Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with the Woody Woodpecker movie, Wrestling Wrecks (1953). This short film marked the last theatrical appearance of Elmer the Great Dane, he began his cartoon career with the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, Elmer the Great Dane (1935). Elmer had remained Oswald's dog until 1939 when he appeared in the short, Soup to Mutts (1939). Wrestling Wrecks was the first time the character had appeared on screen since 1939 and it would also be his last appearance on the movie screen.
We continue with Mouse-Taken Identity (1957). This was the 11th film pitting Sylvester against Hippety Hopper. All these cartoons follow the same basic plot with Sylvester mistaking baby kangaroo Hippety for a giant mouse. Like all the films in this series, the cartoon was directed by Robert McKimson. Hippety would only appear in two more short films after this.
Now to join our friend Farmer Alfalfa in Ye Olde Songs (1932). This movie does some seem very primitive when you compare it to the cartoons that Disney, Warner Brothers or the Fleischers were making at this same time but it does have its own kind of charm.
Mickey in Arabia (1932) marked the last Disney cartoon for Columbia, thus fulfilling the contract to that studio. By this time Walt had already signed with United Artists for U.A. to distribute the Disney cartoon shorts. They had already been signed with United Artists for around a year and a half by the time this film was completed. This cartoon also marked a shift in the content of Mickey Mouse cartoons. The early Mickey Mouse cartoons were mostly a series of unrelated gags connected by a loose story. From this cartoon on the Mickey cartoons would take on a more adventurous spirit. Many cartoon would now be a mini-adventure. Though there were still many gags, each gag played a part in telling the story. Like what was already being done in the Mickey Mouse comic strip (at this time done by Floyd Gottfredson) the cartoons often would take Mickey to an exotic or fantasy-based place, where he would face some sort of danger and save the day. However despite this film signaling a change in pace for the cartoons the basic story resembles that of the earlier Mickey cartoon, The Gallopin' Gaucho (1928). In their must read book on Mickey Mouse, J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein refer to this movie as a loose remake of the Oswald cartoon, Harem Scarem (1927).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Now for a wonderful short film starring the Ant and the Aardvark, Science Friction (1970). In this film a scientist who wishes to study the ant, tries to protect his new study subject from the aardvark.
Now for a silent Jerry on the Job film, Swinging His Vacation (1920).
Moving Picture World, 1916
Next comes Popeye in The Crystal Brawl (1957). This film is a cheater and reuses scenes from Abusement Park (1947) and Quick on the Vigor (1950). The first time I saw this movie however this was not much of a problem because I saw this movie before ever seeing the other cartoons which the clips were used from.
The Exhibitor, 1951
Today's cartoon selection ends with the Looney Tunes webtoon, Junkyard Run #2 (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
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment