Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #153

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Donald Duck film, Toy Tinkers (1949). This movie features Donald once again going up against Chip and Dale. This film is directed by Jack Hannah, who at this time was directing the majority of the Donald Duck cartoons. When Chip and Dale had their very short-lived series of shorts, Jack Hannah directed all three cartoons in that series. This cartoon is laugh out loud funny. The slapstick is spot on and timed perfectly. Every joke works and they are all very funny. The humor is also displayed perfectly through the great character animation one should expect form a Disney cartoon. While Disney cartoons are often called sweet and cute in contrast to the hilarious antics at studios like Warner Brothers and MGM, the Disney studio could make slapstick cartoons as great as the rest of them (this is not an insult to Warner Brothers and MGM as I love there cartoons a lot as well). This stands as one of Disney's funniest shorts (a joke involving a telephone never fails to make me laugh out loud).

Next comes a wonderful Color Rhapsody Christmas cartoon, Gifts from the Air (1937). This movie was reissued to theaters in 1955.

The Philadelphia Exhibitor, 1935

Next up comes Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on The Dognapper (1934). According to Animation Historian Mike Barrier, Dick Lundy (who had previously animated Donald's famous tantrum in Orphan's Benefit (1934)) was specifically sought to animate one scene in this movie. That scene is when Donald runs after Mickey's motorcycle. Other animators on this cartoon include Marvin Woodward (who animates our heroes listening to the radio at the start), Hardie Gramatky (who animates most of the car chase as well as the saw chasing Pete up the ladder), Johnny Cannon (who animates the boys entering the sawmill as well as our heroes dodging Pete's bullets), Gerry Geronimi (who animates Pete chasing Fifi as well as Pete shooting at our heroes), Bob Wickersham (who animates the closing scenes of the picture) and  Bill Roberts (who animates everything from Pete grabbing the cannon to Pete jumping up on a log to avoid the saw). The following is from an issue of The Film Daily (dated November 9, 1934), "'The Dognapper,' latest Walt Disney Mickey Mouse cartoon, will have its premiere at the Rivoli tomorrow in conjunction with Eddie Cantor's 'Kid Millions,' both released through United Artists." 

Screenland, 1935

Next is one of the last black and white Looney Tunes and Daffy Duck's last appearance in black and white. This is a fantastic Daffy Duck World War 2 themed short. This film is directed by Frank Tashlin. While directing these cartoons Frank had his mind on wanting to direct live action features (which he later did). Because of this his cartoons are the most cinematic of all the Looney Tunes. This is definitely shown here in a montage that is as well done as anything you would see in a serious war picture. This film is also filled with not only great slapstick but some of the sharpest satire of any of the World War 2 Looney Tunes. This cartoon appears in Jerry Beck's book, The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes. So, enjoy, Scrap Happy Daffy (1943). 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Next comes the 11th Dogfather film, Rockhounds (1975). 

Up next is Farmer Al Falfa in Plane Goofy (1940). Farmer Al Falfa is a cartoon character who dated back to 1915. Though he had once been the star of the Terry-Toons, by this time he was appearing rather infrequently and often in supporting roles. This is one of his semi-rare starring roles of this period. The following is an Exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "Plane Goofy: Terry-Toons - This is a fairly good color cartoon that gets away from the beaten path to some extent. - W. Varrick, Nevins III, Alfred Co-op Theatre, Alfred, N.Y. Small town and rural patronage." 

Up next is Felix the Cat in All Puzzled (1924). 

Today's cartoon selection ends with the TV Special, A Garfield Christmas Special (1987). 

Thanks for joining me. Comeback next week for another selection of classic cartoons. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 

Resources Used

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

The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes edited by Jerry Beck

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