Today's selection begins with one of Hanna-Barbera's Peter Potamus TV cartoons, Hurricane Hippo (1965). Peter was voiced by the one and only Daws Butler. As was true of many of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon stars of the time the voice was based off of a popular Hollywood actor. Peter's voice was based off classic movie comedian Joe E. Brown, who starred in many comedy films of the 1930's but is best remembered for a supporting role (as Osgood Fielding III) in Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot (1959). Daws would do the same Joe E. Brown impression when voicing another Hanna-Barbera character, Lippy The Lion. Joe E. Brown's screen persona is very similar to Peter Potamus' personality. Both of them are braggarts, whose words often get them into a lot of trouble. Both also have literal big mouths and who can unleash a loud yell when in trouble.
After Gene Deitch's recent passing, I have been watching lots of his films. Here is one I really like, How to Live With a Neurotic Dog (1963). I hope this film will prove helpful to anyone in this situation.
Next we join all of our favorite old Hollywood movie stars for a Hollywood Picnic (1937) in a delightful Color Rhapsody. Like many old movie fans, I love to watch these cartoons and try to name each star I see on screen and this film is full of them. Since I spoke about Joe E. Brown earlier in this post, I should mention that he is caricatured in this movie. He is the pitcher at the ballgame, which is perfect as Joe was known as Hollywood's biggest baseball fan, having even been a professional ball player at one time. He also made a trilogy of films in which he was a baseball player, Fireman Save My Child (1932), Elmer the Great (1933) and Albi Ike (1935). Also notice how Shirley Temple's voice sounds more than a little like Scrappy. Though Scrappy doesn't appear in this movie, he does present the cartoon, much like how Mickey Mouse presented Disney's Silly Symphonies.
Before the famous cat and mouse team, there was another theatrical cartoon series starring characters named Tom and Jerry. These characters were the work of the Van Beuren Studio. These characters are much like many other Van Beuren characters. They are far from distinctive characters and lack the personality of the characters Disney and the Fleischer Brothers were using at the time. Yet the cartoons were often very fun in spite of this featuring lots of fast paced creative gags. Next is one of their movies, Puzzled Pals (1933). A review in The Film Daily called this "... a lively cartoon that will please."
Next is one of the most famous Walter Lantz cartoons staring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Confidence (1933). This is easily the most topical of the Oswald cartoons from either Walt (Disney or Lantz), as Oswald is not dealing with his enemy Pete or romancing one of his many girlfriends from various species, but with the great depression. He even goes to an animated FDR for advice. Besides just pure entertainment another goal of this cartoon was to give depression era audiences much needed hope. I feel that with how much worry and fear is in the world right now, we can still use a cartoon like this. A review in the Motion Picture Herald stated, "Novel, timely and lively is this Oswald cartoon comedy..." This movie is very unique among Oswald's filmography and is still just as delightful today.
 |
| Universal Weekly, 1934 |
 |
| Motion Picture Herald, 1932 |
Next Goofy will show us that Teachers Are People (1952).
Last of the cartoons for today is one of DePatie-Freleng's Blue Racer cartoons, Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow (1973).
Thank you for joining me come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then peace, love and cartoons.
-Michael J. Ruhland
No comments:
Post a Comment