Disney Docs: Part 3, The boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

Release Date: 2009

Production Company: Crescendo/Traveling Light

Directors: Jeffrey C. Sherman and Gregory V. Sherman

Run time: 101 minutes

Seen on: Netflix DVD, Encore Family

Recommended: Yes, you can see the creative process for iconic Disney songs
Rotten Tomato Rating: 89%

Website: http://www.theboysdoc.com/

"Bob and I are two and a half years and about five eons apart."

"The Boys" tells the story of Richard and Robert Sherman, brothers and co-composers of iconic Disney songs such as "It's a Small World," "Spoonful of Sugar," and "Tiki Room".  The story is told by their sons Jeff and Greg Sherman who met again after 40 years of their fathers' estrangement.

Robert wanted to write the Great American Novel.  Richard wanted to write great symphonic masterpieces.  Fortunately life got in the way.  Their father had been a songwriter in New York for vaudeville stars.  He challenged his sons to create a song kids would send their allowance on.  After becoming songwriters independently, they started to work together despite their personal differences.

You should recognize their second song for Disney, "Let's Get Together" from The Parent Trap.  After the success of the song at Disney, Walt Disney gave the brothers a copy of "Mary Poppins" to see their input.  After hearing their song "Feed the Birds," Walt Disney invited the brothers to work at the studios.  The brother remember this day with tears in their eyes.  "That was the day."

The brothers worked together despite and perhaps because of their differing personalities.  Roy E. Disney says it best, "Bob is a little more 'Feed The Birds' I think, and Dick is a little more 'Supercalifragalistic.'"  Bob was thorough and Dick would have to for you in ten minutes.  Their method of creativity was conflict.

This doc was effective due to the close relationship between the directors and their subject.  They were able to reminisce with their fathers about their lives growing up.  The fathers were simply telling them stories, not necessarily being interviewed.  It broke your heart to see the wonderful music they created together professionally meshed with their personal estrangement.

Mighty Uke

Mighty Uke
Release date: 2009
Production oompany: Tiny Goat
Director: Tony Coleman
Run time: 79 minutes
Shown on: Ovation, channel 155 Comcast Baltimore city

This doc was about the resurgence of the ukulele as a serious musical instrument. It had fallen out of favor for several decades. The ukulele is now being used by artists, Hawaiian people, and the Canadian educational system to teach music to its students. This was an interesting doc. It shared the history of the instrument, as well its as falling out of favor. The doc was a way to pass the time and informative, but I would not watch it again.

My DVR is full of documentaries since I found how to search the listings for them. I think my next one will be "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," recommended by "50 Documentaries to See Before You Die."