Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again, it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with the classic Disney short, Donald's Camera (1941). Bob Carlson animated much of the footage of the woodpecker. Studio publicity stated that Bob Carlson was an avid birder, making this a perfect casting choice. A review from an issue of The Film Daily (Dated October 24, 1941) called this "One of the best." The same review went on to say, "Packed with laughs this Disney Donald Duck short hits the mark for hilarious entertainment." This short film made its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on November 22, 1956.
Next comes the Fleischer Screen Song cartoon, Show Me the Way to Go Home (1932). The title song was written in 1925 by the songwriting duo, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly. Other songs by the duo include If I Had You, Goodnight Sweetheart and Try a Little Tenderness (which they co-wrote with Harry M. Woods).
Now we join our friend Scrappy in The Pooch Parade (1940).
Next is the Columbia cartoon, The Merry Mouse Cafe (1941).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
I love of the cartoons of Chuck Jones from any period but there is something special about his films from 1942 and 1943. At this time, he was fully getting away from his slower paced cuter output of the late 1930's but had not yet gotten to the style of films he would make in the 1950's that everybody is familiar with today. So, what we get from output during these two years are cartoons that experiment with what you can do in an animated short. It doesn't hurt that he worked with such experimental artists as layout man John McGrew. Chuck gave McGrew plenty of freedom and what John accomplished in these movies is nothing short of amazing. This is especially shown in The Case of the Missing Hare (1942), where experimentation is seen in every moment. Just watch the abstract backgrounds that show a mixture of two colors at a time, but the colors change when there is a strong action in the foreground. This is something someone may not notice on their first watch, but it is something they can feel. A review in The Film Daily stated, "Here is another hilarious, the Leon Schlesinger creation that keeps growing in comic strength with every new release." I think anyone watching this cartoon today will recognize that the antagonist is not Elmer Fudd, but one reviewer from The Exhibitor didn't as in his review he stated "...this has Elmer, as a magician..." A review from the same magazine less than a month later stated, "Elmer isn't in this." The latter is right. A review in Variety called this "One of the better Bugs Bunny subjects."
Now for the Color Rhapsody cartoon, Ye Olde Swap Shoppe (1940). The following is a 1940 review from The Exhibitor. "A pretty good little entry in the color cartoon handicap. 'Ye Olde Swap Shoppe' lacks that certain something that would give it ranking with the top subjects. Three little mice frolic in and on various doo-dads in the barter shop. Good. (1511). L.S. M."
Next, we join Daffy Duck in Scrap Happy Daffy (1943). This short film marks Daffy Duck's last appearance in a black and white cartoon. It is also simply a delightful film. The short is directed by Frank Tashlin, who would go on to direct many live-action feature films. His Looney Tunes are some of the most cinematic and feature wonderful filmmaking. The use of editing and montage here are excellent and holds up quite well to many of the great live action films of the time. Yet this is also simply a very funny cartoon, including one of the funniest fade-out/fade-ins in the history of cartoons. This cartoon appears in Jerry Beck's book, The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes.
Now to close with a song.
Thanks 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
The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes edited by Jerry Beck
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin.
Donald Duck: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein
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