Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #220

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic black and white Looney Tunes short, Westward Whoa (1936). This movie stars Beans the Cat and Ham and Ex. Beans the Cat and Ham and Ex made their debut in the Merrie Melodies short, I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). That cartoon also introduced the more famous Porky Pig, who has a smaller role in this film. This movie was directed by Jack King. Jack King had formerly worked at Disney as an animator and would soon return to Disney to direct some truly wonderful Donald Duck cartoons. 

Up next is a Silly Symphony called Funny Little Bunnies (1934). This cartoon does not feature much of an actual story beyond the idea of bunnies getting ready for Easter. However people at the time did not seem to mind this at all. The following is a review from The Film Daily, "This is a likely entry for the best short of 1934. While it may appear that its vogue would be more or less limited to the Easter season because its purely imaginative substance deals with the manufacture and decoration of Easter eggs and bunnies by a colorful rabbit crew, the splendor and variety of coloring and the highly diverting action lift it far above any seasonal appeal. Musical accompaniment is pleasing." The following is a review from The Motion Picture Herald, "Unusually clever, highly entertaining, especially for the youngsters but potentially equally enjoyable for adults, this number of the Walt Disney Silly Symphonies pictures in the inimitable Disney cartoon fashion the manner in which the bunnies, in their woodland workshop, carve out Easter statues of themselves, paint the Easter eggs, with various colors obtained from the end of the rainbow. In this spring season despite the fact that Easter has passed, the subject is highly appropriate and can not fail to meet with the favor of the entire audience, anytime, anywhere." The cartoon also won the gold medal for "Best Animated Film" at the Venice film festival in 1934. Still as is always the case not everyone was impressed. An exhibitors review from The Motion Picture Herald was not very positive stating about Walt Disney, "He'll never make another 'Three Little Pigs.'" In 1935 this movie was part of a four week run of Disney cartoons. Here is The Film Daily talking about that, "Starting April 4, Walt Disney productions, released through Untied Artists, are being featured on the Trans-Lux Theater program for four consecutive weeks. Opening with 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' the next three programs feature the following Disney productions: 'Mickey's Man Friday,' 'Funny Little Bunnies,' and 'The Band Concert,' Disney's first Mickey Mouse subject in Technicolor." One thing I love about the color Symphonies is that they never take color for granted but instead always make sure it is used to full effect. That is definitely true of this cartoon. This movie was reissued to theaters on April 7, 1950.

Next comes one of the Fleischer Brothers' Screen Songs shorts, The Peanut Vendor (1933). 

Now for Heckle and Jeckel in The Stowaways (1949). Paul Terry considered the Heckle and Jeckle films to be the best cartoons, he produced and I wholeheartedly agree. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

 

Next comes a delightful MGM cartoon, The Milky Way (1940). This was the first non-Disney cartoon to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short film. a major reason for this is that this was the first year in which the Disney studio had not nominated one of their own shorts, presumably because the Disney studio was focusing on features at this time. MGM also nominated another one of their cartoons this year. The other MGM cartoon was Puss Gets the Boot (1940), the first Tom and Jerry cartoon. The Tom and Jerry series would go on to win 7 Academy Awards, more than any other cartoon series. 

Now for a silent movie, Her Minute (1921). Like many silent cartoons this short film was based off of a popular newspaper comic strip. This one was based off the Joys and Glooms comic strip by T.E. Powers. The credited animator of this cartoon was John C. Terry, who was the older brother of Paul Terry (of Terry Toons fame). If you want to learn more about John C. Terry, I recommend reading this excellent article by Charlie Judkins from Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research website. 

Now for a classic Donald Duck film, Donald's Crime (1945). This cartoon marks a milestone in an important Disney character. In previous shorts Daisy Duck had been voiced by Clarence Nash (also the voice of Donald) and had a very similar voice to that of the ill-tempered but lovable duck. Here for the first time though, she has a more normal sounding voice that stands in contrast to Donald's. In this film that voice is provided by Gloria Blondell, who was the younger sister of actress Joan Blondell. The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Donald's Crime: Walt Disney Cartoons - One of Disney's best. Our house was in an uproar of laughter from start to finish. By all means play it. - A.R. Dakin, Rice Lake Theatre, Bissett, Manitoba, Can."

Now for the next chapter of the Looney Tunes Survivor parody, Toon Marooned (2001). Foghorn Leghorn got voted off the island last week. Who will get voted off this week?

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 

Resources Used

Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin

Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in it's Golden Age by Michael Barrier

https://mediahistoryproject.org/