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Not to be confused with Donald and the Beanstalk.

Mickey and the Beanstalk is a Mickey Mouse cartoon originally released in 1947 as the second half of Fun and Fancy Free.

Synopsis[]

This segment is an adaptation of the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk by Benjamin Tabart, with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as peasants who discovered temperamental Willie's castle in the sky through the use of some magic beans.

Mickey and the Beanstalk was narrated by Edgar Bergen in live-action sequences, who, with the help of his ventriloquist's dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, told the tale to child actress Luana Patten at her small birthday party.

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy live in a place called Happy Valley, which was plagued by a severe drought after a Golden Harp who sang to make people happy was stolen from a nearby castle in Happy Valley. The residents had nothing to eat except one loaf of bread; in a memorable scene, the bread is cut into paper-thin slices. Donald, who is driven to the verge of insanity by starvation, then goes into a rage, complaining that he can't stand it anymore. He then makes a sandwich out of plates and silverware and tries to eat it, but Mickey and Goofy stop him and manage to calm him down. He then sees an axe, which he attempts to use to kill their cow for beef, but they stop him again and Mickey decides to trade the cow for money to buy food. Goofy and Donald are excited that they'll be able to eat until Mickey returns and reveals he traded in their beloved bovine for magic beans. Thinking that Mickey got tricked, Donald furiously throws the beans and they fall through a hole in the floor.

However, it turns out the beans were magic, as later that night with the light of the full moon, a beanstalk sprouted, and it carried their house upward as it grew all through the night. The next morning, climbing the gigantic beanstalk, they cross a moat in a pea pod, they are attacked by dragon flies and the trio tries to defend themselves then a dragonfly comes their way but is eaten by a big fish which makes a big splash causing the moat to dry up leaving the moat with just sand, they climb the castle steps and they knock, the castle seems to be deserted, they enter a magical kingdom of equal scope, and entering the castle, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy help themselves to a sumptuous feast. This rouses the ire of Willie the Giant, who is able to transform himself into anything. When they are spotted by Willie, Mickey spots a fly swatter and asks Willie to demonstrate his powers by turning into a fly. Willie initially suggests turning into a pink bunny, but when he agrees to their request, he turns into a pink bunny anyway, and spots Mickey, Donald, and Goofy with the fly swatter. Disappointed, Willie captures Mickey, Donald, and Goofy and locks them in a box. Mickey, however, escapes. It was up to Mickey to find the key and rescue them, with the help of the singing Golden Harp. Once freed, the hapless heroes kill the giant by chopping down the beanstalk and return the Golden Harp to her rightful place and Happy Valley to its former glory.

Characters[]

Alternate versions[]

There have been several alternate versions of Mickey and the Beanstalk, each with a different narrator.

The first alternate narration was that of Sterling Holloway, which originally aired on a 1955 episode of Walt Disney's anthology TV series, replacing Edgar Bergen's scenes and narration. In the original episode, Walt Disney introduces the story through a book and actually mentions Sterling Holloway as the narrator before the story begins. The ending scene was also altered: when Willie falls to the ground, a newly animated shot of Mickey, Donald, and Goofy was added. In this shot, the force of Willie's hit to the ground causes the book they're in to shake and collapse to the table, also causing the story itself to end rather abruptly. Because of this, unlike the other versions, Willie isn't mentioned to have been killed in this version; Walt even mentions that Mickey and Willie have become good friends. Nevertheless, the scene with Willie lifting up the roof to question Mickey's whereabouts is still retained, but this time, he lifts up the roof not of Bergen's house, but of the Disney Studios, to ask Walt himself this question. Walt tells Willie that Mickey went down to the Brown Derby for a cheese soufflé, then tells the giant to be careful slamming the ceiling, before Willie continues searching for Mickey in Hollywood.

This particular episode later re-aired as part of the "Disney's Wonderful World" season in 1980, but without the Walt Disney segments, instead including an announcer introducing the stories. The Sterling Holloway narration is still retained, but the short was accompanied with a new storybook opening shot with said announcer introducing the story, before Holloway begins narrating it. Likewise, the short ends with a new storybook closing shot, showing the book falling to the carpet, as the announcer from the beginning closes the story ("And so ends the story of Mickey and the Beanstalk."). This version can currently be viewed at the Paley Center for Media.

