Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #251

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Betty Boop in Keep in Style (1934). The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "KEEP IN STYLE: Betty Boop Cartoon— Betty Boop cartoons are always good and this is no exception. Running time, 7 minutes. - C.A. Jordan, Opera House Cogswell, N.D. Small town patronage." 

Now we join our friend Little Roquefort in Flop Secret (1952). In this movie, our hero reads a scary book and dreams that he has to save his cat friend from a mad scientist. 

Up next is Mickey Mouse in The Worm Turns (1937). This short film casts Mickey in an odd role for the character. Here he is a brilliant scientist who creates a formula that can give anyone courage. Even with this unusual role though Mickey soon finds himself taking a backseat to Pluto, who is the real star of this movie. This was quite common for Mickey Mouse cartoons of this period. Though in the late 1920's and early 1930's Mickey was clearly the star of his own cartoons, by this time he was often playing supporting roles in his own films. Yet this picture still gives Mickey more screen time than some of the other Mickey Mouse cartoons of this era. This story idea first came to the Disney studio in 1935 but took months until the film was actually made. The following is a review from the Motion Picture Herald, "An excellent Mickey Mouse cartoon, this continues the high standard of entertainment value of these short subjects. Mickey Mouse turns chemist concocting a 'courage builder' solution with some interesting results. A fly turns on a spider, a mouse reverses the usual procedure with a cat, a cat with a dog and Pluto practically annihilates a dogcatcher. Not the least of the subject's joys is the variegated display of chemicals changing colors. Running time, 8 1/2 minutes." With a wonderfully silly premise, this is the type of wackier style of Disney cartoon that I simply love. I have always had a fondness for the wackier and more cartoony side of Disney and that is very present here. 

Now it is silent movie time. So, enjoy Mother Gooseland (1924). I simply love the ending of this short. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

The song in the final commercial there was actually by The Rolling Stones and written by Brain Jones. You would have only seen this commercial on TV if you were living in the UK in 1963.

Next is a classic black and white Looney Tunes short, Porky's Pooch (1941). Though all the classic Charlie Dog cartoons would be directed by Chuck Jones, this Bob Clampett short clearly sets up the template that all of those later cartoons would follow. In fact, the first Charlie Dog cartoon, Little Orphan Airedale (1947), would be a remake of this film. The backgrounds in this film are live action photographs. A year later Bob would use a live action opening for Eatin' on the Cuff or The Moth Who Came to Dinner (1942). The following is an exhibitor's review from Motion Picture Herald, "PORKY'S POOCH: Looney Tunes Cartoons—Right up my alley for my patronage. Running time, 7 minutes. —Vic Stephano, Grove Theatre, Groveton, Tex. Small Town Patronage." A review in The Motion Picture Daily called the film, "Good for a few laughs." The Showman's Trade Review gave advice to movie theater owners on how to advertise this cartoon, "Play it up to all Porky fans and make some new fans to win over some of the dog lovers in your community by staging a pet show, prize contest for best snapshot of a pet or prize contest for a brief essay on 'why my dog is the best in town.'" 

Now we join Woody Woodpecker in Class Dismissed (2022). 

Now we join Cubby Bear in Bubbles and Troubles (1933). Sharp eyed viewers may realize that Cubby Bear look a little like Mickey Mouse. The Van Bueren Studio had been sued by Walt Disney for two cartoon mice that looked a lot like Mickey and Minnie. While those mice would disappear from the Van Beuren cartoons, it was not long afterwards that the studio would create Cubby Bear. It must be remembered though that in the early 1930's pretty much every American animation studio was copying the Mickey Mouse cartoons and used characters that were quite similar to Mickey. 

Next comes The Simpsons in Bart's Nightmare (1989). This is one of the shorts made for The Tracey Ullman Show before the cartoon family got their own TV series. 

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.

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

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

https://lantern.mediahist.org/