"A Silly Symphony"

Release Date April 16, 1931

Running Time 8:10

Synopsis

Old King Cole summons various storybook characters to life for his entertainment and a dance.

Characters

Cat (with the Fiddle)

Cow (who jumped over the moon)

Humpty Dumpty

Jack and Jill

Little Jack Horner

Little Bo Peep

Little Boy Blue

Little Miss Muffett

Mother Goose

Old King Cole

Simple Simon

Three Blind Mice

Credits

Director : Bert Gillett

Animation

Johnny Cannon

Les Clark

Norm Ferguson

Rodolfo "Rudy" Zamora

Television

The Ink and Paint Club : #49 : More Storybook Silly Symphonies

DVD

Disney Treasures : Silly Symphonies

Region 1 : United States

Region 2 : France

Region 2 : Germany

Region 2 : Italy

Region 2 : Sweden

Region 2 : United Kingdom

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Black and White

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.33 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by Columbia Pictures

Gallery

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Sketch courtesy of Gallery C

Click on the thumbnail for the full-sized picture

Comments

From Jerry Edwards : The Mother Goose characters come to life to entertain Old King Cole with their nursery rhymes. The general story was remade as the 1933 short "Old King Cole." I just didn't get anything out of this short - nothing special to me.

From Ryan : This is one of two (the other being "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood") Mother Goose themed cartoons produced by Disney. I don't care too much for this cartoon. I find the dancing and singing getting a little tiring for me. The later 1938 classic "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood" is much better. On a side note, the background sequence and the animation was reused in the Mickey Mouse short "Parade of the Award Nominees."

From Lasse Persson : Wonderful nonsense film. Together with "The Skeleton Dance" the best of the Silly Symphonies. Perfect dance animation. Pure entertainment!

From Gijs Grob : By taking the "sing-and-dance routine"-concept to the max, this cartoon offers singing and dancing nursery rhymes. It's just that: no story, no gags, no characters and a lot of repetitive animation. Although the cartoon is very joyous, I found it one of the most boring ones Disney ever made; even in its kind: contemporal Silly Symphonies consisting of sing-and-dance routines like 'The Skeleton Dance', 'The China Plate' and ' Egyptian Melodies' are much more fun to watch.

Referenced Comments

Ye Olden Days (1933)

Old King Cole (1933)