Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #256

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Disney short, Old MacDonald Duck (1941). This cartoon was directed by Jack King, a fine director who directed many delightful Donald Duck cartoons at this time. As expected of a Disney cartoon from this era, this short film boasts some very fine character animation that fully shows, how much great talent was at the Disney studio during this time period. A brief scene from this short was used in the Disney feature film, The Reluctant Dragon (1941) when a live action Robert Benchley is getting a look at how cartoons are made. This cartoon would make its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that would air on October 1, 1957. The following is an exhibitor's review from Motion Picture Herald. "OLD MacDONALD DUCK: Walt Disney cartoons - It doesn't take a good reel to have the audience applaud Disney. The mere title of "Don Duck" - and heaven help the stoic. The usual dilemmas - the repetitious finale. Sir Duck is prostrated by a beastly insect, the paying audience is prostrated with the much needed delight. Running time, 8 minutes. - Gene Rothgeb, Haven Theatre, New Haven, Ind. General Patronage." 

Next comes the Terry Toons short, Felix the Fox (1948). This short film benefits from one of the best Groucho Marx impressions I have heard in a cartoon as well as a very effective twist ending. 

Now for the Van Beuren cartoon, A Cat-Fish Romance (1932).

Now we join Porky Pig in Porky's Phoney Express (1938). This cartoon was directed by Cal Dalton and Cal Howard, both of whom received their first director's credit with this film. A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "Here is another Porky cartoon replete with the usual clever animation and serio-comic effects that make it an easy item to sell to a wide audience." A review in the Motion Picture Herald referred to the movie as "An amusing and clever cartoon takeoff on the hard riding heroics of 'Wells Fargo.'" 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now for Felix the Cat in Felix Monkeys with Magic (1924). 

Now for the Mickey Mouse Works short, Pinball Mickey (2002). This short was used in the House of Mouse episode, Pete's One-Man Show (2002). This is just a really charming and fun cartoon and one of my favorite Mickey Mouse Works shorts. 

Next is Little Roquefort in Cat Happy (1950). This marked the first appearance of the character. Here the character is voiced by Dayton Allen, and this was the only time Allen voiced the character. In fact, in many of his future cartoons, Little Roquefort would be a pantomime character. In the future cartoons where Little Roquefort would have a voice, he would be voiced by Tom Morrison. The storyline of this film is very similar to that of the Tom and Jerry short, Part Time Pal (1947). 

Now to close with a song. 

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


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/