Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #296

 Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Frank Tashlin Porky Pig cartoon, Porky's Railroad (1937). This is one of the many cartoons of this time that used the formula of Porky being placed in a different job. In fact, earlier the same year Tashlin had directed a very similar Porky Pig cartoon, called Porky's Building (1937). That film like this one featured Porky up against a rival for his job. This cartoon opens up using of Tashlin's favorite types of gags that of words appearing on the screen to introduce the action. Often times he would do this in the form of a "disclaimer", but here he simply introduces the two trains. Also notice the ship that Porky picks up is the SS Leon named after the cartoon's producer Leon Schlesinger.

Now for a lesser-known cartoon from the Fleischer Studio, Zero the Hound (1941). This is part of the studio's Animated Antics series. This series lasted from 1940 to 1941 and included 11 cartoons. Some of these cartoons starred miscellaneous characters while others featured characters from the studio's feature film, Gulliver's Travels (1939).  

Next, we go out west with our friend Gandy Goose with Wide Open Spaces (1950). This was nearing the end of the Gandy series. He would only have three more theatrical cartoons after this.

Now for a true Mickey Mouse classic, Thru the Mirror (1936). Well before the Disney Studios feature length adaption of Alice in Wonderland (1951), this short film adapts Lewis Carrol's Alice Through the Looking Glass. It is a very loose adaption, but it captures the spirit better than most feature length versions of Carrol's Alice books do. I have always loved Disney cartoons that or not afraid to be silly. This is one of the perfect examples of that. One of the highlights is a sequence with Mickey do a Fred Astaire type dance which was animated by Dick Lundy, who specialized in dancing animation. Dick Lundy would later direct some great cartoons for Walter Lantz and MGM. Elements of this short would play a major role in the video game Epic Mickey.

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next is Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in The Toy Shoppe (1934). Like many Oswald films of this era, the rabbit becomes a supporting character in his own cartoon. 

Next is the Terry Toons cartoon, Sage Struck (1951). This is the first of only two cartoons to star the forgotten character Half Pint. 

Up next comes an early example of Disney's Silly Symphonies cartoons with The Bird Store (1932). This short film is similar to many of the Silly Symphonies of the time period. The movie starts out with simply a bunch of cute little gags involving a bird store and then a villain enters and many of the characters team up to stop this villain. The cartoon is directed by Wilfred Jackson, who would later co-direct such Disney features as Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and Lady and the Tramp (1955). The movie also features an all-star cast of Disney animators. David Hand, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942), animates the opening scene. Future Donald Duck director, Jack King animated the lovebirds, the canaries being excited and the baby being returned to its parents. Frenchy de Tremaudan, who worked as an uncredited animator on many of Disney best short films, animates the bird sharpening its beak and the parrot with the cash register. Johnny Cannon animated the jalopy birds and the canaries pecking at the cat. Clyde Geronimi, who would be a co-director on Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and Lady and the Tramp (1955) and the supervising director for Sleeping Beauty (1959), animates the horn birds and the cat in the cage. Norm Ferguson, whose animation would later help define the character of Pluto, animates the parrot with both the mirror and the typewriter. Future Woody Woodpecker and Barney Bear director Dick Lundy animates the whooping birds and the cat stalking the canaries. Future Hanna-Barbera director, Rudy Zamora animates the Marx Birds. Future Looney Tunes and Van Beuren director, Tom Palmer animates the baby canary taking on a singing lesson. Albert Hunter animates the birds watching with excitement. Master Mickey Mouse animator, Les Clark animates the baby canary running from the cat and the scene with the dogs. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941), heads a whole crew of animators including Chuck Couch, Marvin Woodward, Hardie Gramatky, Harry Reeves and Dick Williams. 

Let us 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

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.

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

Movie Review: The Uprising

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An okay historical epic. 

This film involves a band of peasants standing up against a corrupt system and a child king who are overtaxing them. That is really all there is to the story. 

