Hello my friends and happy Saturday Morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with one of the best cartoons to ever come out of the UPA studio, this is Rooty Toot Toot (1952) directed by the one and only John Hubley. The UPA studio was known for its brilliantly stylized design choices that looked much more like the modern art movement of the era rather than a typical cartoon short (the closest thing any past cartoon shorts came to this kind of a design were John McGrew's backgrounds for various 1940's Chuck Jones Warner Brothers cartoons). These stylized designs would soon have a major effect on nearly every animation studio out there, but few would use them as brilliantly or artistically as the UPA studio. This stylized modern art look was rarely as radical as what can be seen in Rooty Toot Toot. The incredibly daring background look was created by the one and only Paul Julian, who at Warner Brothers not only as a background artist for director Friz Freleng but also as the voice of the Roadrunner. Him and Hubley were a perfect pair creating some of the most original and all together best films to come from UPA. The animation here while stylized can be deceptively simplistic. This is not at all like later TV limited animation, where great design work and writing covered up for the lack of full animation. Actually, the animation here is quite elaborate and no two characters move in the same way, each having a type of movement that fits their personality. This cartoon is based around a jazzy version of the old folk tune, Frankie and Johnny. The jazz was provided by a real jazz musician Phil Moore, who had over the years worked with such legends as Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra and Harry James. He did a lot of film music, but this is a rare time he was actually credited. Hubley later stated that he believed this cartoon was the first time a black composer had been credited with a film score. This cartoon would receive the #41 spot in Jerry Beck's excellent book, The 50 Greatest Cartoons.
Next is Mighty Mouse in My Old Kentucky Home (1946). This short film was directed by Eddie Donnelly. Eddie Donnelly was a very prolific director and animator at the Terry Toons studio. He started worked at the Terry Toons studio in the early 1930's and continued working there through the 1960's.
Nowe for the Aesop's Sound Fables short, Mad Melody (1931).
Next is a black and white Looney Tunes with Porky's Midnight Matinee (1941). This Chuck Jones directed short film features Porky trying to capture a small ant. Porky also tried to capture a similar ant in another Chuck Jones directed cartoon from the same year, Porky's Ant (1941).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Next comes one of my favorite Donald Duck cartoons, No Hunting (1955). This film has a wonderful Tex Avery-esque feel to it that is wacky than the average Disney short. This wacky comedy is often laugh out loud funny and a cameo by characters from a Disney feature is especially hilarious. Though Jack Hannah was originally assigned to direct this short, it ended up being directed by Jack Hannah (who gets sole directing credit). Jack Kinney was the wackiest and most Tex Avery like of the Disney directors, so even if this is a Jack Hannah cartoon, Jack Kinney's influence is greatly felt. This was the second Donald Duck in CinemaScope after Grand Canyonscope (1954).
Now it is silent film time with Felix Gets Left (1922).
Up next is one of Ub Iwerks' Willie Whopper cartoons, Robin Hood Jr. (1934). Following are two exhibitor's reviews from the Motion Picture Herald. "ROBIN HOOD, JR.: Willie Whopper—This is only fair entertainment and not as good as the last issue of this series. These are not as good as the Flip cartoons of last year and here's hoping the Metro will improve them or discontinue producing them. Running time, nine minutes. - J.J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N.C., General Patronage." "ROBIN HOOD JR.: Willie Whopper Cartoon - Good cartoon. The kids ate it up. Couldn't get them out after the first show as they all had to see it the second time. Personally, I didn't think too much of it. Running time 20 minutes [I would guess that the writer messed up with this run time]. J.E. Ross Jr. Strand Theatre, St. George, S.C., Small Town Patronage."
Now to close with a song.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another selection of animated treasures. Until then mat all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
50 Greatest Cartoons edited by Jerry Beck
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
There's yet another Porky/ant cartoon from the Chuckster--Porky's Cafe (1942).
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing that out.
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