If you are a fan of Disney, cartoons and/or silent film, then this book is for you.
After a delightful introduction by the great film historian (and one of my heroes) J.B. Kaufman, this book delves into the history of Walt Disney's career leading up to and including Oswald. Much of this will be familiar to many Disney lovers but it is still very well written and sets the stage up beautifully for those who are reading this as their first Disney history book. The highlight of the book though is the film by film look at Oswald's Walt Disney directed cartoons. Each surviving film receives a full in-depth story summary as well as the history of how these films (many of which used to be missing) were found, recovered and restored. There is even information on how these silent films were given new scores and why certain music was chosen for these scores. Author David A. Bossert here provides something completely different than what can be seen in most film history books. You can find many books that talk about the behind the making of classic silent films or give critical insight into these films. However, there are so few books about the art of film preservation. This makes this a very unique read that deserves to be read by any true cinephile. Not only is this a topic that is not often covered in film books, but the discussion of it is very well written and in depth. For the lost films, Bossert provides us with original scripts and artwork as well as some reviews from the time period. This allows us to get a great glimpse at these lost films, providing us with the closest thing we can get to actually watching them.
All in all, this is essential reading for any Oswald fan.
Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing Sweet Hour of Prayer on their 1957 album of the same name. This hymn was written by William Walford. Walford was a wood craver who had little to no formal education. However what he did have was a very close relationship with God. Those who knew him said that he knew the bible by heart and this man was even asked to share sermons at his church. One day around 1845 Pastor Thomas Salmon visited William Walford. Walford asked Salmon to write down a poem he had in his head. Salmon was so amazed by this poem that he right away sought to get it published. After Walford's death, William Bradbury wrote music for this poem and the hymn as we know it first appeared in the 1859 hymnal, Church Melodies. Bradbury had also composed music for such hymns as Just as I Am and He Leadeth Me.
This is followed by Jim and Jessie with Lord I'm Coming Home. This recording comes from their 1964 gospel album, The Old Country Church.
Afterwards is Ricky Skaggs with Can't Shake Jesus. This comes from his 2010 album, Mosaic.
Up next is Kris Kristofferson with In the News from his 2006 album, This Old Road. As a Christian, nothing makes me sadder than those who try to use the bible to justify their own hatreds, prejudices and wars.
Then comes the Louvin Brothers with There's No Excuse. This comes from the duo's 1956 gospel album, Nearer My God To Thee.
This is followed by The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. Though it may be simple doctrine that we have heard since Sunday school, I hope we never forget how much power there truly is in the blood of Jesus. No matter what temptations and struggles we may face in life, Jesus' blood spilled on Calvary's cross has overcome all of it. With man something may be impossible but with God all things are possible.
We continue with The Monroe Brothers with My Time Will Come Someday.
Today's musical selection ends with Johnny Cash with I'm a Newborn Man. This song was written by John and his wife June. It came from John's 1979 double length gospel album; A Believer Sings the Truth. Columbia Records did not have much faith in how a double length gospel album would sell and did not want to release this album. However, John (with Columbia's blessing) would release the album under his own Cachet label. In 1982 Columbia would reissue the album on the Columbia label. In 1984 Columbia would release a much shorter version of the album as I Believe.
Now for the 19th episode of The Lone Ranger TV show.
Now for a message from S.M. Lockridge.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again, it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with Krazy Kat in Ritzy Hotel (1932). These Columbia Krazy Kat cartoons bare scant resemblance to George Herriman's Krazy Kat comic strip on which they were supposedly based. If it wasn't for the main character having the same name, you could never tell that there was supposed to be any connection between them. As a fan of the comic strip, I was originally put off by these cartoons. However, over time, I learned to enjoy them for what they are.
Next is the early Porky Pig cartoon, Plane Dippy (1936). This is the movie in which we learn Porky's full name, Porky Cornelius Washington Otis Lincoln Abner Aloysius Casper Jefferson Philbert Horatius Narcissus Pig. I'm sure you all will memorize that name. As well as Porky this film also has some other characters that also premiered in the Merrie Melodies cartoon, I Haven't Got A Hat (1935) such as Little Kitty (who plays an important role here). Comic fans may also notice that the character of Professor Blotz looks extremely similar to a character from the Mickey Mouse comic strip, Professor Ecks. Though this movie is directed by Tex Avery, don't except the pure insanity of his later cartoons, as this was still early in his directorial career and he hadn't fully developed his style yet. Still this cartoon has many very funny gags in it, I especially love Porky writing his name. The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "PLANE DIPPY: Looney Tune—This is a very comical cartoon. Above the average.—Paul J. Pope, Avon Theatre, Geneva, Ala., Small Town and Rural Patronage."
Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Bird Symphony (1955).
Next comes an early Silly Symphony cartoon, Frolicking Fish (1930). Like all Disney cartoons of this period this movie benefits from a great cast of animators. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be supervising director for such Disney feature films as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941) animates the opening scene, the octopus dancing with the fish and the fish dropping an anchor on an octopus. Les Clark, who would become one of Walt's famed Nine Old Men and be one of the greatest Mickey Mouse animators of all time, animates the fish riding the seahorse and the octopus punching the bubbles. Dave Hand, who would later be Supervising director on such Disney feature films as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942) animated the fish dancing on the anchor chain. Wilfred Jackson, who would later become a fine director of both Disney shorts and features animates the octopus chasing the fish to the sunken ship. Norm Ferguson, a wonderful animator whose gift at character animation would later help define the character of Pluto, animates the trio of fish tap dancing. Jack King, who would later director some wonderful Donald Duck cartoons as well as a few cartoons for Warner Brothers, would animate the lobster dancing and playing the harp. Johnny Cannon animates the fish dancing on the springboard. Tom Palmer, who would later direct cartoons for both Warner Brothers and Van Bueren, animates the majority of the bubble dance and the big fish blowing bubbles. Merle Gilson animates the anchor falling on the octopus. The animation for this film was completed between April 22 and May 10, 1930. It would make its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on February 24, 1956.
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Next up comes the Betty Boop cartoon, Pudgy Picks a Fight (1937). Much like how Mickey's Mouse's cartoons would be overtaken by Mickey's co-stars, the same thing would happen with Betty Boop. Though Betty was unquestionably the star of the earlier Betty Boop shorts, as the series reached its later years, the attention would later shift to her supporting characters. This led to many cartoons, where her dog Pudgy was the main character. Here is an example of that.
Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Mrs. Jones' Rest Farm (1949).
We continue with Popeye in I'm in the Army Now (1936). This short film is a bit of a cheater and features clips from previous Popeye cartoons. The cartoons that clips are used from include Blow Me Down (1934), Shoein' Hosses (1934), Choose Your 'Weppins' (1935) and King of the Mardi Gras (1935). This is one of my favorite cheater cartoons, because the new scenes are just as entertaining as the clips. I especially love Bluto talking about what a big star he was in the movies. This serves as a good reminder for those of us who grew up watching these films on TV that they were originally made for movie theaters.
Now let us close with a song.
Thank you for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry.
Resources Used
Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald
In this film a married couple (Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde), who are constantly fighting, have their neighbors (Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton) over for dinner. However, the night goes in unexpected directions.
Olivia Wilde made her directorial debut with the very funny raunchy comedy, Booksmart (2019). With this being another R rated comedy, I was looking forward to a raunchy and funny good time. This was the wrong thing to expect. The last thing this movie provides is a good time. For what is supposed to be a funny comedy, this is a bitter mean-spirited movie. Though comedy can be used to look at serious subjects, this is something that needs with a lot of care and needs to use comedy to make these uncomfortable subjects feel more approachable. That is not true at all here. Much of this movie is simply spent watching married couples bickering. Considering the reviews this movie is getting, I must be in the minority. However, I just don't find watching married people yell at each other and saying nasty things to each other funny. There were comedic ideas here that could have been funny (such as the discussions of the neighbors' lifestyle) but the comedic potential is ruined, when anything that might be funny simply turns back to mean spirited bickering. I felt very uncomfortable listening to these arguments to the point I just wanted to get up and leave the theatre multiple times. I did not enjoy spending a single miserable moment with these characters. This is something that hurt the movie even past its comedic moments. Towards the end the film asks you to take its story more seriously. Yet any emotional moment simply falls flat when you don't care about these characters. There are even times when this movie tries to make a commentary about marriage and relationships. Yet in the end, everything it says is so obvious that a person who has been single their whole loves has even heard it a million times.
There is simply neither enough laughs nor depth to make it worth sitting through this unpleasant mean-spirited movie.
Joe E. Brown is probably best remembered today for delivering one of the best punchlines to any comedy. At the end of Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959), Jack Lemmon's character (who is disguised as a woman) tries to explain to Joe E. Brown's character why they can't get married. Brown has an answer for each of these reasons brushing them off nonchalantly. Eventually Lemmon takes off his wig and states, "I'm a man." Joe E. Brown just brushes this off by saying, "Nobody's perfect." This joke has been loved by movie audiences for decades and has been referenced countless times. The Foghorn Leghorn cartoon, Banty Raids (1963), even pretty much steals this ending when Foghorn (dressed in female clothes) tells a woman hungry rooster, "but I'm a rooster," and the other rooster ""Like, we can't all be perfect!".
