1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,080 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: a show for those who can never know enough about history. 4 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: I'm Gabe Lucier, and in this episode, we're looking at 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: an unusual wartime experiments in animation, one that explored the 6 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: unique traditions and cultures of Latin America through the eyes 7 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: of Donald Duck. The day was December one, nine. Walt 8 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: Disney's seventh animated feature, The Three Kaba Arrows, had its 9 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: world premiere in Mexico City. The seventy one minute film 10 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: was directed by Warm Ferguson and was released to theaters 11 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: in the United States on February third. It has the 12 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: distinction of being one of the earliest feature length films 13 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: to combine animation with live actors, as well as being 14 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: one of the strangest, most experimental movies that Disney ever made. 15 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: For the uninitiated, the characters who make up the title 16 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: trio are Donald Duck, Jose Karioca, and Panchito Pistoles. You're 17 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: likely familiar with Donald, who was celebrating his tenth birthday 18 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: the year of the film's release. As for Jose Karioca, 19 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: he's a green Brazilian parrot and an old pal of Donald. 20 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: He made his screen debut two years earlier in Salutos Amigos, 21 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: another Disney movie centered on South America. Jose is basically 22 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: the opposite of his clumsy, quick tempered friend. He's clever, stylish, 23 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: and loves to dance the samba. The last and probably 24 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: least known caballero is Panchito Pistoles, an energetic rooster from Mexico. 25 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: His role largely consisted of playing guitar and firing his 26 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: twin pistols into the air with reckless abandoned Panchito's trigger 27 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: happy depiction played into stereotypes about Mexican bandits, but the 28 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: character only fired his guns in celebration and was just 29 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,399 Speaker 1: as friendly and fun loving as his unarmed companions. When 30 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: the three friends finally get together more than halfway through 31 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: the movie, they declare themselves the three Caballeros and even 32 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: sing a song to help get the point across. We're 33 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: three happy chappies with snappis sapt line must beneath ar sombreros. 34 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: We're brave and well stay so, we're bright, basipicious, We 35 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: say soro. The three Caballeros was the second of six 36 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: package films released by the Disney Studio in the nineteen forties. 37 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: Unlike a single narrative film like Pinocchio or Bambi, a 38 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: package film is made up of multiple short segments that 39 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: were only connected by a common theme or frame story. 40 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 1: In the case of The Three Caballeros, the framing devices 41 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: Donald Duck's birthday as he opens the various presents sent 42 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: to him by his friends in Latin America. The segments 43 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: flow from one to the next. For example, the first 44 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: gift Donald receives is a film projector, and he uses it, 45 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: along with the audience, to watch two standalone cartoons. The shorts, 46 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: titled The Cold Blooded Penguin and The Flying Gauchito, both 47 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: fit the film's South americanames, but otherwise have nothing to 48 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: do with each other or with the rest of the movie. 49 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: Once the film real ends, Donald sets the projector aside, 50 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: moves on to his next gift, and a new segment 51 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: begins from there. Interspersed throughout the animation is live action 52 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: footage of Latin American countries, singers and dancers. For instance, 53 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 1: when Panchito arrives to give his gift he takes Donald 54 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: and Jose on a flying sarape tour of real life 55 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: locations in Mexico, including pots Quero, Vera Cruz, and Acapulco. 56 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: There's also a sequence where Donald and Jose dance with 57 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: Aurora Miranda, the sister of Hollywood star Carmen Miranda. In 58 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: a running gag, Donald develops a hopeless and somewhat disturbing 59 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: crush Shawn Aurora, not to mention every other woman he 60 00:04:55,839 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: crosses paths with in the movie. Aside from the title song, 61 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: the film also features English language versions of the popular 62 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: Bolero song You Belong to My Heart, as well as 63 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: the famous Brazilian song Bayya Bya. It was nominated for 64 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: two Academy Awards that year, for Best Sound and Best Score, 65 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: but it didn't win either. As you've probably guessed, the 66 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: movie was a little outside the wheelhouse of the early 67 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: Disney studio, which at the time had mostly