Between 1985 and 1989, the 1980 re-edit of Sterling Holloway's narration was often accompanied with (and preceded) Dumbo on TV airings of said movie. To help emphasize the moral theme of Dumbo, a new disco version of the song "It's Whatcha Do With Whatcha Got" (from So Dear to My Heart) accompanies the interstitial segments, along with the short Lambert the Sheepish Lion (although later airings in 1989 replaced it with Elmer Elephant). Mickey and the Beanstalk would usually be shown after Lambert or Elmer to emphasize (using a newly-recorded narration for the storybook opening shot) how, unlike the protagonist in the last story, who put their special talents to good use, Willie the Giant didn't do likewise. In turn, the storybook closing shot was accompanied with a brief reprise of "It's Whatcha Do With Whatcha Got". The Dumbo/Beanstalk/short compilation was also featured on the syndicated Disney Magic television package.

Contrary to popular belief, some sources claimed that the Sterling Holloway version also aired as episode #76 of the TV show, Good Morning, Mickey! but the episode in question actually used a shortened edit of the original Bergen narration. This version opens with a still title card shot of the Harp in her castle, as "My, What a Happy Day" plays briefly, then transitions to "Eat Until I Die".

The second and most common alternate version aired on a 1963 episode hosted by Ludwig von Drake and his companion Herman the Bootle Beetle. Additionally, this version has been used for most home video releases of the standalone cartoon (with an 8-second opening title and ending credits added). The one exception was the Walt Disney Treasures set "Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Vol. 2", which features the entire sequence from the original 1947 film, and thus the original Bergen narration, as a bonus feature.

A third version of Mickey and the Beanstalk was hosted and narrated by Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop in a 1973 episode of The Mouse Factory. A portion of Beanstalk was also narrated by Lynsey McLeod as Belle in the episode "Problem Solving: Ingenuity" from Sing Me a Story with Belle.

Interestingly, for both the Ludwig Von Drake and Shari Lewis/Lamb Chop versions, the segments and narration follow a bit more closely to the 1947 film version (albeit with Ludwig Von Drake or Lamb Chop replacing the sassy comments of Charlie McCarthy). Also, like Fun and Fancy Free, the Von Drake and Lamb Chop versions end with the narrator (be it Ludwig Von Drake or Shari Lewis) finishing his/her story and comforting his/her companion (be it Herman or Lamb Chop), who was crying for the assumed death of Willie. Just as the narrator says that Willie is a fictional character and not real, Willie himself appears, alive and well, tearing the roof off the narrator's house. Willie inquires about Mickey's whereabouts, but the narrator faints in shock, while the companion bids Willie goodnight. However, the only difference is that the Ludwig Von Drake also closes with Willie stomping through Hollywood looking for Mickey (again, like Fun and Fancy Free), whereas the Shari Lewis version just ends with Lamb Chop talking to Willie. (Also, the Shari Lewis version has Willie's dialogue re-dubbed in that ending scene).

Edits[]

  • In the Sterling Holloway version, the entire story begins and ends from inside of a book and there are no narration sequences. (Therefore, the extra ending scene with Willie searching for Mickey is cut.) Also, the opening scene where "Happy Valley" is shown being developed as a vision is absent, so the narrator begins the story by mentioning only the valley, the castle and the Golden Harp.
    • Additionally, when the giant falls to the ground at the end, his landing causes the entire book to suddenly close.
  • The moat dries up right after the big fish's big splash.
  • In the Shari Lewis version, the story begins with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in their desolate home, therefore cutting the entire beginning sequence with the introduction of Happy Valley, "My, What a Happy Day", the Harp getting stolen, and the valley falling into despair.
  • In the Ludwig Von Drake version, the Harp's scream is edited out when the giant abducts her.
  • In the Shari Lewis version, the clip with Donald noticing the axe is cut; the scene transitions from Donald panting "I'll be all right" to Mickey yelling, "Donald, no!" when he notices the axe is gone.
  • In the 1980s TV edit of the Sterling Holloway version, the scene with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy walking through the giant's footsteps is cut.
  • In the Ludwig Von Drake version, the dragonfly scene was shortened to the part where the fish eats it. The reason is unknown, but probably due to references to World War II.
  • In the Shari Lewis version, the entire journey with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy walking through the giant kingdom is cut; the scene transitions from them noticing the beanstalk to them immediately at the castle doors.
  • In the Ludwig von Drake version, the clip of Goofy diving into the gelatin, trying to retrieve his hat, was shortened to him diving into the walnut bowl.
  • Part of the clip with Goofy trying to retrieve his hat was also cut in the Shari Lewis version.
  • The Sterling Holloway version had some additional music added to some parts.
  • In the theatrical version, when Willie wakes up from his sleep to chase after Mickey and the others, Luana is heard saying, "Oh!" This was edited out of the Sterling Holloway version, but the Ludwig Von Drake version accidentally leaves it in.