This film is incredibly light on both story and characterization. However, it is filled with action and spectacle. On these two levels this film works very well. The action scenes are very well handled and can feel larger than life in scale. They look truly epic on the big screen. Meanwhile the visual landscape is amazing here. This is as handsome of a movie as you could hope for from a historical epic. While the characters are undeveloped, the performances from Andrew Garfeild and Woody Norman are fantastic and somewhat make up for this flaw. 

However, with the lack of characterization and story and the overreliance on action and spectacle, this film can feel overly repetitive at times. There are moments when it struggles to maintain interest for the whole 2-hour runtime. 

This may not be the great film, it is obviously yearning to be but it still makes for a decent trip to the movies. 

Movie Review: Onslaught

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An enjoyable but instantly forgettable action/horror flick. 

In this movie the American government is creating genetically modified super soldiers. When these soldiers get loose, they wreak havoc on a trailer park trying to kill everyone there. A former solider mom must protect her young daughter from these dangerous super soldiers.   

There is quite a bit to enjoy about this film. Adria Arjona is very strong in the lead role. She gives a lot of action star charisma that is perfect for a movie like this. Though the storyline is simplistic, the character's relationship with her daughter does bring some heart into it. There are some actually sweet moments between them tossed in there with all the gore. The action scenes themselves are a lot of fun. They are over the top and gory in the best way possible. The over-the-top gore is taken to such an extreme at times, that is just simply fun to watch. This is just simple gory fun. 

Unfortunately, the film does have its problems. The pacing is pretty flawed. The set-up definitely takes too long for what is a simple story with no real depth. Despite being an action/horror flick, it is definitely lacking in the horror department. There is not a single moment that is actually scary at all, even for the biggest fraidy cats. The soldiers themselves, while threatening are bland and forgettable. This especially hurts because villains are probably the most important element in any horror film.

The main problem with the movie though is that the story simply too similar to so many other films. This can make it easy to forget. 

The end result is an enjoyable trip to the movies but hardly a great film. 

Movie Review: Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass

 

Michael's Movie Grade: D

A rather lame Tom and Jerry movie from China. 

 It starts out promising enough with Tom and Jerry chasing each other around a museum. There are some decent gags here and Tom and Jerry are the characters we all love. Even this though is not perfect with some obnoxious sound effects and vocal acting for Tom and Jerry (they don't talk only make vocal sounds). After this an ancient artifact transports them to a fantasy world inspired by Chinese mythology. This is where the film really goes downhill. There are some promising ideas here like Tom being hailed as a god and that going to his head. 

However, for much of the rest of the movie Tom and Jerry sadly feel like afterthoughts. Instead, we focus on a new group of characters. Unfortunately, these new characters are as bland and forgettable as can be, as well as being obnoxious and annoying. It is impossible to relate to or care about these new characters. Even the design work for these characters is quite ugly. Yet as the film goes on, they continue to get more screen time while Tom and Jerry get less. As the film focuses more on these characters, the story gets messier too. Even for a movie based off a cartoon, this story makes no sense. The whole climax is especially a mess of half-baked plot ideas. 

Being a fan of Tom and Jerry, I really wanted to like this movie. Instead, this is a disappointment on every level. 

Cowboy Church #285

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. It is important for each of us to read our Bible each and every day. The Bible is not just some book, it is the living breathing word of God. It is easy for our faith and Christian walk to become idle and stagnant and the easiest way for this to happen is to simply not read our Bible. Taking some time each day to read the Bible is the best way for our faith and our walk with God to continue growing and maturing.  This recording is the B-side of a 1955 Little Golden Record by Roy and Dale. The A-side was The Bible Tells Me So. 

This is followed by Ralph Stanley with Gloryland. 

Afterwards is The Marshall Family with Waiting for the Master to Come.

Next comes Johnny Cash with He'll Be A Friend. The song was written by John himself and comes from his 1959 gospel album, Hymns By Johnny Cash. This was John's second album for Columbia records.  John would state that his main reason for leaving Sun Records and moving to Columbia is because producer Sam Phillips would not allow him to record a gospel album. This was especially important to John because he never set out to be a country singer or a rock and roll singer, but a gospel singer. Therefore it should come as no surprise that as soon as he left Sun he would set out to make a gospel record. Hymns By Johnny Cash became his first of many gospel albums and proved to be a success with his fans.

