We begin 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 after the cartoon's producer Leon Schlesinger.
Betty Boop cartoons often really stand out and stay in one's memory because of their endless imagination and bizarre (but very funny) gags. Here we have an example of this at its finest with Betty Boop's Penthouse (1933). This cartoon does not contain much of a plot, but that doesn't matter as the plots of these films is often secondary (if not third-dary or fourth-dary). The humor is fast paced and very funny and the musical score is fantastically energetic.
The Pink Panther began his animated career appearing in the opening credits of Blake Edwards' great live action feature, The Pink Panther (1964). Blake Edwards contacted animation producers Friz Freleng and David DePatie to create an animated Pink Panther for this title sequence. They created many different panthers, but when Blake saw them he immediately knew which one he wanted in his film. The title sequence was a smash hit and the character was spun off into a series of theatrical cartoon shorts (at a time when those were on their way out). Today we will look at the first and possibly best of these cartoons, The Pink Phink (1964). This cartoon set a template for many more shorts to come. The basic storyline involves a formula that would be often used. The Pink Panther wants to turn everything pink much to the annoyance of a little man (who may look a little like Friz). The gags come fast and furious and the design work is lovely. All in all this cartoon was a delight and the best way to start this series possible.
Let us end with one of Walt Disney's great Alice Comedies. This is the great series of silent shorts that combined a live action little girl with animated characters, and was Walt Disney's first series of films with reoccurring characters. At this time the live action girl was played by Margie Gay, the second girl to play Alice. Also at this time the live action was becoming less important to the series. Earlier entries featured live action opening and closing sequences with the animation taking place in the middle. Here the live action opening and closings are completely gone . Not only this but Alice herself is playing a smaller role than before with her animated companions receiving more screen time. So enjoy Alice's Mysterious Mystery (1926).
Stay Tooned next week for more classic cartoons. Until then peace love and cartoons.
-Michael J. Ruhland
No comments:
Post a Comment