Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #272

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Heckle and Jeckle in Blind Date (1953). Paul Terry considered the Heckle and Jeckle cartoons the finest he ever produced, and I personally agree. I love the ending of this film. 

Up next is Donald Duck in Donald's Diary (1954). The cartoons Jack Kinney directed for Disney often times had an offbeat, almost Tex Avery like sense of humor. That is on full display here. This short film is far from your typical Donald Duck short but that is just what makes it so delightful and funny. This film would make its TV debut on an episode of Walt Disney Presents entitled This is Your Life, Donald Duck (1960).  

Next comes the Aesop's Sound Fables cartoon, The Barnyard Melody (1929). The title is a reference to the feature length movie, The Broadway Melody (1929). Though forgotten today, The Broadway Melody would become the first sound Best Picture winner at the Oscars. 

In the 1930's the Fleischer Studio's Popeye cartoon had reached an incredible level of popularity even rivaling that of Mickey Mouse. These simple black and white seven-minute cartoons captured the hearts of moviegoers just as much as any feature film. Because of this both Paramount encouraged the cartoon studio to create something bigger with Popeye. The result was a series of three two-reel full color cartoons starring the cartoon sailor. These films were over twice the length of an average Popeye cartoon and they felt bigger in every way possible. My personal favorite of the three is the second, Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves (1937). This one has the same larger than usual and visual gorgeous look as the others, but in my opinion the humor in this short is probably the funniest. The cartoon was later edited down to a seven-minute short with some new animation featuring Popeye and his nephews for a cheater cartoon, Popeye Makes a Movie (1950). The following are some exhibitor reviews from the Motion Picture Herald, "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves (Color Special): Popeye the Sailor - A two-reel cartoon that means nothing more at the box office than a single. Does not compare with 'Sinbad the Sailor' in entertainment. Running time, 17 minutes. A. Goldson, Gold Coast Theatre, Chicago, Ill. Neighborhood Patronage." "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves: Popeye the Sailor - Not nearly as funny as it ought to have been. Still most everyone enjoyed it. Popeye needs a change of diet anyway. One tires of too much spinach. - L. A. Irwin, Palace Theatre, Penacook, N.H. General Patronage." "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves: Popeye the Sailor - Ran it to bolster 'Rosalie' and really believe it drove in a few. Play it. They'll enjoy it. Running time, 20 minutes. - A.E. Eliassen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn., Small Town and Rural Patronage." "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves: Popeye the Sailor - Played this with 'College Holiday.' We put this in as a double attraction and which met with a great success. Played the Easter Sunday with very good business. Had a large matinee. Popeye sure pleases the children. -Edelstein Amusement Company, Homer Theatre, Hibbing, Minn. General Patronage." "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves: Color Special - This is an extra price cartoon of two reels, which was just one reel too long. They can't sustain an audience's attention for the extra length, and it got boresome before it was halfway through. Don't buy it. Kids will like it of course but you don't pay off with them. - A.E. Hancock, Columbia Theatre, Columbia City, Ind. General Patronage."

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Now it is time for some Saturday Morning Minions.

Now it is silent movie time. So, enjoy this silent short film from director Emile Cohl, Dream of a Waiter (1910). Emile Cohl is considered one of the pioneers of animation and his film, Fantasmagorie (1908), which has sometimes been called the first animated cartoon. Of course, it is hard to be sure of any first in film history. Still his pioneering work has led Emile Cohl to be called, "The Father of the Animated Cartoon." 

Though when most animation fans think of Tex Avery, they think of his films for MGM, I have always had a huge fondness for his work at Warner Brothers as well. What I love about his films for Warner Brothers is that he takes very conventional storylines and adds his wacky sense of humor. One of my favorite of his films for Warner Brothers is Porky’s Preview (1941). This cartoon takes a cute premise of Porky Pig (still a child in this film) making a cartoon movie show for his little barnyard friends and turns it into a wonderful self-parody of cartoons themselves. I love how even musical director Carl Stalling gets in on the joke by giving us kiddie versions of songs he often used in the Looney Tunes cartoons. 

Now let us close by singing a song we all know. By the way for any of my fellow country music fans, yes Hank Williams Jr. is singing this.

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