looked to 68 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: European fairy tales and American children's books for inspiration. That's 69 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: because The Three Caballeros was produced, along with Salutos Amigos 70 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: before it, as part of a so called goodwill tour 71 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: of Latin America that had been commissioned by the U. 72 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: S Department of State in the early nineteen forties. After 73 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,799 Speaker 1: the country officially joined the fight in World War Two, 74 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: the US mill terry actually took control of Disney Studios 75 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: for a time. The animator spent the next few years 76 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: making training films and propaganda cartoons for the war effort, 77 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: many of which ranged from hilarious to haunting. Around the 78 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: same time, Walt and a few of his most trust 79 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: in animators were asked to embark on a government sponsored 80 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:27,239 Speaker 1: goodwill tour two countries such as Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. 81 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: The goal was to use Walt Disney's celebrity to help 82 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: discourage people in Central and South American countries from siding 83 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: with the access Powers. It's a somewhat insulting idea that 84 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: the public needed to be plied with cartoons in order 85 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: to not side with Nazi Germany, but the effort did 86 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: at least bring some much needed diversity to children's cartoons. 87 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: Given the time period and the people involved in the project. 88 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: There are a few moments that portray minorities in a 89 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: disrespect full light by today's standards, but it's clear throughout 90 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: that the filmmakers wanted to portray Central in South America 91 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: as fun, vibrant, modern communities, and on that front they 92 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: succeed with flying colors. Another positive outcome of the experiment 93 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: is that Jose and Panchito were big hits in their 94 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: home countries. In Brazil, Jose went on to star in 95 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: his own long running comics series, where he's known more 96 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: commonly as z, a more familiar form of the Portuguese 97 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: name Jose. Panchito boasted similar popularity in Mexico, and the 98 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: character was actually used as the mascot of the Mexican 99 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: Esquadron two oh one fighter squadron during World War Two. 100 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: He was commonly painted on the nose of their fighter planes. 101 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: The movie itself was a modest success for the Disney 102 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: Studio upon its release, but it gained a cult following 103 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: over the years. Particularly are a few sequences that are 104 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: borderline psychedelic. The last of the movie segments is actually 105 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: titled Donald's Surreal Reverie, and believe me, it lives up 106 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: to the title. The Three Caballerows was re released to 107 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: theaters in nine seven to capitalize on its newfound notoriety, 108 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: and its characters have gone on to appear in a 109 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: number of high profile projects since then. The band reunited 110 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: in Disney's House of Mouse show in the early two thousands, 111 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: and then again in the seventeen Duck Tails reboot. The 112 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: trio also star in their own boat ride at the 113 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: Mexico Pavilion of the Epcot Theme Park in Florida, and 114 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: in they head lined a one season show of their 115 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: own called Legend of the Three Caballeros. The original movie 116 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: may not be the most consistent or coherent film in 117 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: the Disney cannon, but it makes up for those shortcomings 118 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: with its striking visuals, catchy music, and bold mix of 119 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: live action and animation. Thanks to streaming, the movie is 120 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: easier to watch than ever before. If you're in the 121 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: mood for something fun, festive and holy original, the Three 122 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 1: Caballerows definitely fits the bill. I'm Gabe Lousier and hopefully 123 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: you now know a little more about film history today 124 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: than you did yesterday. If you can learn even more 125 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: about history by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 126 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: at t d I HC Show and if you have 127 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: any comments or suggestions, you can always send them my 128 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: way at this day at I heart media dot com. 129 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: Thanks to Chandler Mays for producing the show, and thank 130 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: you for listening. I'll see you back here again tomorrow 131 00:09:53,080 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: for another day in history class. Yeah. For more podcasts 132 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: from my Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, 133 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,959 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.