Running time 14:25

Synopsis

The historical backgrounds of three nursery rhymes (Little Jack Horner, Mary Mary Quite Contrary, and London Bridge) are uncovered.

Credits

Directors

Wolfgang Reitherman

Bill Justice

Story : Bill Peet

Animation

Cliff Nordberg

Fred Hellmich

Kay Wright

Ed Parks

Eric Cleworth

Dick Lucas

Bill Keil

Al Stetter

Effects Animation : Dan MacManus

Layout

Xavier ("X") Atencio

Basil Davidovich

Dick Ung

Vance Gerry

Background

Al Dempster

Eyvind Earle

Richard H. Thomas

Collin Campbell

Music : George Bruns

Lyrics

Tom Adair

Bill Peet

George Bruns

Vocals : The Paul Cavanaugh Trio

Awards

Nominated for an Academy Award (Short Subjects - Cartoons)

Videos

Germany

Die Drei Kleinen Schweinchen und der Böse Wolf

Italy

Paperino e Soci a Caccia di Guai

France

Disney Parade 4

Laserdiscs

Japan

Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore

Disney Cartoon Festival 4

DVD

United States

Disney Treasures : Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s

Technical Specifications

Color Type : Technicolor

Animation type : Standard animation

Sound mix : Mono

Aspect ration : 1.37 : 1

Negative format : 35mm

Print format : 35mm

Cinematographic process : Spherical

Original language : English

Released by Buena Vista Pictures, Inc.

Comments

From Katie : I really admire this short. It's artisticly beautiful, fun to watch and really interesting. It's connected with three cute singing jesters, but the main part is the history behind various mother goose songs. I especially liked the sections on "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary" and "London Bridge."

From Angabella : I loved this short! I have been searching everywhere to get a copy! I tell everyone I meet about it, and no one believes me!

From Allyson : This is the best cartoon short ever! I loved it as a child and I never forgot the words to the songs in it! I still think of the images whenever I hear the old nursery rhymes. As a kid, I even had a blue dress that I called my "Mary Quite Contrary" dress, because it looked like the one in the movie. I love this cartoon!

From Baruch Weiss : The truth about this cartoon is that it's very interesting as it takes viewer's behind the scenes of the classic mother goose rhymes.

From DaVon : This is another Disney short that I saw late this year (October 2008) for the first time and has become another one of my favorites. I had two books about the nursery rhymes, one of which was a Mother Goose Disney read-along and neither of them mentioned any history behind the origins of those rhymes as extras. I never knew until last month from watching it and never thought or would've have thought of that, who would've or could've guessed? Anyway, this too was fascinating and I learned what I haven't been taught before. Recommended to anyone who is curious and would like to know more about the inspiration of the particular nursery rhymes featured here and how they originated.

From Billy Joe : Thanks, Disney! Now I now what inspired these three nursery rhymes. The origin of "London Bridges Falling Down" is the most interesting. Disney could've did the history of more nursery rhymes, but his cartoon is still good.

I have seen "The Truth About Mother Goose" and would like to
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