Cowboy Church #261

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of cowboy church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. It is important for each of us to read our Bible each and every day. The Bible is not just some book, it is the living breathing word of God. It is easy for our faith and Christian walk to become idle and stagnant and the easiest way for this to happen is to simply not read our Bible. Taking some time each day to read the Bible is the best way for our faith and our walk with God to continue growing and maturing.  This recording is the B-side of a 1955 Little Golden Record by Roy and Dale. The A-side was The Bible Tells Me So. 

This is followed by Tammy Wynette with May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You. This comes from her 1969 gospel album, Inspiration. 

After this comes Chelsea Moon and Uncle Daddy with How Deep the Father's Love for Us. This comes from their 2010 album, Hymn Project, Vol. 1.

Afterwards is Johnny Cash with You'll Never Walk Alone. This recording was made in a church using a real church pipe organ. Playing that pipe organ was Benmont Trench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fame. There was a plan for Johnny Cash to make a whole album in a church with an organ before John passed away. In the liner notes for the Unearthed box set, producer Rick Rubin remembered, "Yes it was one of our future plans. We have a whole lot of stuff that was still left to do. This was one of two songs we recorded in a church in L.A. with Johnny singing live -because we wanted it to sound like he was in a church - and Benmont Trench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing the church organ. He played the hands and the feet and the church organist pulled all the stops because it was a complicated instrument and unique. We decided to use just one of the songs on The Man Comes Around, and Johnny preferred the other one, 'Danny Boy.'" Tench remembered (in the same linear notes), "It was a really remarkable experience, because the way the organ is set up is so you can see the preacher through a mirror for your cues. I could see Johnny sitting in the chair the preacher sits in when the choir is singing, and he was in the center, facing the congregation, with headphones on. It's hard to paint into words, but the record will tell you what it was like. Indescribably moving." 

Then comes Vern Gosdin with Jesus Hold My Hand. This comes from his 1985 album, Time Stands Still.

Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. Though it may be simple doctrine that we have heard since Sunday school, I hope we never forget how much power there truly is in the blood of Jesus. No matter what temptations and struggles we may face in life, Jesus' blood spilled on Calvary's cross has overcome all of it. With man something may be impossible but with God all things are possible. 

Today's musical selection ends with Blind Wille Johnson with his 1930 recording of Everybody Ought to Treat a Stranger Right. 

Now for the 5th episode of The Lone Ranger TV series. 

Now for a sermon from Martin Luther King Jr. 

Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;

    let the distant shores rejoice.

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him

    and consumes his foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights up the world;

    the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

    before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

    and all peoples see his glory.

7 All who worship images are put to shame,

    those who boast in idols—

    worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and rejoices

    and the villages of Judah are glad

    because of your judgments, Lord.

9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;

    you are exalted far above all gods.

10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,

    for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

    and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light shines on the righteous

    and joy on the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,

    and praise his holy name.

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again. 

Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #273

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Sylvester in A Kiddie's Kitty (1955). It is worth noting that after Tweety and Sylvester first teamed up in Tweetie Pie (1947), Tweety would not again appear apart from Sylvester (apart from small cameos), yet Sylvester would make many cartoons without Tweety. This is one of Sylvester's solo cartoons where he is not trying to catch the little yellow bird. Also, unlike most classic cartoon characters Sylvester was a fully formed character from his first appearance on movie screens and has not really changed since. Looney Tunes director and animator, Robert McKimson later said of Sylvester, "He had a juicy voice, you know. He's the closest, I would say, that Mel [voice artist Mel Blanc] would come to have an original voice and then fitting the character to it. Of course, Daffy Duck's voice is the same as Sylvester's only sped. So, I guess when Mel recorded Daffy it sounded like Sylvester." Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng [who directed this movie] talked about how he and layout artist Hawley Pratt designed this character, "I designed Sylvester to look subtly like a clown. I gave him a big red nose and a very low crotch, which was supposed to look like he was wearing baggy pants." Despite the little girl, Suzanne only appearing in this one cartoon, she would go on to appear as a back-up feature in many Looney Tunes themed comic books from Dell Comics. (Thanks to Top Cat James for bringing this to my attention in the comments for a previous post). 

Next is Mighty Mouse in The Silver Streak (1945). 

Now for the early color Merrie Melodies cartoon, The Cat Came Back (1936). While it may be far from what would later become the Warner Brothers cartoon style, this Friz Freleng directed short is very charming and fun. The film would be reissued to theaters twice. The first time was July 15, 1944, and the second time was June 5, 1954.

