I love of the cartoons of Chuck Jones from any period but there is something special about his films from 1942 and 1943. At this time he was fully getting away from his slower paced cuter output of the late 1930's, but had not yet gotten to the style of films he would make in the 1950's that everybody is familiar with today. So what we get from output during these two years are cartoons that experiment with what you can do in an animated short. It doesn't hurt that he worked with such experimental artists as layout man John McGrew. Chuck gave McGrew plenty of freedom and what John accomplished in these movies is nothing short of amazing. This is especially shown in The Case of the Missing Hare (1942), where experimentation is seen in every moment. Just watch the abstract backgrounds that show a mixture of two colors at a time, but the colors change when there is a strong action in the foreground. This is something someone may not notice on their first watch but it is something they can feel. A review in The Film Daily stated "Here is another hilarious, the Leon Schlesinger creation that keeps growing in comic strength with every new release." I think anyone watching this cartoon today will recognize that the antagonist is not Elmer Fudd, but one reviewer from The Exhibitor didn't as in his review he stated "...this has Elmer, as a magician..." A review from the same magazine less than a month latter stated "Elmer isn't in this." The latter is right. A review in Variety called this "One of the better Bugs Bunny subjects."
Next up is a Terrytoon, Tall Tale Teller (1954).
Next up comes an early black and white Silly Symphony, Mother Goose Melodies (1931). Like many other early Silly Symphonies, this film doesn't feature much in the way of plot and spends most of it time with characters dancing and reacting to the music. Yet this is an important film in the series as it is the first one to have lyrics sung by the characters. The songs here are rather simple affairs with little of the complexities that would appear in later Disney music (JB Kaufman and Russell Merritt's indispensable book on the Silly Symphonies credits these songs to "Bert Lewis and/or Frank Churchill). The opening scenes beginning the parade (animated by Ben Sharpsteen) would later be reused in a special short for the 1932 Academy Awards titled Parade of the Award Nominees. This film would be remade as the color Silly Symphony, Old King Cole (1933). The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Walt Disney and his assistants have turned out a synchronized cartoon comedy that will be hard to beat. It has all the Mother Goose rhymes worked into one story and the transportation from one to another is accomplished by turning the pages of a huge story book. Drawings on the pages come to life and preform real laugh-making antics. Gags are new and plentiful. This one will make audiences laugh plenty." The following is a review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Walt Disney has done a most unusual piece of work in this "Silly Symphony" number. There is indicated a great step forward technically, in animation and synchronization, in addition to excellent subject material, clever animated ideas, and rapidity of action. There is almost the illusion of real life in some of the figures, the animation is so fine. Many well known Mother Goose stories are included with the stories neatly running together. Old King Cole is featured and little Jack Horner is featured as well. The youngsters will devour this and ask for more and the elderly children will enjoy it hugely By all means do not miss it. It is great." Walt Disney voices Little Jack Horner himself.
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| Movie Makers, 1931 |
Let's end today's cartoon selection with a Fractured Fairy Tale.
Thanks for joining me come back next week for more animated treasures. May all your Tunes be Looney and your Melodies Merrie.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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