The Band Concert
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Band Concert is a 1935 Walt Disney cartoon in which Mickey Mouse is conductor of an outdoor orchestra.
The orchestra is performing the William Tell overture, but then Donald Duck (in his third appearance in a Mickey cartoon) appears selling ice-cream. Uninvited, Donald takes out his flute and distracts the band into playing Turkey in the Straw. Mickey tries to get rid of Donald by destroying his flute but it turns out the Duck has plenty of replacement flutes on hand.
As the cartoon continues, Mickey's band plays "The Storm" from the overture which seemingly summons an actual tornado. Despite being swept into the air, the Band continues playing regardless, even despite being flung into a tree. Donald plays "Turkey in the Straw" again with another flute, finishing the final notes after another band member throws a tuba on top of him.
Mickey's orchestra has the following lineup: Goofy (clarinet) and a similar character (Gideon Goat?) (trombone), Clarabelle Cow (flute), Horace Horsecollar (percussion), Peter Pig (trumpet), and Paddy Pig (tuba).
The cartoon is notable for being the first Mickey Mouse film in Technicolor, although two more Mickey cartoons were made in black and white before they were produced in colors on a permanent basis; Mickey's Service Station and Mickey's Kangaroo. It is said that when conductor Arturo Toscanini first saw the cartoon in a movie theater, he was so delighted with it that he ran up to the projection booth and asked the projectionist to run it again.
In 1994 it was voted #3 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field. Also, according to Leonard Maltin in a commentary for this film when it was included in one of the Walt Disney Treasures, The Band Concert was remade (somewhat) years later as Symphony Hour.
[edit] Video Games
In the Garden area of Disney Castle in Kingdom Hearts II, there is a topiary sculpture of all characters in the band besides Mickey, Donald, and Goofy.
The Band Concert was also the basis for, and title of the secret level in the game, Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse (for Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega CD and Sony PlayStation [as Mickey's Wild Adventure]).
[edit] Notes
 |
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Mickey Mouse, Gideon Goat, Goofy, Peter Pig, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow and Paddy Pig do not speak in this episode.
- Pluto, Daisy Duck, and Minnie Mouse do not appear in this episode.
- It was also the inspiration for the Walt Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom show Mickey's PhilharMagic.
- This short was one of the many featured in Donald Duck's 50th Birthday, Donald remembers it in a psychiatic session with Dr Ludwig Von Drake and says that Mickey inivted Donald to play with his band.
