Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #160

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

Today's cartoon selection starts with Scat Cats (1957). This short film stars Spike and Tyke. Cartoon fans are familar with these characters from the Tom and Jerry shorts, but they would have a very brief spin off series. This series only lasted two films, but they are both delightful. Like all of the cartoons from the golden age of Tom and Jerry shorts (the 1940's and 50's), this movie was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. As by this time it was late in this era the films were no longer produced by Fred Quimby but Hanna and Barbera themselves and this movie is no exception. This cartoon features not only Spike and Tyke but also some of the alley cats from the Tom and Jerry shorts. 



 

Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy. Up next comes an early Merrie Melodies cartoon, I Wish I Had Wings (1932). This movie very much follows the formula set in place by other Merrie Melodies of this era. It begins with a bunch of cute little gags that are only related by a setting and then the story really starts. Our hero sings a little song and then gets into trouble. That simple plot description can easily fit most of the Merrie Melodies of this era. Also like many Merrie Melodies of this era there is quite a bit of reused animation here. The duck's dance is reused from Hold Anything (1930). The bird chasing the worm is reused from Ain't Nature Grand (1931). 

Next comes a real treat, the bridging sequences from TV's The Bugs Bunny Show episode Do or Diet (1962). For those of you unfamiliar with this show, it featured new animated sequences with Bugs Bunny hosting where he would introduce various theatrical Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. This episode featured the shorts, Bedeviled Rabbit (1957), Stupor Duck (1956) and Little Boy Boo (1954). These shorts were all directed by Robert McKimson, who also directed these bridging sequences. The bridging sequences feature Taz. This is appropriate as Robert McKimson directed all of the theatrical Taz shorts. Do or Diet was the 13th episode of the 2nd and final season. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Mickey Mouse film, Mickey's Rival (1936). The titular character is a mouse named Mortimer. Those of you who know your Disney history will know, that Mortimer was a name that was considered for Mickey. This was Mortimer's first appearance though he bared more than a little resemblance to Mr. Slicker a character that appeared in the Micky Mouse comic strip. Though Mickey's Rival was his only appearance in a theatrically released short film, it was not his only appearance in animation. He became a reoccurring character in the television shows, Mickey Mouse Works (1999-2000) and House of Mouse (2001-2003). He also has a role in the direct to video movie, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999) and has appeared briefly in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006-2016) and Mickey and the Roadster Races (2017-present). Outside of animation he has been used very often in the Disney comic strips and began to appear in them around the same time he made his debut in movie theaters. Mortimer's design is said to be based off of Walt Disney and those who have seen pictures of a young Walt, will find this easy to believe. The ending to Mickey's Rival has Mickey and Minnie simply shaking hands. However it was originally planned for Mickey to have a buzzer on his hand to play a Mortimer type prank on Minnie. Though this would have been out of character for Mickey at this time it would have fit perfectly in with the Mickey Mouse of the late 1920's. A review in The Motion Picture Herald stated "The subject is less complex than many of the recent Disney fabrications but wholly entertaining." The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "Mickey's Rival: Mickey Mouse - We find that the bad characters often frighten our small children and they go out into the foyer until it is passed over. - Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, General Patronage." The following is another exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Mickey's Rival: Mickey Mouse—Played this the second time as it is one of the best of the Mickeys.— C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa. General patronage." A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "Clever animation and fast-moving, but there have been better Mickey's. For instance 'Alpine Climbers.'" The following is from a 1936 issue of The Film Daily, "United Artists' latest Walt Disney release, 'Mickey's Rival', introducing Mortimer Mouse, will open at the Radio City Music Hall with 'Swing Time' on Thursday, and at the Rivoii Theater with 'The Last oi the Mohicans.'"

Now for a commercial break. 

Now we join our old buddy, Flip the Frog in Ragtime Romeo (1931). This cartoon is from the Pre-code era and this could not be more obvious watching this film. It has one very risqué joke for the era and Flip does actually say a cuss word. A review in The Film Daily called this movie, "okay" and stated, "Though it contains nothing of an outstanding nature, this cartoon comedy is a passably entertaining number of its kind." 

Next comes the only Betty Boop cartoon in color, Poor Cinderella (1934). As you can see here despite much merchandise today picturing Betty as having black hair, this cartoon shows her to be a redhead instead. This movie is also the odd man out when it comes to Betty Boop films for another reason as well. This is because the cartoon is in many ways a more serious picture that is actually intent on telling a somewhat straightforward version of this classic fairytale (perhaps it is appropriate that this is part of the Color Classics series instead of the regular Betty Boop series). What makes this movie even odder is that there are a couple of the wild surreal gags that typified most Betty Boop cartoons still sunk in here. These gags feel more than a bit out of place here, but they are pretty funny on their own merits. This cartoon also features an original song, and this song was published as sheet music as well as appearing in this cartoon. Film historian and critic Leonard Maltin states that Mae Questel (the usual voice of Betty) was not used here for the song, but another singer was used instead. I do not know who this other singer is so if any of you do, please let me know. The following are two exhibitor's reviews from the Motion Picture Herald. "POOR CINDERELLA: Betty Boop— Betty Boop in the best example of color cartoon work we have had. Running Time, 10 Minutes. - M.P. Foster, Granada Theatre, Monte Vista, Colo. General Patronage." "POOR CINDERELLA: Betty Boop Cartoon— First of Paramount's colored cartoons and it is a wonderful creation. Look for the third dimensional allusion [sic]. If the rest of Paramount's colored cartoons come up to this one everybody will be satisfied. - L.G. Tewksbury, Opera House, Stonington, Maine. Small Town Patronage." 

Now let us end with a song. 

Resources Used

https://leonardmaltin.com/the-other-cartoon-cinderella-betty-boop/

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

http://likelylooneymostlymerrie.blogspot.com/2011/10/43-i-wish-i-had-wings-1932.html

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

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald