Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #250

 Hello, my friends and welcome back for another selection of classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with your hero and mine, Mighty Mouse in Law and Order (1950).

Next comes a classic and often overlooked Disney Silly Symphony cartoon, More Kittens (1936). This short film is a bit of a sequel to the previous Silly Symphonies short, Three Orphan Kittens (1935) as this movie features the same kittens who were the stars of that cartoon. The voice of the maid in this movie was by Lillian Randolph. Cartoon fans might recognize her as the voice of Tom's owner in the earlier Tom and Jerry films. Fans of classic Christmas movies will know her as Annie the maid in Its a Wonderful Life (1947). Like all Disney cartoons of this time, this film features a wonderful cast of animators. Frenchy de Tremaudan animates the kittens' opening and closing scenes with the maid and them in the laundry. Ward Kimball, who would become one of Walt's Nine Old Men, work on some of the best Disney features and even direct some great cartoon shorts, animates the kittens first meeting the dog. Leonard Sebring, a wonderful animator who spent most of his career doing uncredited work for both Disney and MGM, animates the kittens drinking from the dog's bowl and them with the turtle. Bob Stokes, who worked for a wide variety of studios (Disney, Van Bureun, Warner Brothers, MGM, Ub Iwerks) though mostly uncredited, the scene with the kittens, the fly and the dog together. Bob Wickersham animates the kitten and the fly on the branch and the kittens with the bird. Frank Thomas, who would also become one of Walt's Nine Old Men, animates the fight inside the dog's mouth, the kittens chasing the bird up the clothesline and the dog hiding the kittens. This cartoon premiered at the Majestic in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Christmas day, 1936 with the feature film, Polo Joe (1936, starring Joe E. Brown). It made its TV premier on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on December 6, 1956. 

Next is a delightful black and white Porky Pig cartoon, Get Rich Quick Porky (1937). This was an early cartoon for director Bob Clampett (1937 was his first year as a director) and while it may not be as wild as some of the director's later work, there is plenty to enjoy here. This cartoon also marked the last appearance of Porky's sidekick, Gabby Goat. There is not much to Gabby besides him being grumpy and easily irritated, but the contrast between him and the more optimistic Porky makes for delightful watching. Two of the animators on this movie would later become great Looney Tune directors in their own right. Chuck Jones animates the wonderful scene with the dog, the gopher and a bone as well as the film's ending. Norm McCabe animates Gabby underground with his jackhammer as well as Porky handing the deed to Honest John. 

Now for Chilly Willy and Wally Walrus in From Tusk Til Dawn (2022). 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Now for an Aesop's Sound Fables cartoon, The King of Bugs (1930). This short film is quite crude compared to what Disney was doing at this time, but is definitely enjoyable for what it is. 

Up next is Betty Boop and Bimbo in the Talkratoon short (this is before Betty got her own series), Dizzy Red Riding Hood (1931). This movie is full of the surrealistic and often risqué humor that I love about the pre-code Fleischer cartoons. 

The Pink Panther began his animated career appearing in the opening credits of Blake Edwards' great live action feature, The Pink Panther (1964). Blake Edwards contacted animation producers Friz Freleng and David DePatie to create an animated Pink Panther for this title sequence. They created many different panthers, but when Blake saw the various drawings, he immediately knew which one he wanted in his film. The title sequence was a smash hit, and the character was spun off into a series of theatrical cartoon shorts (at a time when those were on their way out). Today we will look at the first and possibly best of these cartoons, The Pink Phink (1964). This cartoon set a template for many more shorts to come. The basic storyline involves a formula that would be often used. The Pink Panther wants to turn everything pink much to the annoyance of a little man (who may look a little like Friz). The gags come fast and furious and the design work is lovely. All in all, this cartoon was a delight and the best way to start this series possible.

It is now silent movie time, so enjoy Felix the Cat in Romeeow (1927). 

Let us close with some Saturday Morning Minions. 

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another selection of animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes by looney and your melodies merry.  

Resources Used

Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald 

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animator-breakdown-get-rich-quick-porky-1937/

https://mediahistoryproject.org/