The Spider and the Fly (1931 film)
The Spider and the Fly | |
---|---|
Directed by | Wilfred Jackson |
Produced by | Walt Disney |
Animation by | |
Color process | Black and White |
Production company | Walt Disney Productions |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | October 16, 1931 |
Running time | 7 min |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Spider and the Fly is a 1931 Silly Symphonies cartoon.[1]
Plot[]
A kitchen is filled with flies. A spider wakes up and plays its web like a harp, attracting a pair of them; the female is trapped, and the male summons the cavalry, which arrives riding bees, riding butterflies to drop pepper bombs, firing champagne bottles, and ultimately setting the web on fire and catching the spider on flypaper when it falls.[2]
Reception[]
Motion Picture Herald (December 19, 1931): "An Animated Pinnacle: Never in his experience has this reviewer seen a more novel, clever or thoroughly entertaining animated cartoon, than is this Walt Disney Silly Symphony number. An opening night audience at the New York Criterion burst into a storm of applause at its conclusion, and well the most unusual number deserved it. When the fly's sweetheart is enmeshed in the spiders' web, the army, on wings, on the backs of horse-flies with pins for lances and with dragon flies acting as bombing planes, sweeps to her assistance. Dozens of tremendously clever new drawings and original ideas are incorporated in this smart animated subject. By all means play it, and the audience will talk about it for a week."[3]
The Film Daily (December 20, 1931): "A Knockout. This Disney cartoon is one of the best to come along in moons. For basic idea, ingenious workmanship and effective sound and musical accompaniment it is hard to beat. It shows a flock of flies, and a couple of loverbird flies in particular, disporting themselves in a kitchen. A villainous spider lures a lady fly to his net, whereupon her hero rushes to the rescue, finally calling in the assistance of the entire fly army, which vanquishes the spider. Can't miss with any audience."[4]
Home media[]
The short was released on December 19, 2006, on Walt Disney Treasures: More Silly Symphonies, Volume Two.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b Merritt, Russell; Kaufman, J. B. (2016). Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series (2nd ed.). Glendale, CA: Disney Editions. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-4847-5132-9.
- ^ "Silly Symphony - The Spider and the Fly Background Layout Drawing | Lot #12247". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ "Shorts". Motion Picture Herald: 50. December 19, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- ^ "Reviews of Short Subjects". The Film Daily: 12. December 20, 1931. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
External links[]
- English-language films
- American animated short films
- 1931 short films
- 1930s Disney animated short films
- American films
- Silly Symphonies
- Animated films about insects
- Films about spiders
- 1931 animated films
- 1931 films
- Films directed by Wilfred Jackson
- Films produced by Walt Disney
- American black-and-white films
- Columbia Pictures animated short films
- Films without speech
- Columbia Pictures short films
- Animated films without speech
- Disney animated film stubs
- 1930s film stubs