From "Melody Time"

Release Date May 27, 1948

Synopsis

A retelling of the story of John Chapman, who spent his life roaming America and planting apple trees, thus earning his nickname.

Characters

Johnny Appleseed

Johnny's Angel

Old Settler

Note : There is also a cameo of a chipmunk in one scene which bears more than a passing resemblance to Chip of Chip 'n' Dale fame.

Credits

Director : Wilfred Jackson

Animation

Milt Kane		Ollie Johnson
Eric Larson		Hal Ambro
Don Lusk		Harvey Toombs

Effects Animation : George Rowley

Story

Winston Hibler		Joe Renaldi
Erdman Penner		Jesse Marsh

Music : Paul Smith

Color Styling : Mary Blair

Layout

McLaren Stewart

Don DaGradi

Thor Putnam

Background

Claude Coats

Brice Mack

Songs written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent

"The Lord is Good to Me"

"The Pioneers Song"

"The Apple Song"

Vocalist : Dennis Day

Videos

United States

Melody Time

Germany

Donalds Hitparade : Melody Time

Melodie Tanz Rhythmus

Italy

Lo Scringo Della Sette Perle

Laserdiscs

Japan

Melody Time

DVD

Melody Time

Melody Time

Disney Legends

It's a Small World of Fun : Volume 3

Television

The Ink and Paint Club : #57 : From Zero to Hero

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Techicolor

Animation type : Standard

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.37 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematograhic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.

Comments

From Brenda Edins : This animated short has had a lasting impact on me. I believe it is one of the best I have ever seen. The care taken with the story and music are apparent. Thank you, Disney, for such an uplifting, delightful treatment of a classic tale!

From Steve Puddicombe : I'm commenting more on the soundtrack of this short rather than the film itself: I had a recording of the soundtrack as a kid and it had a profound affect upon me. The gentle kindness and generosity of Johnny was just so different from the rest of the media representations of American heros.I must say that I identified with his character strongly and, looking back, it surprises me that such a character emerged out of the Hollywood of the time. Dennis Day is simply magnificent as the voices of all the characters. The animation is average but the presentation as a whole, so iconoclastic, is an American classic.

From Ryan : I enjoy this short quite a bit. It is the retelling of the famous American folktale about the man who planted apple trees wherever he went. The square dance scene with the pioneers by their wagon train reminds me of the "Martins and the Coys" segment from MAKE MINE MUSIC. One thing I noticed about this short is that there is a chipmunk who looks similar to the early Chip and Dale from their debut in PRIVATE PLUTO.

From Linda Means : I will be 50 this year and sometimes have a hard time remembering things from my childhood. (It seems so far away) However, one of the clearest memories I have is of the Disney short "Johnny Appleseed." The gentleness of this man and his simple mission has remained with me all these years. I enjoyed the songs sung by Dennis Day and can still recall many words of the lyrics. I would love to have this film to watch with my grandchildren but don't know if there is a way to purchase it. It is a credit to the filmmakers that this movie can still hold it's own 53 years after it was made.

From Jeannie : This is a wonderful short. So gentle. I am especially fond of the Johnny Appleseed song. After each performance,our local high school marching band hold hands and sing the song. I suppose this is instead of public prayer! It is very touching to hear!

From Don Leeman : My son enjoyed the story on 45 rpm record when he was small, and now he has a daughter aged 3 1/2. She loves to visit our local orchard to pick apples, so the other day I told her the story of Johnny Appleseed. She sat quietly, and I wasn't even sure she was listening, but when I saw her again the first thing she asked for was for me to repeat the story! Then were fortunate to find it on a Disney video,and I'll bet she has watched it 10 times already! Our thanks to the original creators and to those who preserved and re-created it so well!

From Terri Wood : I rate this story a 10! My kids absolutely love it and I watch it right along with them. I really enjoy the songs in this short story. My 6 year old loves the "Apple Song" and tries to remember as many things as he can that are made with apples. Jacob is going to be Johnny Appleseed this Wednesday at school because he is required to dress up as an early American historical figure. Thanks to you he is excited about it.

From Douglas Blades : Well this one's got to be a 10! I bought a collection of old Disney soundtrack EPs and the song "The Lord Is Good To Me" just jumped out from the others. I couldn't understand why I'd never heard it before. The record label said the song came from "Melody Time" which I'd never heard of so I tracked down a copy of the DVD on the internet. By this time my three young daughters were getting used to me playing the song and they liked it too! When the DVD arrived and we watched it, the Johnny Appleseed short stood out from all the others. A lovely story told in a wonderful way with some lovely background artwork and that wonderful song. It's the christian theme throughout that I find exceptional, a Disney song thanking God and references to the Holy Book! No mainstream producer would dare produce something like that nowadays - more's the pity! We've watched it many times and still enjoy it.

From Deborah Goschy : I watched the short of Johnny Appleseed a few years ago at a school. I was touched by the goodness of this figure by history, as well as the spirituality of the person.

From Baruch Weiss : Yet another great segment from 'Melody Time' I enjoyed the background art and animation as well as the songs such as "The Lord Is Good To Me" among others. As Ryan has pointed out one of the chipmunks looks like Chip or Dale from "Private Pluto".

From Mary : I wish I still had my original LP of this short. Every time it came onto the Wonderful World of Disney I was transfixed by it. No religion was endorsed in my childhood home, so this was my first taste of it. To this day, "The Lord is Good To Me" is an anthem I live by. I love this story and many other old west legends that Disney chose to illustrate so epically. Ah...those were the days!

Lyrics by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent
"The Lord's Been Good To Me"

The Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and rain and an appleseed
Yes He's been good to me.

I owe the Lord so much
For everything I need
I'm certain if it wasn't for Him
There'd be no apples on this limb
He's been good to me

Oh here I am
'Neath the blue, blue sky
A'doin' as I please
Singing with my feathered friends
Or with the bees

I wake up every day
As happy as can be
Because I know that with His care
My apple trees will still be there
Oh, the Lord is good to me

"The Pioneer Song"

Get on the wagons, roll 'em west
Seeking a land that's new
Get on the wagons roll 'em west
There's plenty of room for you

Get on the wagons, roll 'em west
Out to the train alone
Get on the wagons roll 'em west
Or you'll be left alone

We made a home before
We're startin' out again
We ain't afraid of man or beast
We're strong hearted men

Get on the wagons, roll 'em west
Seeking a land that's new
Get on the wagons roll 'em west
There's plenty of room for you

Get on the wagons, roll 'em west
Out to the train alone
Get on the wagons roll 'em west
Or you'll be left alone

The rivers may be wide
The mountains may be tall
But nothing stops the pioneers
We're trail blazers all

Get on the wagons, roll 'em west
Out to the train alone
Get on the wagons roll 'em west
Or you'll be left alone

"The Apple Song"

There's apple pickles
Oh so tasty
Apple tarts and apple pastry
Apple dumplings, not to mention
Apple sass?
Yes and there's apple fritters
Light as thistle
And for folks to wet their whistle
Tangy apple cider, my lad

Stew 'em, fry 'em, boil 'em, bake 'em
Apple pie and apple cake'm
Yep, you can cook 'em any way

Apple this and apple that
The recipes would fill your hat
Why I could carry on like this all day

Oh, pack your stuff and get a-goin'
Get them apple trees a growin'
There's a lot of work out there to do
There's a lot of work to do.

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