Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #278

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd in To Duck or Not To Duck (1943). This cartoon is directed by Chuck Jones. At this time many of Chuck's cartoons had been slower paced and less comedy oriented, than the other Looney Tunes directors' films. While this cartoon is nowhere near as fast paced as Chuck's later films, it definitely moves faster and has more comedy compared to what he did in the past. Elmer's dog Larimore gets some of the best laughs in the film. It is also worth noting that Daffy had not become a born loser at this time yet. We will not see Elmer shooting Daffy's bill off in this cartoon. 

Now for the Max Fleischer Color Classic, Little Dutch Mill (1934). This short film features some of those incredible 3D backgrounds that appeared in Fleischer films at this time. These were created using actual miniature model sets for which animation cels were often placed in front of. The effect is still visually amazing today. This cartoon is especially a real visual treat.  

Now it is time for a silent classic, Felix Gets Broadcasted (1923). While visually this film may feel like a moving comic strip, the story and gags are very fun and creative. 

Next is Never Should Have Told You (1937), one of the Fleischer Screen songs cartoons. This film features the character Wiffle Piffle, who appeared in a few Betty Boop cartoons as well. The title song was written by Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin, who also wrote The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down, which is best known as the theme music for the Looney Tunes series. My country music loving friends might like to know that Cliff Friend co-wrote (with Irving Mills) Lovesick Blues, which would become one of Hank Williams Sr.'s signature songs. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Next comes a unique Mickey Mouse short, Minnie's Yoo-Hoo (1930). The title song was written by Carl Stalling (who would later become the main composer for the Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies cartoons) for an earlier Mickey cartoon entitled Mickey's Follies (1929). This was the first original song from the Disney studio, and it would become the theme song for the series with an instrumental version beginning every Mickey cartoon. In 1929, the same year as Mickey's Follies was released, the song would receive sheet music. Singer Len Maurice would record the song in 1930. This short presents a sing-along version of the song. The version heard here includes a second verse, that was not heard in Mickey's Follies but did appear on the song sheet that was published later the same year that it first appeared inn that cartoon. This short was made for The Mickey Mouse Clubs that appeared around the country. These were created by theatre owners and were gatherings of movie loving kids who were fans of Mickey Mouse. Walt loved this idea and while he did not start it he did all he could to expand it across the country. He also made this short so that club members could sing along during their meetings. There is very little new animation here. There is reuse of animation of Mickey and friends performing the song at the beginning that comes from Mickey's Follies. The animation of the curtain opening and closing was lifted from Fiddling Around (1930). The only original animation for this film is Mickey's address to the audience and the whole group of animals doing the "Yoo-Hoo" at the end. 

You can listen to Len Maurice's version of the song below. 

Now for the Mighty Mouse cartoon, Anti-Cats (1950). 

Next is classic World War 2 themed Merrie Melodies cartoon, The Fifth-Column Mouse (1943). This film differs from most of the World War Two propaganda cartoons of this era as there is no sign of Nazis, Hitler or Japanese soldiers. The cartoon is more of an allegory, albeit not a subtle one. While the political overtones may go over a modern kid's head (if the child is not familiar with World War 2 history) there is no doubt that movie audiences knew exactly what this cartoon was referring to upon its release. The music in this film is delightful, and I especially love the rendition of Blues in the Night.

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

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

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

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-other-disney-cartoons-minnies-yoo-hoo/

https://www.fleischerstudios.com/ray3.html

 

 

Movie Review: Mother Mary

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An absorbing surreal drama. 

This film has a popstar about to make her debut comeback but uncomfortable with the dress she is to wear. She goes back to her old designer to have her make a dress last minute. However, the two have old wounds that still hurt.

The magic of this movie comes directly from our two main characters. Even with the supernatural elements and larger than life musical numbers, this relationship remains the main focus of the film. Though it is not clear if that relationship was romantic or a friendship, but it is obvious that their former relationship was much closer than singer and designer. One can see in each scene the pain that each of them feels as the other comes back into their life and underneath the pain, one can also see that they still care about each other in a way. At the same time this film shows how multiple people go to create the image of a popstar, yet only the popstar gets credit for this and how this can lead to division between the star and the other creatives. This emotionally complex relationship is not easy to convey but director/writer David Lowery (who I was already a fan of due to The Green Knight (2021), The Old Man and the Gun (2018) and Pete's Dragon (2016)) and actresses Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel (who often steals the show here and who also gives another great performance in The Christophers (which is also currently and theaters) capture it perfectly down to the smallest nuance. The film has many scenes focusing on just these two characters talking. In lesser hands these talky scenes could have come off as boring. However here they come off as fully gripping. 

Naturally being a film where one of the main characters is popstar, there have to be some song performances. These performances are a visual treat with excellent chorography and lighting. Many of her fans refer to the popstar's concerts as almost a religious experience. The performances do feel larger than life enough to make us understand this. The songs (co-written by popstar Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff (member of the pop-rock band Fun and a songwriter that has worked with such real popstars as Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter)) would fit perfectly into playlists of real-life popstars. While this is far from my taste in music, I can definitely appreciate the artistry that went into these songs and performances. However, I do feel sometimes that these performances kind of interrupted the flow of the story for me.    

While the early scenes in this film are quite grounded, the movie does take a turn in a supernatural direction as it goes on. There are a few scenes that do a good job leading up to this, such as a dance number without music that often looks like a demonic possession, but the change to a supernatural story does lead to some less than perfect tonal shifts. This is especially true with a few (surprisingly pretty creepy) scenes that feel straight out of a horror movie. These scenes just simply feel out of place with the character driven drama that made up most of the film. 

What is very well done about the supernatural elements is that they are kept purposefully vague. They are never fully explained and have multiple ways that audience members can interpret them. All of these interpretations are equally valid. 

All in all this is an excellent, if sometimes flawed, film. 

Movie Trailer: Coyote Vs. Acme

 

Mack Sennett: He Speculates in Comedy Thunder

 There are names that anyone familiar with silent comedy knows. Along with Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, this definitely includes Mack Sennett. The legendary comedy producer not only brought us the likes of the Keystone Kops and the Mack Sennett Bathing Beauties, but he also produced the earliest films of Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mabel Normand and Harry Langdon. If it wasn't for him, film comedy probably would have never evolved thew way it did. 

The following is a 1916 article about Mack Sennett from Moving Picture Classic. If you have any trouble reading it click on the pages below and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here.

The following comedy short, The Feathered Nest (1916), was produced by Mack Sennett and released the same year that article above was published. 

Now for a true masterpiece. This is a wonderful talkie short produced by Mack Sennett and starring the comedy legend W.C. Fields. Enjoy The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933). 

 

Cowboy Church #265

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

 

Today's musical begins with Roy Rogers with Peace in the Valley. The hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey who later explained the origins of this song, “Peace in the Valley,” “It was just before Hitler sent his war chariots into Western Europe in the late 1930s. I was on a train going through southern Indiana and saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley. Everything seemed so peaceful. It made me question, “What’s the matter with mankind? Why can’t men live in peace?” Out of those thoughts came “Peace in the Valley.”

This is followed by Josh Turner with Great is Your Faithfulness. When Thomas Obadiah Chisolm was on a mission trip, he and his good friend William Runyan would write letters together. These letters often included poems that they would write. Chisolm was so moved by one of Runyan's poems that he would write a musical score to accompany it. This became the hymn you hear here. Great is Thy Faithfulness (retitled Great is Your Faithfulness here) was first published in 1923. This recording comes from Josh's 2018 gospel album, I Serve a Savoir.

Afterwards is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. This is probably my favorite version of this old gospel song, especially with how well it captures the pure joy of the lyrics. This recording was made during the time when Roy Rogers was still a member of The Sons of the Pioneers before beginning his solo career in the movies and his voice can be heard very prominently on this track. 

Then comes The Chuck Wagon Gang with When the Saints go Marching In. This recording comes from their 1960 gospel album, Perfect Joy. 

Next is George Jones with When Mama Sang a Hymn (The Angels Stopped to Listen). This song was written by Bob Warren and Danny Walls.

Afterwards is Ricky Skaggs with Sinners, You Better Get Ready. This comes from his 2009 gospel album, Songs My Dad Loved.

Today's musical selection ends with Johnny Cash singing All of God's Children Ain't Free. This song is from the 1965 album, Orange Blossom Special. In his Johnny Cash biography, The Man Called Cash, Steve Turner calls this "Cash's most folk-inspired album." This is no coincidence as John's heart was drifting heavily towards the current folk scene at this time. He had performed at the Newport Folk Festival was spending much time with Bob Dylan, was recording songs by current folk songwriters such as Peter La Farge, and was addressing politics and social commentary in his music in a way he did much less often in the 1950's. This album contained three songs written by Bob as well as some more traditional folk music. This song (written by John himself) was a protest song of the type that was popular in the folk work at this time.

Now for the 8th episode of The Lone Ranger TV show. 

Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham.

Psalm 103

Of David.

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,

    his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

    slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,

    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,

    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

    he remembers that we are dust.

15 The life of mortals is like grass,

    they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

    and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

    and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant

    and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

    and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,

    you mighty ones who do his bidding,

    who obey his word.

21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

    you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the Lord, all his works

    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

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

Video Link: How Disney Changed the Way We View Pirates - West of Neverland

 

Video Link: Malice Returns and She's Terrifying - Causally Comics