There was also another edited version of the short dubbed into German in 1966, which was shown as part of a compilation of cartoon shorts called Donald Ducks tollste Abenteuer. This particular edit is based on the Ludwig Von Drake narration and uses the same edits of said version, except without any narration sequences (similar to the Sterling Holloway narration). Likewise, these additional changes occur:

  • Unlike the Sterling Holloway version, the short begins with Happy Valley being developed as a vision. However, the brief bit where the red barn appears is cut.
  • The second half of "My, What a Happy Day" (with the cows and crows singing) is cut, ending after the Harp's verse.
  • The scene with Happy Valley falling into despair is edited, cutting out both the fields of golden corn and the laughing brook crumbling to dust.
  • The cartoon ends with a "The End" title card.
  • In the particular dub itself, there is no narration heard while Mickey, Donald, and Goofy travel through the giant kingdom (save for one sentence when they reach the castle). Plus, all of Donald's dialogue is left in English, which was common in Germany until the 1980s.

This original German dub was released on home video during the 1980s, but ceased to exist when a re-dub was made to the entire Ludwig Von Drake version in 1993.

A similar edit of the 1966 German cut was used for international TV airings (or at least, the Czech Republic and Germany) and accompanied after The Prince and the Pauper. The Ludwig Von Drake version was used, although his narration is re-dubbed by Corey Burton, replacing Paul Frees. Like the 1966 German edit, there are no narration sequences, although this time, "My, What a Happy Day" is entirely cut, so the cartoon begins with the Harp getting stolen, after a brief introduction of Happy Valley.

Releases[]

Television[]

Home video[]

VHS

DVD

Trivia[]

  • A level based on Mickey and the Beanstalk appears in the video game Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse.
  • The scene where Mickey is sleeping while the beanstalk is growing was used in the A Poem Is... short A Visit from Saint Nicholas.
  • The first transitional level in Epic Mickey is themed to Mickey and the Beanstalk.
  • The scene where Donald tries to chop up their cow with an axe has been cited as one of many scary Disney moments.
  • Most home video releases of the Ludwig Von Drake version use the same home video print from the 1988 Mini Classics release, but the Netflix edition has it remastered (with redone ending credits).
  • Adam Szalinski watched Mickey and the Beanstalk in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.
  • This was the last time Walt Disney voiced Mickey with Jimmy MacDonald replacing him, save for The Mickey Mouse Club, where Walt again voiced Mickey.
  • Mickey and the Beanstalk was one of the featured segments in the Disney On Ice show "Mickey's Diamond Jubilee", created for Mickey's 60th birthday in 1988 (it ran until 1993). This was the only "live" appearance of Willie the Giant, albeit in the form of a giant hand and arm.
  • Mickey and the Beanstalk is the only separate Fun and Fancy Free segment to be marketed on latter home media release as the distributors of the Walt Disney Studios felt that this featurette alone would be appropriate for the younger audiences, completely ignoring Bongo as the lone featurette for having some mature references involving relationships, although Bongo is still marketed with this segment as Fun and Fancy Free.
  • During the approach to Willie's castle, Charlie theorizes that the castle does not belong to Cinderella, making the first mention of the fairy tale three years prior to an actual film being made.
  • The cloud animation from this film is reused in "Disney Sing Along Songs: I Love to Laugh!", as Ludwig Von Drake's daydream segues into the "Jolly Holiday" sequence.
  • The animation of the bulls frolicking during "My, What a Happy Day" is reused from Ferdinand the Bull.
  • In 2021, a special board game adaptation of Mickey and the Beanstalk was released by Funko Games. Here, players take on the roles of Mickey, Donald, Goofy or Minnie to collect food from Willie the Giant's table, with which to feed Happy Valley, as well as rescue the harp from Willie's lockbox.

Gallery[]


