The Old Mill Pond
The Old Mill Pond is an American animated short film directed by Hugh Harman from the year 1936.
Action
In a pond near an old mill frogs congregate. A frog preacher asks the congregation to the Preacher Song, among others, to indulge the music. He initiates the following scenes: From the pond rises on lily pads a jazz band of dark brown frogs, the Kickin 'the Gong Around play and sing.
The scene turns into a display of frog lady in red dress, the Jungle Rhythm presented and is accompanied later by numerous dancing frogs with colorful wigs. The orchestra rises again and the scene faded to an obese frog over, sitting at the piano. He plays Mista Sippy and is accompanied by a tap dancer. It follows a frog quartet, which I Heard sings.
The audience is delighted. In rapid succession occur more frogs, Tiger Rag sounds, the music gets faster, musical instruments go to break and frogs are crazy. The audience flees into the water.
The old mill and the pond are still as at the beginning.
Production
The Old Mill Pond was published on 7 March 1936 as part of the MGM cartoon series Happy Harmonies.
The film contains several representations of contemporary caricature, colored jazz artists who recite the titles:
- Kickin 'the Gong Around - Cab Calloway
- Jungle Rhythm - Ethel Waters
- Mista Sippy - Fats Waller (vocals ) and Bill " Bojangles " Robinson ( tap dancer )
- I Heard - Mills Brothers
- Tiger Rag - Stepin Fetchit and Louis Armstrong
Awards
The Old Mill Pond in 1937 was nominated for an Oscar in the category " Best Animated Short Film ", but could not prevail against The Country Cousin himself.