Welcome to Movie Mondays, a weekly blog series that takes you on a cinematic odyssey through the world of film! Most weeks have us working through a list of my 100 least favorite movies. But take a break from the worst of the worst on the first Monday of each month when we look at one of Disney’s animated features. These monthly installments will serve as a delightful palate cleanser and reminder of what made you love going to the movies as a kid. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and join me on this unique journey through the highs and lows of the silver screen. I promise you won’t want to miss a single post!

Saludos Amigos

1942

Directed by Norman Ferguson

Hey there, film fans! Today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to 1942 with Walt Disney’s animated feature, Saludos Amigos. This little gem was quite the trailblazer for its time, serving as a nifty piece of propaganda and cultural diplomacy during World War II. Uncle Sam commissioned Disney to create a film that would promote goodwill between the U.S. and Latin America, and boy, did they deliver!

The film is a lively anthology of four animated segments, each inspired by Disney’s goodwill tour of South America. We get to see Donald Duck and Goofy in action, along with the debut of the suave Brazilian parrot, José Carioca. The segments take us on a whirlwind adventure from the heights of Lake Titicaca to the pampas of Argentina, with plenty of laughs and cultural insights along the way.

Behind the scenes, the U.S. government pulled out all the stops to make this happen. They even got Nelson Rockefeller, the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, to facilitate Disney’s tour! The film also features live-action documentary footage of Latin American cities, which surprised American audiences who were used to seeing such modern metropolises only in the U.S. and Europe.

The standout segment, in my opinion, is “Aquarela do Brasil,” a dazzling display of Disney magic that brings Donald Duck and José Carioca together for a wild samba ride. The film’s soundtrack is also a winner, featuring the first Brazilian song to hit over a million plays on American radio – “Aquarela do Brasil” by Ary Barroso.

While Saludos Amigos may not be as well-known as some of Disney’s other classics, it’s a delightful slice of history that showcases the studio’s storytelling prowess and cultural savvy. It even inspired Chilean cartoonist René Ríos Boettiger to create Condorito, one of Latin America’s most beloved comic characters!

So, what do you think, folks? Have you seen Saludos Amigos? Do you have a favorite segment or character? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your thoughts on this animated ambassador of goodwill!