v - e - d
Mickey Mouse Short logo 3
1920s
Plane CrazyThe Gallopin' GauchoSteamboat WillieThe Barn DanceThe Opry HouseWhen the Cat's AwayThe Barnyard BattleThe PlowboyThe Karnival KidMickey's FolliesMickey's Choo-ChooThe Jazz FoolJungle RhythmThe Haunted HouseWild Waves
1930s
Fiddling AroundThe Barnyard ConcertThe Cactus KidThe Fire FightersThe ShindigThe Chain GangThe Gorilla MysteryThe PicnicPioneer DaysThe Birthday PartyTraffic TroublesThe CastawayThe Moose HuntThe Delivery BoyMickey Steps OutBlue RhythmFishin' AroundThe Barnyard BroadcastThe Beach PartyMickey Cuts UpMickey's OrphansThe Duck HuntThe Grocery BoyThe Mad DogBarnyard OlympicsMickey's RevueMusical FarmerMickey in ArabiaMickey's NightmareTrader MickeyThe Whoopee PartyTouchdown MickeyThe Wayward CanaryParade of the Award NomineesThe Klondike KidMickey's Good DeedBuilding a BuildingThe Mad DoctorMickey's Pal PlutoMickey's MellerdrammerYe Olden DaysThe Mail PilotMickey's Mechanical ManMickey's Gala PremierPuppy LoveThe Steeple-ChaseThe Pet StoreGiantlandShanghaiedCamping OutPlayful PlutoGulliver MickeyMickey's Steam-RollerOrphan's BenefitMickey Plays PapaThe DognapperTwo-Gun MickeyMickey's Man FridayThe Band ConcertMickey's Service StationMickey's KangarooMickey's GardenMickey's Fire BrigadePluto's Judgement DayOn IceMickey's Polo TeamOrphans' PicnicMickey's Grand OperaThru the MirrorMickey's RivalMoving DayAlpine ClimbersMickey's CircusMickey's ElephantThe Worm TurnsMagician MickeyMoose HuntersMickey's AmateursHawaiian HolidayClock CleanersLonesome GhostsBoat BuildersMickey's TrailerThe WhalersMickey's ParrotBrave Little TailorSociety Dog ShowMickey's Surprise PartyThe PointerThe Standard Parade
1940s
Tugboat MickeyPluto's Dream HouseMr. Mouse Takes a TripThe Sorcerer's ApprenticeThe Little WhirlwindThe Nifty NinetiesOrphan's BenefitA Gentleman's GentlemanCanine CaddyLend a PawAll TogetherMickey's Birthday PartySymphony HourPluto and the ArmadilloSquatter's RightsMickey and the BeanstalkMickey's Delayed DateMickey Down UnderMickey and the Seal
1950s
R'Coon DawgPluto's PartyPluto's Christmas TreeThe Simple Things
1980s-Present
Mickey's Christmas CarolThe Prince and the PauperRunaway BrainGet a Horse!Mickey in a MinuteOnce Upon a Studio
See Also
The Mickey Mouse ClubThe Mouse FactoryGood Morning, MickeyMickey's Mouse TracksMickey Mouse and Friends (TV Series)Disney's The Twelve Days of ChristmasMickey's Fun SongsMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasHouse of MouseMickey Mouse WorksMickey's Magical ChristmasMickey's House of VillainsMickey's Twice Upon a ChristmasMickey Mouse ClubhouseMickey MousekersizeMickey Mouse (TV series)Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up AdventuresMickey's 90th SpectacularThe Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse


v - e - d
Mickey logo transparent
Media
Short Films: Mickey Mouse seriesDonald Duck seriesGoofy seriesPluto seriesChip and Dale series

Feature Length Films: Fantasia Saludos Amigos The Three Caballeros Fun and Fancy Free Melody Time DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp Disney's The Twelve Days of Christmas A Goofy Movie Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Fantasia 2000 An Extremely Goofy Movie Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MouseMickey's House of VillainsMickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three MusketeersMickey's Twice Upon a ChristmasChip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
Television: Mickey Mouse Club The Wonderful World of Disney DuckTales Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers Darkwing Duck Goof Troop Quack Pack Mickey's Fun SongsMickey Mouse WorksHouse of MouseMickey Mouse ClubhouseMinnie's Bow-ToonsMickey Mouse DuckTalesMickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures Legend of the Three Caballeros Mickey Go Local The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse Funhouse Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0

Disney Parks
Mickey's ToontownMickey and Minnie's Runaway RailwayPLAY!

Entertainment: Disney Adventure Friends CavalcadeStitch's Interplanetary Beach Party BlastIt’s Very Minnie!Minnie's Tiara of DreamsMinnie, We Love You!Club Mouse BeatMickey and Friends: An Extra Big AdventureMinnie @ Funderland
Spring: Disney's Easter WonderlandHippity Hoppity SpringtimeUsatama on the Run!
Summer: Summer BlastDisney's Summer Oasis SplashMickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: Re-Villains! Halloween ParadeMickey's Boo-to-You Halloween ParadeFrightfully Fun Parade
Christmas A Christmas Fantasy ParadeMickey's Once Upon a Christmastime ParadeDisney's Santa Village Parade
Parades: Main Street Electrical ParadeDonald Duck's 50th Birthday ParadeSpectroMagicMickey Mania ParadeJubilation!Nightfall GlowPaint the NightHappiness is Here ParadeDreaming Up!Mickey's Storybook ExpressDisney Harmony in Color! Parade
Fireworks: Celebrate! Tokyo DisneylandDisney EnchantmentIgnite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and LightWorld of Color: CelebrateWe Love Mickey!Wondrous Journeys

