Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #217

 Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning my friends. 

Today's cartoon selection begins with Heckle and Jeckle in Magpie Madness (1948). This short film is directed by Eddie Donnelly. 

Now for a classic UPA cartoon, Christopher Crumpet (1953). This short was directed by Robert "Bobe" Cannon, one of my favorite UPA directors. He had previously been an animator for both Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett's units at Warner Brothers and even Tex Avery at MGM. He even worked on the Disney feature film, Melody Time (1948). As a director he made some of the best UPA shorts including one of the studio's most famous films, Gerald McBoing-Boing (1950).

Now for an early Porky Pig short, Boom Boom (1936). This movie is very similar to an earlier Looney Tunes cartoon, Bosko the Doughboy (1931), which in turn is quite similar to Disney's Oswald cartoon, Great Guns (1927). The film is directed by Jack King, who after his stint at Warner Brothers would direct some of the best Donald Duck cartoons at Disney. Porky here is not yet voiced by Mel Blanc but instead by Joe Dougherty. Joe was the original voice for Porky and unlike Mel he really stuttered. Unfortunately, his stuttering caused real problems with the filmmakers because of how much time it took, and he would later be replaced in the part by Mel Blanc. However, Porky is not the main star of this movie. Our hero is instead Beans the cat. Beans first appeared in the same cartoon as Porky, Friz Freleng's I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). Jack King clearly preferred Beans over Porky and gave Beans the main role in most of his cartoons around this time period. Sometimes Porky just had a cameo and sometimes didn't appear at all. This is the first time Porky received a decent size role in a Jack King cartoon. Later when Porky's popularity clearly eclipsed that of Beans, Jack King would make cartoons starring Porky. Beans here is voiced by Tommy Bond, who many of you may know for playing Butch in the Our Gang films. 

Next is The Fowl Ball Player (1940). This is one of the Fleischer Studio's Stone Age cartoons. This series is an often-forgotten part of the history of the studio that gave us the classic Betty Boop, Popeye and Superman cartoon shorts. This movie may not be as strong as the entries in those series, but it is always nice to explore further into the history of the beloved animation studio. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes one of Walt Disney's silent Alice Comedies, Alice Wins the Derby (1925). This series centered around a live action girl entering into a cartoon world. The earliest entries in this series featured fully live action scenes that would start and end each short. By the time this movie was made though, the fully live action scenes were no longer a part of this series. This film stars Margie Gay, the second young actress to play Alice. Like many of his silent films, Walt Disney directed this movie himself. 

Now for the Terry Toons short, The Housing Problem (1946). This cartoon was very topical film about the post-war housing shortage after World War 2. 

Next comes a classic Fleischer Popeye cartoon, I Never Changes My Altitude (1937). When movie magazines listed this cartoon, they changed the name to the grammatically correct, "I Never Change My Altitude." The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "I Never Change My Altitude: Popeye the Sailor - These Popeye cartoons are very good for the kids. This one did not go over with the adults. Running time , eight minutes, A.J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small Town Patronage." Another exhibitor's review for the Motion Picture Harald, disagreed with this stating, " I NEVER CHANGE MY ALTITUDE: Popeye the Sailor—A good Popeye. Adults will enjoy this as much as the kids. Running time, seven minutes.— A. E. Eliasen, Rialto Theatre, Paynesville, Minn. Rural and small town patronage." 

Motion Picture Herald, 1934

Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in Shoplifting (1989). This short is from The Tracey Ullman Show before The Simpsons 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

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

https://mediahistoryproject.org/