The Spider and the Fly (1931 film)

The Spider and the Fly is a 1931 Silly Symphonies cartoon.[1]

The Spider and the Fly
Directed byWilfred Jackson
Produced byWalt Disney
Animation byCharles Byrne
Harry Reeves
Color processBlack and White
Production
company
Walt Disney Productions
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
October 16, 1931
Running time
7 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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 (Dec 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 (Dec 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 the 2006 Walt Disney Treasures DVD box set More Silly Symphonies.[1]

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References
  1. 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.
  2. "Silly Symphony - The Spider and the Fly Background Layout Drawing | Lot #12247". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  3. "Shorts". Motion Picture Herald: 50. December 19, 1931. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  4. "Reviews of Short Subjects". The Film Daily: 12. December 20, 1931. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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