has had me in stitches. The disguise is visually exaggerated, but not with malicious intent.
There's so much real, more serious racism in films and in real life that Zeke Wolf's disguise just never bothered me...

David :bosko:

[Jon Cooke]

Originally posted by PlopKat
I found three of the Disney Treasures at my local Wal-Mart. They had the Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphonies, and Davy Crockett sets for $22.95 each. I found the Disneyland one at my nearest Disney Store (about 50 miles away) for the same price.


My local Wal-Mart only has copies of the Davy Crockett set. I didn't buy it, but I probably will at some point. I asked for the other three Disney Treasures sets for Christmas.

Also, I have read reports that "Clock Cleaners" on the Mickey Mouse set has been slightly edited. Apparently, they replaced Donald's "Says who?" in his argument with the clock spring with "Aww, nuts!". Kind of ruins the gag.


-Jon

[PorkyandDaffy]

Also, I have read reports that "Clock Cleaners" on the Mickey Mouse set has been slightly edited. Apparently, they replaced Donald's "Says who?" in his argument with the clock spring with "Aww, nuts!". Kind of ruins the gag.

Is it because his "Says who?" sounds like "F you"? I remember hearing about this somewhere else (I think snopes.com).

[Cartman]

Originally posted by PorkyandDaffy


Is it because his "Says who?" sounds like "F you"? I remember hearing about this somewhere else (I think snopes.com).

Rev. Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association (AFA) thought he heard Donald say the "F" word to the spring. He was successful at getting Wal-Mart to remove all copies of a video containing that cartoon off of the shelves and return them to Disney, refusing to sell them.

I think it's pathetic that one person who thinks he hears something causes such a controversy. With that incoherent voice of Donald's, just about anything he says can sound like cursing. In the cartoon CLOWN OF THE JUNGLE, it sounds like Donald is saying "Why you doggone b@$t@rd!" to the nutty bird, but he is actually saying "Why you doggone pest, I'll"

[PlopKat]

Jon Cooke wrote:
Also, I have read reports that "Clock Cleaners" on the Mickey Mouse set has been slightly edited. Apparently, they replaced Donald's "Says who?" in his argument with the clock spring with "Aww, nuts!". Kind of ruins the gag.

The bit where Donald says "Says you!" and the mainspring replies "Says I!" has been changed.

Donald's new line is "I'll get you!" The mainspring's reply is "Then try!" This is also what the English subtitles say. To make this even worse, Donald's line is edited in quite poorly. Even if the viewer did not know the line has been changed, the clumsiness of the insertion would be a major tip-off. Curiously, the mainspring's new line is cut in very well.

Given that Donald can be hard to understand at times, how does one get "!@#¿$% you" out of "Says you!"? And this is from somebody who definitely hears Bosko say "The dirty @&%¡*" in Bosko's Picture Show.

-PlopKat

[Jon Cooke]

Originally posted by PlopKat
Donald's new line is "I'll get you!" The mainspring's reply is "Then try!" This is also what the English subtitles say. To make this even worse, Donald's line is edited in quite poorly.


Thanks for the details, PlopKat. I was just going by a message someone forwarded to me from a Disney newsgroup, I believe. I still haven't seen the Treasures DVD for myself yet. Hopefully, ol' Santy Claus will bring them to me in a few days. :bosko:

It's a shame they decided to redub that scene... and to make matters worse, Donald didn't even say the dirty word in the first place!


-Jon

[PlopKat]

There must be something about Disney characters that prompts some to see something unwholesome where there isn't.

When Gladstone Comics was reprinting some of the excellent stories drawn by Floyd Gottfredson from the Mickey Mouse comic strips of the 1930s, one reader wrote in to complain about the swearing in one story. The "swearing" was literally of the @#$%&! variety.

The editor suggested that the reader substitute "Darn" for the symbols instead of the nastier terms the reader may have imagined.

-PlopKat

[Howard]

Originally posted by Jon Cooke

Also, I have read reports that "Clock Cleaners" on the Mickey Mouse set has been slightly edited. Apparently, they replaced Donald's "Says who?" in his argument with the clock spring with "Aww, nuts!". Kind of ruins the gag.
-Jon

Donald's lines after that, which were (probably), "I'll bust you, you doggone snake in the grass!" when he threw the hammer at the spring were also replaced with indecipherable quacking. (It's not easy to figure out what Donald Duck is saying, but a list of phrases that could be understood was printed in "Donald Duck: 50 Years of Happy Frustration" which helps in understanding Donald Duck's dialogue. I had to rewind that scene a few times on the old "Disney Cartoon Classics: Fun on the Job" VHS tape a few times to figure that one out!)

[Paul Penna]

Originally posted by PlopKat
Donald's new line is "I'll get you!" The mainspring's reply is "Then try!" This is also what the English subtitles say. To make this even worse, Donald's line is edited in quite poorly. Even if the viewer did not know the line has been changed, the clumsiness of the insertion would be a major tip-off. Curiously, the mainspring's new line is cut in very well.

Except that isn't quite what happens. Via headphones, I compared the tracks of the cartoon on the "Fun On the Job" collection included on a "Cartoon Classics" laserdisc and on the DVD. On the DVD, Donald's original line, "Sez you!" has been changed to something that sounds like "Aw, nuts!" At any rate, it's not the "I'll get you!" the subtitles report, since it's only two syllables. The clock's response, "Sez I" has not been changed at all. Presumably, the subtitles were written as they were because the exchange as actually heard on the track now makes no sense. It's interesting to note that the replacement line of Donald's is obviously snipped out of another cartoon's track; you can hear a dog (Pluto, perhaps?) barking simultaneously.

[PlopKat]

Thanks for the correction, Paul. I usually watch programs with captioning (if they're available) and the power of their suggestion convinced me wrongly. That barking dog really stands out once it's been pointed out.

-PlopKat

[Thad Komorowski]

Well, even if "Clock Cleaners" is edited (which I have on tape uncut), it still looks like a fine collection.


-Thad