Up next comes the Terry Toons short, Why Mules Leave Home (1934). This cartoon is based off the Brothers Grimm story Town Musicians of Bremen. This was not the only cartoon based off that story. Walt Disney directed a silent version, The Four Musicians of Bremen (1922), Ub Iwerks directed the Comi-Color cartoon The Bremen Town Musicians (1935) and there would be a Soviet animated short film entitled The Bremen Town Musicians (1969).

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next is the last black and white Silly Symphony, Bugs in Love (1932). This is a rather typical Silly Symphony of its time, following the well-established formula of animated characters having a grand time to music until the villain of the piece appears and tries to wreck their fun. As you can guess by the title this film's story involves various bugs. Bugs were a common site in the early Silly Symphonies and the newspaper comic strip. In fact, the newspaper comic strip featured a complete remake of this cartoon. Animation of this film was done from March 30 - May 3, 1932. The Silly Symphonies were a series that at this time was constantly improving and audiences and exhibitors quickly took note of this improvement. For evidence here is an exhibitor's review from 1934 (two years after the film's original release), "BUGS IN LOVE: Silly Symphonies—An old Silly Symphony. Not as good as the new ones. Running time, one reel. —A. B. Jefferis, New Piedmont Theatre, Piedmont, Mo. Small Town Patronage." Of course, the Silly Symphonies were quite appropriately one of the most popular cartoon series of the time. The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "BUGS IN LOVE: Another great Silly Symphony. Give it extra billing. —Charles Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa." Not everybody was so impressed with the series though as shown through the following exhibitors review from The Motion Picture Herald, "BUGS IN LOVE: Silly Symphony—This is just an- other Walt Disney cartoon comedy. Nothing good about it; just ordinary and is only fair entertainment. We have only played one good comedy of this series and every time we hope the next one will be better. Disappointed in these. Running time, nine minutes. - J. J. Medford, Orpheum Theatre, Oxford, N.C., General Patronage." The film had its New York opening from December 11-16, 1932, at the Roxy playing alongside the feature length movie Me and My Gal (1932). This cartoon made its TV debut on an episode of the Mickey Mouse Club that aired on January 26, 1956. 

Now for The New Three Stooges cartoon, Call of the Wile (1965). In this cartoon, a mountain lion pretends to be a stuffed head hanging on the Stooges' wall. The same thing happened in Elmer Fudd's house in the Warner Brothers cartoon, What's My Lion (1961). 

After Saludos Amigos (1942) and The Three Caballeros (1944), the Disney studio planned to make a third South American themed feature film with Donald Duck. Known at the studio as the Carnival feature. That film really began production during the spring and summer of 1945. Like the previous movies, this would have been an anthology film that would have been separated into four different segments, that would essentially resemble Disney's cartoon shorts. When World War 2 came to an end, there would be no longer be a reason for such a film and the project was quietly abandoned. However, one portion of this film would reach the screen. This was Blame it on the Samba, which would become part of Melody Time (1948). As previously mentioned, this short would feature a live action, Ethel Smith. During the 1940's the U.S. government pushed its Good Neighbor policy by having many entertainers on both sides of the border serve as Goodwill Ambassadors and one of these was U.S. born Ethel Smith. Born in Pittsburgh (on November 22, 1902), at a young age Smith discovered Latin music and became a huge fan. In the mid-1930's she discovered the electric organ, a relatively new instrument and used it to play the Latin music she loved. By the late 1930's she was performing in Latin America. With this in mind, she became a perfect good will ambassador. In 1940 she gained an engagement at the Cassino Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. She was so popular that she would be repeatedly held over, and she was there when the Disney studio visited Rio de Janeiro in August 1941 for the making of Saludos Amigos. While there is no definitive proof that anyone working at Disney came into contact with Ethel Smith, the Disney artists did often have meetings at the Copacabana and in December 1941 Smith sent a custom designed Christmas card to Walt and his wife Lillian. In the summer of 1944, she was in Hollywood working for MGM and performed Tico-Tico (which was a very popular song for her) for the Ester Williams movie, Bathing Beauty (1944). In late 1944, Disney artist Norm Ferguson was trying to bring together musicians for the Carnival feature, and he felt that with Ethel Smith now in Hollywood, she would be a perfect choice. The studio contacted her in early 1945. Mary Blair began working on various costume sketches for her with different costumes representing different countries. This was because it was considered to have appear in each segment and have her music connect the various segments. In February 1945 a Hammond organ was installed on the sound-effects recording stage. She recorded the Mexican song, La Parranda and the Cuban number Cachita paran pan pin. Norm Ferguson had hoped to use the Brazilian song Cavaquinho, yet the copyright status seemed a mystery. Ethel recorded various other songs as possible substitutes for Cavaquinho, but the studio was able to get the rights in May 1945. Disney lyricist Ray Gilbert would be assigned to write new English lyrics for this tune, and the result was Blame it on the Samba. Though this segment would eventually be put on a shelf when the Carnival feature was shelved as a whole, it would later see the light of day again. Ethel Smith was becoming an even bigger star due to supporting performances in live action movies and the option of Disney studio to use her services lasted up until spring 1947. In late 1946 production on the Blame it on the Samba sequence was revived. There was a proposed version of the sequence that at least made it to the storyboard stage, that would have featured both Ethel Smith and Carmen Miranda. In that version, Donald Duck and Joe Carioca went to a theater where both artists were performing. The two crash backstage where Smith is performing and end up in Miranda's dressing room. Later both artists go on stage to perform Blame it on the Samba. Donald and Joe Carioca are still backstage, where Donald is still lovestruck by a kiss from Carmen Miranda. Joe tells Donald romantic tales of Rio and Donald's mind transports the duck to a surreal fantasy world. This lovely dream would morph into a nightmare involving matchboxes and a performance of the Bonfire Ballet. This in turn would turn into a celebration of Brazil's Festa de sao Joao Brazil festival. It is not known if this plan was from before the project was originally shelved or after. There were also plans to have all three Caballeros appear in this segment but eventually Panchito was dropped due to the sequence having nothing to do with Mexico. This is when the Aracuan Bird would be added to the action.