Then is Jim and Jessie with Sing Unto Him a New Song. This is the title track of the bluegrass duo's 1966 gospel album. 

Now for a new song from Anne Wilson, Who I Am to You.

Today's musical selection concludes with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1947 recording of The Sea Walker. This song was written by Tim Spencer, one of the group's founding members. Music was a major part of Tim's life from very early on. In fact when he was only 3 years old he was already singing at the church he grew up in. His love of things cowboy and western related also began very early as he had grown in awe of western movies and screen cowboys like Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson, William S. Hart and others were his boyhood heroes. With this it is no surprise that in 1931, he went to California to see how his talents could be used in Hollywood. Yet music always remained a major passion for him. As he worked in a warehouse, he would spend his weekends and time after working going around to all the country music radio shows, getting to know all the people he could. This is how he met fellow founding members of the Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Nolan and Leonard Slye (later Roy Rogers). The Sea Walker as well as being written by Tim also features him as the lead singer. The great Bass vocals in this song are courtesy of Hugh Farr.

Now for a message from the reverend Billy Graham. 

Now for the 26th episode of The Lone Ranger TV series. 

2 John

1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Thank you for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again. 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #295

 Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with Gandy Goose and Sourpuss in Lights Out (1942). During World War 2, multiple cartoons were made featuring these two characters in the army, with Sourpuss as a sergeant and Gandy as a private. 

Next we join Daffy Duck in Scrap Happy Daffy (1943). This movie 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 hold up 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 for the Screen Songs cartoon, Comin' Round the Mountain (1949). The title song is one I am sure you are all familiar with (so you have no excuse not to sing along). Most of you probably know it as a children's song. However, it was originally a 19th century African American spiritual. The song is believed to have been originally intended to be about the second coming of Christ. 

Next comes the only theatrical cartoon short to star the comic strip character Skippy, The Dog Catcher (1938).

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes a great early Mickey Mouse cartoon, Barnyard Battle (1929). This cartoon takes place back when Mickey was a simple country mouse. One thing I love about the early Mickey cartoons is these barnyard settings. They provide the films with a good sense of atmosphere and are full of gags that come from the setting. Like the Our Gang kids these cartoon characters make all sorts of inventions out of simple barnyard objects. This gives the films a charm and creativity that the later Mickey's never fully captured. This was also before Walt came up with the idea to do away with some of the more cartoony gags where characters bodies could do impossible things. While I love many of the Disney studio's shorts of the 1940's and 50's I wish these gags didn't fade away because they are a lot of fun. This cartoon features Mickey going to war with a bunch of cats (that all look like Pete) and in many ways feels like a follow-up to such previous Disney war cartoons as Oswald's Great Guns (1927) and the Alice Comedy, Alice's Little Parade (1926). In fact, many of these gags would have felt right at home in those pre-Mickey cartoons. This movie would be banned in Germany due to the cat's helmets resembling German army helmets. 

Now we join the mightiest of superheroes, Mighty Mouse in Mother Goose's Birthday Party (1950).

Next is Porky Pig in Rover's Rival (1937). This was the first Looney Tune to use The Merry Go-Round Broke Down as the theme song. It would remain the Looney Tunes theme song long afterwards. This was also the first cartoon to end with Porky popping out of the drum and saying, "That's All Folks." The film was directed by Bob Clampett, whose black and white Porky cartoons helped solidify him as the character we all know today. Clampett wasn't the only legendary animation director who worked on this short film. One of the animators was Chuck Jones, who really gets to show off his skill here. He gets to deliver some excellent character animation including such scenes as Rover leaving the kennel towards the start, the little pup fetching the dynamite and then bring it back after Porky throws it away and Rover's shock after reading what dynamite is. Bobe Cannon, who would direct some fantastic films for UPA animates the little pup blowing Rover to the ground.