Characters
The Sensational Six: Mickey MouseMinnie MouseDonald DuckDaisy DuckGoofyPluto

Secondary characters: Chip and DalePeteClarabelle CowHorace HorsecollarHuey, Dewey, and LouieScrooge McDuckLudwig Von Drake
Characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios: Julius the CatOswald the Lucky RabbitOrtensiaJ. P. WhiskersHomer the CatFanny CottontailBunny ChildrenParrotClara CluckThe Mad DoctorMortimer MouseThe Three Little PigsBig Bad WolfLittle Red Riding HoodYen SidMagic BroomsJosé CariocaPanchito PistolesHumphrey the BearMax GoofJ. Audubon WoodloreFigaroBootle BeetleButch the BulldogFifi the PekeDinah the DachshundAracuan BirdSalty the SealLouie the Mountain LionRajaBearSpike the BeeLonesome GhostsWillie the GiantWeaselsPeter PigMammy Two ShoesWitch HazelDonna DuckP.J.Pluto's Kid BrotherPluto's Quin-pupletsPluto JuniorClariceKat NippDolores the ElephantBobo the ElephantGopherBent-Tail the CoyoteBent-Tail JuniorMilton the CatPluto's AngelPluto's Devil
Characters from comic stories: Phantom BlotMorty and Ferdie FieldmouseChief O'HaraMillie and Melody MouseGyro GearlooseGus GooseBeagle BoysDaisy's parentsGrandma DuckGladstone GanderMagica De SpellFlintheart GlomgoldGilbert GoofJohn D. RockerduckHortense McDuckQuackmore DuckSylvester ShysterTrudy Van TubbFelicity FieldmouseApril, May, and JuneDella DuckMoby DuckHortense
Characters from Disney Television Animation: Launchpad McQuackWebby VanderquackMa BeagleBentina BeakleyDuckworthGizmoDuckBubba the Cave DuckGadget HackwrenchMonterey JackZipperFat CatDarkwing DuckGosalyn MallardPeg PetePistol PeteRoxanneBobby ZimmeruskiSylvia MarpoleBradley Uppercrust IIITankBaby ShelbyThe TroubadourToodlesCuckoo-LocaMartian MickeyPluto from PlutoMartian MinnieBilly BeagleXandraBaron Von Sheldgoose
Characters from Disney Experiences: Duffy the Disney BearShellieMay the Disney BearGelatoniStellaLouCookieAnn'Olu MelTippyBlueLinaBellMr. Easter BunnyMrs. Easter BunnyChuuby

Key artists
Producers and directors: Walt DisneyBurt GillettWilfred JacksonDavid HandDick HuemerJack HannahJack KingJack KinneyClyde GeronimiCharles A. NicholsBill JusticeTad StonesRoy E. DisneyBobs GannawayPaul Rudish

Designers and animators: Ub IwerksNorman FergusonLes ClarkArt BabbittDick LundyFrank ThomasOllie JohnstonFred MooreFred SpencerFloyd GottfredsonHamilton LuskeTed OsborneAl TaliaferroCarl BarksWard KimballWolfgang ReithermanDon RosaAndreas DejaMark HennMichael Peraza Jr. • Robert Griggs • Eric Goldberg
Composers: Carl Stalling • Frank ChurchillOliver WallacePaul SmithAlbert Hay MalotteJimmie Dodd • Stephen James Taylor • Mark Watters • Christopher Willis
Voice actors: Walt DisneyMarcellite GarnerPinto ColvigBilly BletcherClarence NashJimmy MacDonaldBill ThompsonPaul FreesWayne AllwineTony AnselmoRussi TaylorAlan YoungWill RyanBill FarmerCorey BurtonTress MacNeilleJim CummingsBret IwanKaitlyn RobrockChris DiamantopoulosDebra Wilson


v - e - d
Fun and fancy logo
Media
Fun and Fancy FreeHouse of MouseDisney Infinity: 2.0 EditionVideo

Segments: BongoMickey and the Beanstalk

Disney Parks
Sir Mickey's
Characters
Mickey MouseDonald DuckGoofyJiminy CricketWillie the GiantGolden HarpBongoLulubelleLumpjaw
Locations
Happy ValleyWillie's castleBeanstalk
Songs
Fun and Fancy FreeI'm a Happy-Go-Lucky FellowLazy CountrysideToo Good to be TrueSay It With a SlapMy, What a Happy DayEat Until I DieFee-Fi-Fo-FumMy Favorite Dream
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