Now let us 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. 

Resources Used

South of the Border with Disney by J.B. Kaufman.

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

Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman.

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

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

https://looneytunes.fandom.com/wiki/The_Cat_Came_Back

https://looneytunes.fandom.com/wiki/Suzanne

 

  

Movie Review: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B-

This horror-comedy sequel is over-the-top, gory and a lot of fun.

Ready or Not was not exactly the type of movie that needed a sequel. However, if there was going to be a sequel, I am glad it was one as fun as this. This film up the ante on both the stakes and the gore. In fact, this movie delights in its over-the-top gore. Yet this is exactly the kind of gore that I like. The movie provides the type of gore that is too cartoon-y and over-the-top that it is hard to actually be grossed out, but it instead just becomes part of the silly fun. This is perfect for a movie like this that always has its tongue firmly in its cheek. Speaking about this the movie is often quite funny. I won't say that I was laughing out loud through the whole thing but the moments that made me laugh, really cracked me up. 

Still the heart of this movie comes from the relationship between the first movie's protagonist Grace (Samara Weaving) and her sister Faith (Kathryn Newton). Though the sibling drama can get a little repetitive at times, it could also be quite touching at others. This relationship brought an emotional core to an over-the-top film about satanists trying to kill Grace to gain power over the whole world. What really makes it work though is the chemistry between Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton. These two always feel like real siblings and the play off each other extremely well, whether the scene calls for comedy, sibling drama or bloody action. 

For the first two acts this movie is quite unpredictable with some very good surprises. However, in the final act, there is a twist that makes everything that comes after extremely predictable. Also, with this being a horror-comedy, there are no moments here that are actually scary. I have seen kids movies that are scarier than this. 

Not a perfect movie but still a lot of fun. 

Super Mario Brothers Super Show Coming to ME-TV Toons

 

I hope you are ready to get hooked on the brothers. The Super Mario Brothers Super Show is coming to ME-TV Toons starting on March 30th, just a couple days before The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters. 

This show featured a mixture of live action and animated segments. The live action segments featured wrestler "Captain" Lou Albano as Mario and Danny Wells as Luigi. These segments took on a sitcom like format featuring the brothers in their day job as plumbers. Along the way they would meet such guest stars as Donna Douglas (pretty much reprising her role from The Beverly Hillbillies), Cassandra Peterson (AKA Elvira), Ernie Hudson, Magic Johnson, Cyndi Lauper, Maurice LaMarche (as Inspector Gadget), Danica McKellar, Sgt. Slaughter, Vanna White, Moon Zappa and more. The animated segments included cartoons based off the Mario Brothers video games and the Legend of Zelda video games. Both the live action and animated segments are full of a certain corny 1980's charm that will still appeal to Nintendo fans of all ages. 

This show ran from September 4 to December 1, 1989 and would be followed by two sequel shows, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990) and Super Mario World (1991). It also received a bizarre spin off show titled King Koopa's Kool Kartoons (1989).

The show will air on the channel weekdays at 8am (7am central). 

