Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with Donald's Dog Laundry (1940). This short film is one of the rare movies where Donald and Pluto play off each other without Mickey present, though the duo had previously worked together in Donald and Pluto (1936). In 1935 animator Fred Spencer wrote about Donald Duck stating, "Donald has developed into one of the most interesting screen comics. The audience always likes him, provided he plays true to his character. His best features are his cocky, show-off, boastful attitude that turns angry as soon as he is crossed; his typical angry gestures with which the audience is familiar, especially his fighting pose and his peculiar quacking voice and threats when angry. The Duck gets a big kick out of imposing on other people or annoying them; but immediately loses his temper when the tables are turned. In other words he can 'dish it out' but he can't 'take it.'" This cartoon made its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on March 4, 1958. The following are some exhibitor's reviews from the Motion Picture Herald. "DONALD'S DOG LAUNDRY: Walt Disney Cartoons— I thought 'The Riveter' was good but this is even better. The whistling bone that annoyed Pluto was very clever. Plenty of laughter from an appreciative audience should make Disney feel good if he could hear it. Running time, eight minutes. - W. Varrick Nevins, III, Alfred Co-op Theatre, Alfred, N.Y., Small college town and rural patronage." "DONALD'S DOG LAUNDRY: Walt Disney Cartoons— An excellent Disney cartoon. If Disney would continue these instead of cartoon features on which the exhibitor can make no money this business would be better. - C.L. Niles, Niles Theater, Anamosa, Iowa. General Patronage."
Next comes the Terry Toons short, Harvest Time (1940). The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald. "HARVEST TIME: Terry-Toons - This is one of the best colored cartoons we have played. A few like this and Terry-Toons will be in the money, - Running time, eight minutes. - John Stafford, Royal Theatre, Leonardville, Kansas. Rural Patronage.
Now for one of Frank Tashlin's classic Looney Tune cartoons, Porky Pig's Feat (1943). Tashlin spent much of his cartoon directing career dreaming of directing live action features. Because of this his cartoons are some of the most cinematic of the era, featuring a lot of great camera angles and brilliant cutting and timing. This one is no exception. In fact, this is one of his finest Looney Tunes shorts. This film was also released during the same year as the last black and white Looney Tune, Puss 'n Booty (1943, also directed by Tashlin). However, cartoons like this make one sad that black and white left the Looney Tunes series. Tashlin's use of black and white here is incredible, and the look of this cartoon is simply breathtaking in a completely different way than a color cartoon ever could be.
Now for Krazy Kat in Railroad Rhythm (1937).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Now for The Pink Panther in Pink Suds (1979).
It is time for a Garfield Quickie.
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 later stated, "Elmer isn't in this." The latter is right. A review in Variety called this "One of the better Bugs Bunny subjects."
Now for a silent movie by none other than Walt Disney, Puss in Boots (1922).
Today's cartoon selection ends with The New Three Stooges TV cartoon, No News Is Good News (1965).
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animate treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and melodies merry.
Resources Used
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
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