Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #223

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Mickey Mouse film, The Pet Store (1933). This cartoon directly references the RKO feature film, King Kong (1933). This reference includes the use of the character of Beppo the gorilla. Beppo, had previously appeared in the films, The Gorilla Mystery (1930) and Mickey's Mechanical Man (1933). The following are some exhibitors reviews from The Motion Picture Herald. "Pet Shop, The: Mickey Mouse - Another Mickey Mouse that is really original. Takes off 'King Kong' and does it well. - William A. Crute, Victoria Theatre, Vancouver, B.C. Neighborhood Patronage." "Pet Shop, The: Mickey Mouse - Just another Mickey Mouse comedy that will please kids and make them laugh. I am glad this series of shorts are running out as they are not as good as many others on the market. Look out, Mr. Disney, or you will lose out. Running time, 8 minutes. J.J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N.C. General Patronage." 

Sponsor, 1956

Now for Betty Boop and Bimbo in Any Rags (1932). This film was part of the Talkartoons series. Later the same year, Betty Boop would get her own series of short films.

Next comes a delightful cartoon starring Woody Woodpecker, The Great Who-Dood-It (1952). This cartoon was the first of the Woody Woodpecker films to be directed by Don Patterson. It definitely was a good short to begin with.

Next is The Ant and the Aardvark cartoon, Dune Bug (1969). When you look at the opening credits of this film notice how all the musicians who provided the music are credited. This was very rare for a cartoon short of this era. The film is directed by Art Davis, who was one of the writers of the Tweety and Slyvester short, Sandy Claws (1955), which featured Slyvester chasing Tweety on a beach. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now for a classic silent short film from Paul Terry, The Cat's Revenge (1923).

Next is Porky Pig in Rover's Rival (1937). This was the first Looney Tune to use The Merry Go-Round Broke Down as the theme song. It would remain the Looney Tunes theme song long afterwards. This was also the first cartoon to end with Porky popping out of the drum and saying, "That's All Folks." The film was directed by Bob Clampett, whose black and white Porky cartoons helped solidify him as the character we all know today. Clampett wasn't the only legendary animation director who worked on this short film. One of the animators was Chuck Jones, who really gets to show off his skill here. He gets to deliver some excellent character animation including such scenes as Rover leaving the kennel towards the start, the little pup fetching the dynamite and then bring it back after Porky throws it away and Rover's shock after reading what dynamite is. Bobe Cannon, who would direct some fantastic films for UPA animates the little pup blowing Rover to the ground.

Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, The Helpful Geni (1951).

Today's cartoon selection ends with the next chapter of the webtoon miniseries featuring our favorite Looney Tunes characters, Toon Marooned (2001). 

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another selection of animated treasures. 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 

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

https://likelylooneymostlymerrie.blogspot.com/2012/08/180-rovers-rival-1937.html

https://mediahistoryproject.org/