Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #263

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Mighty Mouse in Hansel and Gretel (1952). This short film is a nice twist on the famous fairy tale. The cartoon also benefits from some wonderfully cartoony animation by Jim Tyler. 

Next comes a wonderful Donald Duck cartoon, Clown of the Jungle (1947). This short film includes the Aracuan bird, who first appeared in the Disney feature film, The Three Caballeros (1945). This film even features reused animation from that movie. After this the character would only make one more theatrical appearance in the Blame it on the Samba segment from the feature film, Melody Time (1948). Like all Disney cartoons of this era, Clown of the Jungle benefits from a fine cast of animators. Bill Justice animates the scenes involving the Aracuan bird and the hummingbirds and the scene with Donald and the Aracuan bird after the machine gun scenes. Volus Jones animates Donald trying to take pictures of the parrot and flamingo, the imaginary motorcycle chase and the house-building sequence and Donald in the closing scene. Judge Whittaker animates Donald trying to take a picture of the stork, the Aracuan's first suicide attempt, Donald forgiving the Aracuan and the Aracuan imitating Donald. Hal King animates the Aracuan snipping the film, the gags with the boxing glove and elevator, the machine gun sequence and the Aracuan's second suicide attempt. Al Cole animates Donald trying to photograph the mechanical birds and the gag involving the cigar. The effects animation was provided by Josh Meador and Andy Engman. Meador handles the effects in the opening scenes, while Engman handles the machine gun effects. The backgrounds for this cartoon were borrowed from a Donald cartoon from the previous year, Frank Duck Brings 'em Back Alive (1946). The working title for this picture was Feathered Frenzy. As someone who loves the sillier and wackier side of Disney cartoons, this film is a real treat to me, and I hope it will be one to you too. 

Radio Mirror, 1938

Now for an Aesop's Sound Fables cartoon, Noah Knew His Ark (1930). The following is a review from The Film Daily. "Credit this Aesop's sound Fable with possessing much entertainment value. It shows some clever touches, is musically all right and is vastly amusing. A sort of travesty on the tale of the Ark, this animated cartoon gives you Noah in the person of an old sea captain. When the deluge comes, the animals board the bark [sic] to the strain of the music. All goes well until two skunks come into their midst. The animals to escape the odiferous fellows, plunge into the water, leaving the ark in possession of the skunks." 

Next is  a late Fleischer Studios Popeye short, I'll Never Crow Again (1941). The year after the release of this cartoon Max and Dave Fleischer would find themselves no longer making cartoons for Paramount and many of their employees continuing to make Popeye and Superman shorts for Paramount without them. Many critics of the Popeye series claim that all the cartoons simply feature Popeye and Bluto fighting over Olive. However, a look at the sailor's filmography shows that there were in fact many cartoons that did not follow this formula in the slightest. The song that Popeye and Olive sing at the beginning of this cartoon is from the first of Fleischer Studio's two feature films, Gulliver's Travels (1939). A review in The Motion Picture Daily called this cartoon, "Good for a few laughs." A review in Showman's Trade Review stated, "While this is not the usual type of Popeye cartoon, the novelty is not sufficient enough to raise it out of the 'fair' class." The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "I'LL NEVER CROW AGAIN: Popeye the Sailor— Popeye Cartoons are always enjoyed, but this was not as good as average. Running time, 7 minutes. —J. M. Thomsen, Center Theatre, Marlette, Mich. Rural patronage."

Motion Picture Herald, 1934

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in The Ducksters (1950). This cartoon is a takeoff on old radio quiz shows, as such it is a more dialogue heavy short. Yet the dialogue is often excellent and despite this, the film has some nice visual slapstick that accompanies each auditory gag, and this makes it just as fun to watch as any of the best Looney Tunes cartoons. 

Now for Katnip in City Kitty (1952). 

Next comes a classic silent Out of the Inkwell film, Koko Trains 'Em (1925).

Let us close by singing a song we all know together. 

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

South of the Border with Disney by J.B. Kaufman.

https://mediahistoryproject.org/