The Three Caballeros (1945)

Directed by Norman Ferguson. Starring Aurora Miranda, Dora Luz, Carmen Molina, (voices) Clarence Nash, José do Patrocínio Oliveira, Joaquin Garay, Fred Shields, Sterling Holloway, Frank Graham, Pinto Colvig.

Walt Disney’s colorful second Good Neighbors policy-inspired anthology film is The Three Caballeros; or, as it might have been more appropriately titled, Donald Duck and Two Other Birds Who Can’t Rein Him In. This early blend of live-action and animation holds up for the most part (just a few glaring flubs), but its mash-up of music, culture and shenanigans wears thin quickly—the first Latin American tour, Saludos Amigos, was too short to be consequential, while this one is too long to avoid overstaying its welcome. Modestly enjoyable performances from Aurora Miranda and company, and the early bits with a penguin named Pablo and a winged donkey named Burrito are cute, but the movie meanders and repeats itself in spirit, and what a bizarre sight it is to see Donald getting horny again and again for flesh-and-blood human women. Premiered in Mexico City at Christmastime of 1944.

52/100