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our short films on Latin America, in a story about
Donald Duck receiving birthday gifts from his Latin American
amigos, José Carioca, the parrot, and Panchito, the Mexican
charro rooster. Donald unwraps a 16mm projector and views "The
Cold-Blooded Penguin," about Pablo Penguin who flees the cold for a
tropical isle and then misses the winter. Then he views "The Flying
Gauchito," about a racing donkey with wings; "Baia," in which
Donald and José go to Baia, meet a cookie girl, and dance;
and "La Piñata", in which Donald learns of Las Posadas, the
children's procession before Christmas, and finds friendly shelter
and the breaking of the piñata. Interspersed throughout the
film is live-action footage of native dancing and Latin American
songs. |
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Aurora Miranda, sister of Carmen, dances with Donald in the Baia
sequence, showing how far the Studio had advanced the art of
combining animation with live actors. This is the first time Walt
had attempted the technique since the "Alice Comedies" in the
1920s. Songs from the film include "You Belong to My Heart,"
"Baia," and "The Three Caballeros." |
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The world premiere was in Mexico City on December 21, 1944;
released in the U.S. on February 3, 1945. Directed by Norm
Ferguson. 71 min. It was rereleased in theaters in an abridged
version in 1977 at a time when the film had gained increased
awareness because of its almost psychedelic sequences. Released on
video in 1982. The motion picture was nominated for two Academy
Awards® -- Best Sound (C. O. Slyfield) and Best Scoring of a
Musical Picture (Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, and Charles
Wolcott). |
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