Now comes the Color Rhapsody cartoon, The Little Moth's Big Flame (1938). 

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

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein 

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes edited by Jerry Beck

https://likelylooneymostlymerrie.blogspot.com/2012/08/180-rovers-rival-1937.html

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/how-shell-be-coming-round-the-mountain-evolved

Silent Film of the Month: Kid Speed (1924)

 

Run Time: 18 minutes. Studios: Larry Semon Productions, Chadwick Pictures Corporation. Directors: Larry Semon, Noel M. Smith. Writers: Larry Semon, Noel M. Smith, Leon Lee. Producer: Larry Semon. Cast: Larry Semon, Dorothy Dwan, James J. Jeffries, Oliver Hardy, Frank Alexander, William Hauber, Grover Ligon.

To many Kid Speed may be just a typical run of the mill silent comedy short. However, it is one that holds a special place in my heart. That is because it is one of the first silent films I ever saw. I was already a fan of some of the Laurel and Hardy talkie films, when my grandpa got me a DVD set of Laurel and Hardy. The set featured Laurel and Hardy's two public domain feature films, the first silent short film the duo made together (The Lucky Dog (1927)), a public service short featuring the two (Tree in a Test Tube (1947)) and a selection of silent short films featuring either Stan Laurel or Oliver Hardy before the two teamed up. This set ended up being my very first introduction to silent film and I quickly became a fan. 

This short features Oliver Hardy in the type of role that he most often played in his days before teaming with Stan Laurel. Here he plays a heavy or in other words a villain that goes up against the main comedian. The main comedian here is Larry Semon. Though mostly forgotten today, Larry Semon was incredibly popular in his time. His work often favored fast paced action over characterization and story. His best works may not have the artistry or inventiveness of the films of Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, but they move quickly enough that they still can entertain. 

In this film Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy play rivals participating in a car race hoping to win the affections of a wealthy businessman's (who is sponsoring the race) daughter. 

Kid Speed is one of Semon's best films. True to the title, this film moves at a very quick speed. This is the type of comedy that Semon's sensibilities were best suited for. The gags and action come so quick here, that it almost doesn't matter if they are actually funny. The pure energy is enough to make the film entertaining. Yet despite this there are actually some pretty good slapstick gags here. The boxing scene (featuring former heavy weight champion Jim Jeffries) especially always puts a smile on my face. Most of the action though is more fun and energetic than actually funny. The climatic race sequence also features some very impressive stunt work that still looks great today. 

The following is an exhibitors review from Moving Picture World.

"KID SPEED. (Larry Semon Special Comedy). Star, Larry Semon. A real comedy with more thrills and spills than ever put before in a comedy. We class it as the very best comedy for many moons. James J. Jeffries in the cast helps get 'em in. Buy "Kid Speed." Boost it and it will not fail to please. Tone, good. Sunday, yes. Appeals to everyone. Ned Pedigo, Pollard Theatre (800 seats), Guthrie, Oklahoma." 

The following is a review from The Moving Picture World. 

"The first subtitle tells you all about it: 'The tale of two bold men, both loving a maiden fair. To decide the case, they entered a race, the loser to take the air.' In this Larry Semon, special comedy produced by Chadwick Pictures Corporation, the star is all bent to on winning a girl. Opposition is furnished by another automobile racer, and the two of them have it hot and heavy on the racetrack with a bit of dirty work at the crossroads. There you have the story in a nutshell, except for some hilarious, slapstick developments in a blacksmith shop presided over by James J. Jeffries, former champion fighter. This Semon subject is a pippin of a thriller comedy. The racing scenes are some of the most exciting to ever be seen on screen, with much exploding of the villain's dynamite, much skidding on the turns, and some reckless driving through houses and fences. Woven among the thrills are real bits of comedy, with Semon playing a fairly straight role and excelling at it. Among the players are Dorthy Dawn, Oliver N. Hardy, Frank Alexander, William Hauber and Grover S. Ligdon. - S.S.  

Moving Picture World, 1924

To watch this delightful comedy short, you can click on the YouTube video below.