Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #236

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Sylvester in Stooge for a Mouse (1950). This Friz Freleng directed short is one of my favorite solo Sylvester cartoons and it always puts a smile on my face no matter how many times I watch it. This film would later be semi-remade as the Bugs Bunny short Bugsy and Mugsy (1957).

Next comes a classic Disney short, Old MacDonald Duck (1941). This movie was directed by Jack King, a fine director who directed many delightful Donald Duck cartoons at this time. As expected of a Disney cartoon from this era, this short film boasts some very fine character animation that fully shows, how much great talent was at the Disney studio during this time period. A brief scene from this short was used in the Disney feature film, The Reluctant Dragon (1941) when a live action Robert Benchley is getting a look at how cartoons are made. This cartoon would make its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that would air on October 1, 1957. The following is an exhibitor's review from Motion Picture Herald. "OLD MacDONALD DUCK: Walt Disney cartoons - It doesn't take a good reel to have the audience applaud Disney. The mere title of "Don Duck" - and heaven help the stoic. The usual dilemmas - the repetitious finale. Sir Duck is prostrated by a beastly insect, the paying audience is prostrated with the much needed delight. Running time, 8 minutes. - Gene Rothgeb, Haven Theatre, New Haven, Ind. General Patronage." 

Now we join our old friend Scrappy in The City Slicker (1939). 

Next comes Woody Woodpecker in The Mad Hatter (1948). This movie was the first Woody Woodpecker short film to be distributed by United Artists. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now comes a real classic, the Bugs Bunny cartoon, The Wacky Wabbit (1942). As many of you know all the major Looney Tunes directors had their different take on Bugs Bunny. Bob Clampett's Bugs was very much a fun-loving prankster. Unlike Chuck Jones' version of the character, this Bugs did not always need to act in self-defense but could just pick on someone to have a little fun. That is true of the way he treats Elmer here. Elmer in this movie is not hunting wabbits, but simply minding his own business, when Bugs decides to let the poor fellow have it. Elmer in this cartoon looks different from how many movie fans picture him looking. This is because he was briefly redesigned to look like his voice actor Arthur Q. Byran. The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Fourteen carrot entertainer this 'Wacky Wabbit.' There's a laugh in every foot. The wise guy rabbit in this instance tries his trick on a gold prospector. He drives the poor guy crazy confounding him and keeping him constantly on the jump. Bugs Bunny grows in stature with every new Merry Melody release. He bids fair to become as funny as any character now in animated cartoons. The smart showman should grab this short." 

Now for a silent movie, Colonel Heeza Liar in Africa (1913). 

Next comes the Tijuana Toads in Frog Jog (1972). The Tijuana Toads was a series of 17 theatrically released animated short films from the DePatie-Freleng Studio (the same studio that produced the Pink Panther shorts). In this cartoon, El Toro tries to lose some weight to win back his girlfriend.  Pancho is voiced by Tom Holland (not the Spider-Man actor, a different Tom Holland), who was also the voice of Speedy Gonzales' cousin, Slowpoke Rodriguez. El Toro is voiced by Don Diamond, who was a regular on the live action Disney TV series of the 1950's, Zorro. 

Today's cartoon selection ends with a TV cartoon by Filmmation starring the DC comics superhero The Atom, The House of Doom (1967).

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