“Make Mine Music: The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” [9 of 10] (1946) - Pagliacci Pencils ("Make Mine Music" Series)

There are a couple of great scenes in this film and here is one of them: Willie singing at the Met as Pagliacci. I have two that I picked up at very different times. The most recent is a Director's pencil that we picked up in 2000 and the other was acquired in 1990. It's nice to have both.

First, is a great Director's pencil. A good full-frame image at the peak of Willie's singing is a good example of the power and the drama of the moment.

Willie as Pagliacci - Director's Sketch

The pencil below depicts Willie just a moment prior to the Director's sketch above. Just before Willie hits his note. We put this in an elegant frame that treats the moment and sketch a bit more seriously than one would expect from a cartoon. The idea was to match the grandeur of the Met -- the gold and a dark satin cloth surrounding the image. 9Sorry about the pink tint.)

Willie as Pagliacci - Pencil Sketch

A similar image was in the "Encyclopedia of Animation," page 197. I think the Director's sketch above shows Willie at a more impressive moment.

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From “Make Mine Music: The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” (1946). A director's drawing of Willie the Whale singing Pagliacci at the Met. Voice by Nelson Eddy. "The Whale..." is considered to be one of Disney's best films. Seller wrote: "What could be nicer. Full complete directors drawing of Willie (even has his shoes) Willie sings Pagliacci." On sheet: directors sequence numbers 9-12-16; "9" "collar" [Unframed Item: 15.5"W x 12.5"H] Acquired 2000. SeqID-0689 8/15/2005

From “Make Mine Music: The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” (1946). Willie as the opera character Pagliacci. Dressed as clown. Voice by Nelson Eddy. "The Whale..." is considered to be one of Disney's best films. [Image: 14-1/16"W x 11-1/8"H. Frame: 25-1/8"W x 22-1/8"H] Acquired 1990. SeqID-0077 8/3/2005