Yet Some Like It Hot was one of the last films from Joe E. Brown's long and successful movie career that started with Crooks Can't Win (1928). Over the years Joe E. Brown was one of the most popular comedic stars of the silver screen. Though occasionally he would appear in a high-profile movie like Warner Brothers' lavish A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935), the majority of his filmography consisted of what were known as "programers." This is to say cheap and quick little productions that were made to fill out space in movie theaters. Yet Brown's charm made these quick little pictures not only box office successes but also still fun watches today. It is sad that Brown rarely gets mentioned among the great movie comedians. His career certainly deserves a revaluation from cinephiles as even his weakest films have something to enjoy about them.
Here is an article about Joe E. Btown from a 1933 issue of Movie Mirror magazine. If you have any trouble reading the following pages, click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here.
Few fictional characters have worked their way into culture as thoroughly as Sherlock Holmes. Even someone who has never read a Sherlock Holmes story or seen a movie with the character, can describe him and have used the character's first name in conversation. With this in mind it is fascinating to go back and read some of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a 1892 book, that is a collection of short stories starring the famous detective and his partner Dr. Watson. These stories had appeared in The Strand Magazine in 1891 and 1892.
Despite the sheer number of Sherlock Holmes stories that have come since, these stories hold up remarkably well. While the mysteries are often quite fun and exciting, it is Holmes and Watson that kept me hooked wanting to read more. These two characters are instantly engaging. Holmes is simply fascinating. While he is no doubt the protagonist, he is a surprisingly complex and flawed one. He has a one-track mind that is not only calculating but often cold. His obsession with logic and reason often overrides his emotions and his consideration for others. This can even lead to him being very cynical and even a little egocentric. Even Watson admits to being repelled by Holmes' ego at times. At the same time Holmes is always standing for what is right and will help anyone who needs help. His friendship with Watson is obviously very dear to him, even if he normally doesn't show much need for companionship. Watson is a simpler character but one who is also very appealing. He is a sweet good-hearted man, who also has a taste for adventure. The interaction between the two is fantastic and I greatly enjoyed reading their conversations. Also making these stories worthwhile is Doyle's writing style. Holmes solves mysteries by paying attention to the smallest details that most of us wouldn't notice. Despite the stories being rather short, Doyle describes everything in great detail, encouraging us to do the same as Holmes. We don't only follow the story we become intrigued by small things that most mystery writers wouldn't even call attention to. This piques our curiosity and makes us look at things the way Holmes would. As for the mysteries they are delightful. Some are even quite suspenseful and intense, while others are just fun lighthearted reading. Whatever the case, the conclusions Holmes comes to are always very intelligent and well-written.
George Orwell's classic is still one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever written.
This book takes place in the futuristic year of 1984 (or at least our main character believes that is the year). The government of that time is always watching and controls every aspect of people's lives. Not just content at making the populace obey them, the government wants to control how people think making them also emotionally and mentally submissive. Our main character, Winston, works for the system, rewriting historical records. However quietly he finds himself questioning the system. This comes further out when he falls in love with a younger woman, Julie.
It is rare to find a book that leaves me feeling emotionally drained after reading. Yet that is just what this book did for me. There were times when it felt emotionally unbearable but at the same time, I couldn't help but want to continue reading.
Some critics have almost described this as simply a political essay presented as a novel. I can see some truth in this. There are many parts of this book where not much is happening narratively but there are many deep thought-provoking statements being made. At the same time though this description does a great injustice to the actual book. What makes this novel work so well has to do with its story-telling abilities. The world building is brilliant here. We not only get a glimpse into this dark future, but we understand the inner workings down to the smallest details. We don't question to ourselves how such a future could possibly happen because we can see this for ourselves. This is one of the most engrossing and convincing sci-fi worlds in all of fiction. That is feels so believable is what makes this story all the more terrifying. The two main characters of Winston and Julie are completely engrossing. We learn to care about them on a deep personal level. Even their romance is completely believable and fleshed out. If we were not so engrossed in these characters, then the last third of this book would be so emotionally impactful. If this book just simply expressed its political ideology, one would read and understand the themes but would be impacted by them. However, this book's themes about censorship, surveillance, classism and nationalism stick with us in a way they wouldn't in a political essay. They not only stick with us but will work our way into our understanding of various political and social issues. Any time you listen to many political conversations after this, you will find your referring back to this book.
1984 is probably one of the greatest and most impactful examples of the power of fiction to affect the way, we perceive the world around us. It is still just as powerful and sadly relevant today as ever.
