IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.A crash course on the history of Western musical instruments.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 2 wins total
The Mellowmen Quartet
- Singing Group
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Loulie Jean Norman
- Penelope Pinfeather
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Charlie Parlota
- Chorus Singer
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Bill Thompson
- Professor Owl
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- …
Gloria Wood
- Suzy Sparrow
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis was the first animated cartoon in CinemaScope.
- Quotes
Owl: Today we're going to study about...
Boy bird: [looking at a comic book] Ancient history?
Susy Sparrow: Love and mystery?
Penelope Pinfeather: [writing on the blackboard] Mathematics?
Twin brothers: [balancing other students on their heads] Acrobatics?
Students: Readin', spellin'...
Bertie Birdbrain: Storytellin'?
Owl: No, no, no!
[bops Bertie on the head]
Owl: The study of musical instruments is the subject for today.
The Canary Sisters: [singing] The study of musical instruments is the subject for today!
- Alternate versionsBlack stereotypes have been cut from this short on the DVD version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Magical World of Disney: Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom (1959)
- SoundtracksA Toot And A Whistle And A Plunk And A Boom
Written by Sonny Burke & Jack Elliott
Featured review
A gem, but a product of its time
I must have seen this half a dozen times in elementary school in the 70s, but had not seen it since. I remember enjoying it, and, as a musician, I have thought of it many times.
I watched this again recently, and it's really a gem, except for the unfortunate racial stereotypes. We see clownish caricatures of Chinese, and we see a quartet of black-faced minstrel players.
The few cringey moments were disappointing, but it was 1953, and sensibilities were different. That doesn't excuse it or explain it, but I'm not going to 'cancel' Disney or even this one film because of it. Who knows how our current society will be judged in 70 years? That said, I understand why this wasn't included in the offerings provided by Disney+.
The animation is refreshingly different than other projects coming out of Disney in the early 50s. The music is great, and it's a great lesson in musical instrument families (even if they did put the piano in the string section).
Watch it. Enjoy it. Remember times were different then. Remember your history and how far we've come, and how far we have to go.
I watched this again recently, and it's really a gem, except for the unfortunate racial stereotypes. We see clownish caricatures of Chinese, and we see a quartet of black-faced minstrel players.
The few cringey moments were disappointing, but it was 1953, and sensibilities were different. That doesn't excuse it or explain it, but I'm not going to 'cancel' Disney or even this one film because of it. Who knows how our current society will be judged in 70 years? That said, I understand why this wasn't included in the offerings provided by Disney+.
The animation is refreshingly different than other projects coming out of Disney in the early 50s. The music is great, and it's a great lesson in musical instrument families (even if they did put the piano in the string section).
Watch it. Enjoy it. Remember times were different then. Remember your history and how far we've come, and how far we have to go.
helpful•10
- wfkqjsr
- Oct 25, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime10 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer