Today's first cartoon is a delightful late Karzy Kat cartoon from Columbia, The Auto Clinic (1938). Despite this film being from the late 1930's it feels like it is from the early 1930's. Every object is alive and the gags are surreal in that early 1930's way. Still this is a really fun cartoon with a lot of fast paced gags and a lively musical score. A review in The Film Daily called the cartoon a "Clever Cartoon Number" and said, "The robot machines for various mechanical operations are very ingenious." A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "There is a good imaginative idea in this cartoon that should be viewed as novel amusement for every audience."
The most Pre-code cartoons of the early 1930's were certainly the Betty Boop films. Red Hot Mama (1934) was an especially shocking film for the time. The cartoon was even banned in the UK for making Hell look like fun. It definitely didn't go over with everyone in the states as well as evidenced by the following long exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald. "Red Hot Mama: Betty Boop - I can remember several years ago after sound had been established that a great cry arose within the day that youngsters of that day (and the show patrons of tomorrow) were unable to find any entertainment in the movie palaces because the biz had gone high hat and no entertainment remained for them. I screened 'Red Hot Mama' a cartoon yesterday on my Sunday matinee, hence this letter. I have always felt that in screening these cartoons the youngsters were getting a treat. I enjoy their hearty laughs and suppressed excitement when their favorite cartoon is on the screen. However the cartoon, 'Red Hot Mama' must have been drawn while the guy was drunk. Betty Boop starts out sweetly, is suddenly transported to Hell and pursued and tortured by all sorts of fire devils, imps and what have yous. One variety, the ability to bound in the air and come down on a spear studded tail stabbed in the floor. A grand subject for your juvenile trade? Naturally my Sunday program was without a cartoon. The only recommendation I have for this is that the one responsible for it it be compelled to sit through a screening of this net time he has a pink elephant fantasy. Some exhibs have said they hesitant to report on products through the herald for fear of getting in bad with the local exchange. My opinion is that people who are sincere in this business welcome constructive criticism. Report fairly on pictures of merit and likewise that class of product that is detrimental to our interests. I am not a crank but it is cartoons such as Symphonies and 'Jack and the Beanstalk,' "Little Red Hen' that are in demand and not such a thing as 'Red Hot Mama.' - E. A. Reynolds, Strand Theatre, Minn., Small town and country patronage."
When Gene Dietch took over the Terrytoons studio in 1956, the studio's output changed drastically. One cartoon that really shows this is The Bone Ranger (1957). The idea of a dog chasing after a bone was one that could have easily been done by the old studio, however they would have done it completely differently. They would have made a simple slapstick gag fest. However this cartoon seems more concerned with the character and the animation of the lead character, than really making one laugh. The slapstick impact of even tired and true gags appears muted here and never calls attention to itself. There is even a surprising bit of sentimentality in this film. The background art is also completely different from anything the old Terrytoons would have done. Those cartoons would have used a standard cartoon background that would hardly call attention to itself. However this film has a very stylized and very eye-catching background that plays a large role in the effectiveness of this cartoon.
Next is one of the old school Terrytoons before Gene Deitch took over. This cartoon stars Mighty Mouse and is called Hot Rods (1953).
Following is a very late Looney Tunes cartoon, Quacker Tracker (1967). This is one of those Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales films. It is not one of the highest quality Looney Tunes, but it is fun in its own strange way.
Today's cartoon selection ends with an excellent silent Felix the Cat cartoons, Felix Pinches the Pole (1924).
-Michael J. Ruhland
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