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 Steeple Jacks (1951). Paul Terry personally considered the Heckle and Jeckle films to be the best that he produced and I am inclined to agree with him.
Next is Cubby Bear in Galloping Fanny (1933). Cubby is one of the many examples of a cartoon character of the early 30's whose creators tried to replicate Disney's success but making what is essentially a Mickey Mouse clone. Despite this I personally really enjoy Cubby's cartoons for their often-bizarre sense of humor.
Now for perhaps my favorite of the classic Betty Boop cartoons, Snow White (1933). This short film is chock full of imagination and there is never one moment that isn't a lot of fun. There is a pure energy in this film that simply never lets up. This cartoon is simply everything I love about the cartoons from the Fleischer Studio at this time and is perhaps the best example of why the early 1930's Betty Boop cartoons are held in such high regard by animation fans. What makes this cartoon all the more impressive is that it has often been said that it was animated almost entirely by Doc Crandall. The main song number is performed by jazz legend Cab Calloway, who also provided vocals for the Betty Boop cartoons, Minnie the Moocher (1932) and The Old Man of the Mountain (1933). This film arrived at the number 19 spot in Jerry Beck's book, The 50 Greatest Cartoons.
Now we join those literal love birds, Donald and Daisy Duck in Donald's Double Trouble (1946). As Jack Hannah and Jack Kinney are often praised by cartoon fans for directing much of the studio's funniest short subjects, Jack King often gets overlooked. Jack King's Donald Duck cartoons are consistently very good. The following is an excerpt from an issue of Showman's Trade Review (dated August 23, 1947), "John Arnold of the Yale Theatre, Houston, Texas billed the Walt Disney Donald Duck short, 'Donald's Double Trouble,' equally with the feature on the marque. The short meant more than the feature he said." This cartoon played with Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious (1946) at the Radio City Music Hall the weeks of September 23rd, September 30th and October 7th. The following is an exhibitor's review of the cartoon from the Motion Picture Herald, "DONALD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: Walt Disney Cartoons—Pretty good. This had the usual quota of laughs, and the crowd seemed to appreciate it.—Fred J. Hutchins, Community Theatre, Sask., Can." The elegant voice for Donald's double is provided by Leslie Denison and was based off of actor Ronald Coleman. The story was written by Roy Williams who Disney fans might best know as the big Mooseketeer on TV's The Mickey Mouse Club.
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Next up comes the black and white Van Bueren cartoon, Tight Rope Tricks (1933). This short film stars a couple of human cartoon characters named Tom and Jerry that predate the famous cat and mouse duo.
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 film 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 cartoon 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 classic silent short starring Felix the Cat, Felix Finds 'Em Fickle (1924).
Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in Bart the Hero (1989). This is one of the shorts made for The Tracey Ullman Show before the characters 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.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
The 50 Greatest Cartoons edited by Jerry Beck
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin.
Donald Duck: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
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