The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961) - The Internet Animation Database

Cumulative rating:	No Ratings Posted

Synopsis

Windwagon Smith blows into town with a strange contraption: a conestoga wagon outfitted with a wind sail. The town fathers figure that since a small windwagon does so well, a big one must do better. They set out to build one (while Smith woos the mayor's daughter) and launch it on it's maiden voyage to very unexpected results.

Credits

Video Information

VHS

United States

Disney's Tall Tales

Germany

Donald Total Verliebt

France

Disney Festival

Italy

Paperino Pippo Pluto e …

Laserdisc (CLV)

Japan

Disney Cartoon Festival 1

Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore

Disney Cartoon Festival 7

DVD

United States

Disney Rarities

Walt Disney Animation Collection : Volume 4 : The Tortoise and the Hare

Technical Specifications

MPAA No.: 16424

Running time: 13:18

Animation Type: Standard (Hand-drawn-Cel) Animation

Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

Color Type: Technicolor

Sound Type: Mono

Print Type: 35mm

Negative Type: 35mm

Cinematographic Format: Spherical

Original Language: English

Reviews and Comments

From Ryan R. :

The Saga of Windwagon Smith is a great short set on the 19th century Kansas Prarie. The protagonist in the tale reminded me of the typical oafish hero in a Disney tall tale (think Casey at the Bat).

The animation reminded me of the old George of the Jungle cartoons, and some of the characters (including the hero's love interest) are extremely one dimensional.

Still, the story is quite fun, and pure Disney. It's a shame that this short is not more readily available (but then I'm partial to the whole tall tale genre.

From Chris :

Great tall tale.

From Baruch Weiss :

This cartoon does not have a Disney look to it. Nevertheless, it's still a good one!

From Billy Joe :

This short's story is interesting, but the character animation is choppy. If there were any windwagons around today, that would probably save money on oil.

Also, you may find some familar faces in this short. Two of the citizens look similar to Jasper and Horace from "One Hundred and One Dalmatians", which was also released in 1961.

From Jesse :

What a fantastical and surreal concept ... sailing on a "sea of wheat fields"! Anyone whose ever seen wheat fields blow in the wind is surly to be reminded of water waves, and your imagination can do the rest! The only other film that I know of to explore this concept is a live action movie with Tim Curry by the name of "Pirates of the Plains".

Click on thumbnail for full size image