The Truth About Mother Goose is an animated film released on August 28, 1957, by Walt Disney Productions. The short was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman 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 nursery rhymes, 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), allegedly stealing a title deed in transit to Henry VIII 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": The gradual deterioration and dilapidation of the medieval Old London Bridge. Academy Awards It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1957. 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 1957 animated films Films directed by Bill Justice Films produced by Walt Disney Films set in Tudor England Short films directed by Wolfgang Reitherman Films based on nursery rhymes Films scored by George Bruns Works based on nursery rhymes 1957 directorial debut films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films