Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #247

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Sylvester and Tweety in Trick or Tweet (1959). This short film features Sylvester competing with Sam the cat for Tweety. This is not the first time the two had fought over Tweety. The two fought over Tweety before in two cartoons, Putty Tat Trouble (1951) and Tweet and Sour (1956). The two would later fight over a mouse in Mouse and Garden (1960). Sam's last appearance in a theatrical short film would be Merlin the Magic Mouse (1967), where he would meet up with one of the last Looney Tunes characters created for the theatrical shorts. 

Now for our good friend Dimwit in Daddy's Little Darling (1957).  Dimwit started life as a supporting player in other characters' cartoons, especially those of Heckle and Jeckle. Because of the popularity of Disney's hilarious Goofy cartoons of the 1950's, it was decided to put Dimwit in similar roles and similar films. These could have easily been Goofy cartoons with no story changes at all. This idea would only last for three films. The other two were How to Keep Cool (1953) and How to Relax (1954). 

Now for the Fox and the Crow in Kuku Nuts (1945). 

Next, we join Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in The Hare Mail (1931). Though some of you probably know Oswald best as a Disney character that predated Mickey Mouse, the animated rabbit's career stretched beyond just when Walt Disney discovered he didn't have the rights to the career. Many of the post-Disney Oswald cartoons were produced by another Walt, Walter Lantz, best known for being the producer of the Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy and Andy Panda shorts. I have long had a fondness for the Walter Lantz Oswald shorts, for just how odd and surreal they are. In this cartoon, Oswald is voiced by none other than Mickey Rooney. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Next comes the Disney cartoon, The Social Lion (1954). This short was directed by one of my favorite cartoon directors, Jack Kinney and features much of the great satire and clever humor that marked the director's best films. This type of satire of 1950's urban America can also be seen in many of the director's Goofy cartoons. With the influence of UPA, at this time, many cartoons were showing a much more stylized and moderna art inspired look. This look can be seen through much of this film, though the main character is more traditionally animated. While the two artistic styles may somewhat clash with each other, I think that this works well for this film. It heightens the contrast between the lion and urban society making the satire even more effective. 

As many of my fellow film buffs know, the Betty Boop cartoons of the early 1930's are truly something special. They were pure cartoons from beginning to end and there is hardly a missed opportunity for any wild and crazy gags. I Heard (1933) is a perfect example of this. There is hardly a second of this movie that is not filled with some wild and crazy gag. The pacing and pure energy of the gag structure in this film is something to behold. So many of these gags are delightfully creative with some of the good old fashioned surreal-ness associated with the Fleischer studios at this time. The music is also excellent. Quite a few of the Fleischer cartoons at this time used great jazz musicians on their soundtracks. This movie features music by Don Redman and His Orchestra. I was not familiar with them before watching this cartoon, but oh my gosh, they are fantastic. Their music is just as energetic and carefree as the rest of the film. The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "I Heard: Betty Boop - A wonderful cartoon. Absolutely one of the best ever made. Plenty of music furnished by Don Redman and His Orchestra and the acting of Betty Boop, Bimbo and Koko all go to make excellent entertainment. Let's have more. Running Time, Eight Minutes. - J.J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N.C.  General Patronage."

Now for the silent Aesop's Fables cartoon, The Thoroughbred (1923). 

Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in Gone Fishin' (1988). This was a short made for The Tracey Ullman Show before the animated family got their own TV series. 

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

Resources Used

I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat: Fifty Years of Sylvester and Tweety by Jerry Beck

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Social_Lion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRxvLNhYh6A&t=257s

https://mediahistoryproject.org/