''The Truth About Mother Goose'' is an animated short film released on August 28, 1957, by

Walt Disney Productions The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

. The short was directed by

Wolfgang Reitherman Wolfgang Reitherman (June 26, 1909 – May 22, 1985), also known and sometimes credited as Woolie Reitherman, was a German-American animator, director and producer. As a member of the "Disney's Nine Old Men, Nine Old Men" at Walt Disney Animati ...

in his directorial debut, and Bill Justice, and written by Bill Peet.

Plot

In this short, a trio of jazz-singing jesters sing three

Mother Goose Mother Goose is a character that originated in children's fiction, as the imaginary author of a collection of French fairy tales and later of English nursery rhymes. She also appeared in a song, the first stanza of which often functions now as ...

nursery rhymes A nursery rhyme is a traditional poem or song for children in Britain and other European countries, but usage of the term dates only from the late 18th/early 19th century. The term Mother Goose rhymes is interchangeable with nursery rhymes. Fro ...

, while an off screen narrator explains their origins in three animated vignettes. The rhymes include: * " Little Jack Horner": Thomas Horner (steward to Richard Whiting, the last abbot of

Glastonbury Glastonbury ( , ) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census. Glastonbury is less than across the River ...

), allegedly stealing a

title deed A deed is a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially concerning the ownership of property or legal rights. Specifically, in common law, a deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms or confirms an interest, right ...

in transit to

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

of England. * " Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary": The life of Mary Stuart. The segment claims that the "silver bells" are said to "refer to the elaborate decoration on her dresses", the "cockle shells" to her love of exotic food such as cockles, with the "pretty maids all in a row" referring to her ladies-in-waiting. * "

London Bridge Is Falling Down "London Bridge Is Falling Down" (also known as "My Fair Lady" or "London Bridge") is a traditional English nursery rhyme and singing game, which is found in different versions all over the world. It deals with the dilapidation of London Bridg ...

": The gradual deterioration and dilapidation of the medieval Old London Bridge.

Academy Awards

The short was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film The Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film is an award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as part of the annual Academy Awards, or Oscars, since the 5th Academy Awards (with different names), covering the year ...

in 1957, but lost to the ''

Merrie Melodies ''Merrie Melodies'' is an American animated comedy short film series distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was part of the ''Looney Tunes'' franchise and featured many of the same characters. Originally running from August 2, 1931, to Septem ...

'' cartoon '' Birds Anonymous''.

Home media

The short was released on December 6, 2005, on '' Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Rarities – Celebrated Shorts: 1920s–1960s''.

References

External links

*
''The Truth About Mother Goose'' Disney shorts (Internet Archive)
1950s educational films 1957 films 1950s Disney animated short films Disney educational films Films directed by Bill Justice Films produced by Walt Disney Animated films set in Scotland Films set in Tudor England Short films directed by Wolfgang Reitherman Animated films based on nursery rhymes Films scored by George Bruns Films with screenplays by Bill Peet Animated films set in England Animated films set in London Works based on nursery rhymes 1957 directorial debut films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films Animated films set in the 16th century English-language short films 1957 animated short films {{1950s-Disney-animation-film-stub