Video Link: Roy Rogers & Smiley Burnette, "Sing a Little Song About Anything" in "Billy the Kid Returns" (1938)

 

Conway Tearle - A Merry Hamlet

 Conway Tearle is one of the many actors of Hollywood's golden age who had a massive career, yet whose name is well forgotten today even by many cinephiles. Yet during the silent era and the early talkie era, he had quite a career. It is believed that he appeared in 96 films and was once considered the highest paid movie actor. His movie career began with The Nightingale (1914) starring Ethel Barrymore (also in her film debut) and ended with Romeo and Juliet (1936) starring Leslie Howard, Norma Shearer and John Barrymore. In between this he appeared in such movies as Stella Maris (1918) (starring Mary Pickford), Atonement (1919), Lilies of the Field (1924), The Great Divide (1925), Dancing Mothers (1926) (featuring Clara Bow's screen debut), Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929),  Vanity Fair (1932), Stingaree (1934), Klondike Annie (1936) (starring Mae West) and The Preview Murder Mystery (1936). 

Like many film actors of the era, Tearle also starred in many plays. Here is a list of just some Broadway productions he was in. 

Abigail (Feb 21, 1905 - Apr 1905)

A Marriage of Reason (Apr 01, 1907 - Apr 1907)

The Smoldering Flame (Sep 23, 1913 - Sep 1913)

The Fugitive (Mar 19, 1917 - May 1917)

The Mad Dog (Nov 08, 1921 - Nov 1921)

Dinner at Eight (Oct 22, 1932 - May 1933)

Living Dangerously (Jan 12, 1935 - Jan 19, 1935)

Antony and Cleopatra (Nov 10, 1937 - Nov 13, 1937)

Here is an article from a 1918 issue of Photoplay magazine about Conway Tearle. If you have any trouble reading these pages, click on them and you your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here.

Now enjoy a feature length movie featuring Conway Tearle, Sing Sing Nights (1934). 

Resources Used

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/conway-tearle-61984

https://www.nytimes.com/1938/10/02/archives/conway-tearle-60-dies-on-the-coast-stage-and-screen-actor-is-the.html

Video Link: The Oscar Record No One Has Ever Broken - West of Neverland

 

Cowboy Church #260

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing Sweet Hour of Prayer. Prayer is one of the important parts of a Christians life but it also something that many Christians don't spend enough time doing. I admit myself to having been guilty of prayer far less than I should. Yet talking to the God of the universe is an incredible privilege we have and one of the greatest blessings in our lives. 

This is followed by Joan Beaz with The Tramp On the Street. This song was introduced by the husband-and-wife country duo Grady and Hazel Cole, who were very successful in the 1930's and 40's. The Tramp on the Street is their best-known song, especially due to Hank Williams Sr.'s cover. Joan's version of the song comes from her 1969 album, David's Album. The last verse of this song was added for Joan's version to comment on the Vietnam War. 

Afterwards comes The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Lord You Made the Cowboy Happy. This song should remind us of how blessed we truly are. It is the things we take for granted each day that are our greatest blessings. Sometimes we need to stop and simply thank God for these blessings. The narrator of this song is not thankful for any big event in his life, but rather for all the little blessing he receives every day.

Then comes Bill Carliese with his 1947 recording of Shine Your Light to Others.

 This is followed by Johnny Cash with When I Take My Vacation in Heaven. This song was written by Herbert Buffmun, a Pentecostal Evangelist who lived from 1879 to 1939. Writing gospel music was a passionate hobby for him and he is said to have written around 10,000 songs with around 1,000 of them being published. Ripley's Believe It or Not claimed that he once wrote 12 songs in one hour. However, songwriting can hardly be said to have made a living for him. Most of his songs were sold for $5 or even less. This did not stop The Los Angles Time from calling him, “The King of Gospel Song Writers” upon his death. This recording of the song comes from John's 1962 gospel album, Hymns from the Heart. This album featured a number of gospel songs that John grew up with as a child including this one. 

Next comes Iris DeMent with Blessed Assurance. This hymn came about when songwriter Fanny Crosby visited composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp. Knapp played a tune for Crosby and asked what came to her mind with that tune. Crosby said, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" She then immediately followed it with more lyrics that would be in the finished song. The song was published in 1873 and first appeared in a monthly magazine for which the editors were Joseph Fairchild Knapp and Phoebe Palmer Knapp (who were husband and wife). When it later appeared in 1887's Gospel Songs, No. 5 by Ira Sankey, this we lead it to greater fame as it would be commonly sung in the revivals of Dwight L. Moody and Sankey. By 1889, the hymn commonly appeared in Methodist hymnals. 

Today's musical selection ends with Chelsea Moon and Uncle Daddy with Jesus Paid it All.  Elvina Hall wrote the words to this hymn on the flyleaf of her hymn book and handed it to her pastor. Meanwhile the church's organist John Grape handed the pastor a new piece of music he had just written. Noticing that the poem and the music fit together perfectly, the pastor put the two together and the hymn was born. The hymn came to be in 1865. 

Now for the fourth episode of The Lone Ranger TV series. 

Now for a sermon from Martin Luther King Jr. 

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.  Exodus 15:2 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Thank you for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy Trails to you until we meet again. 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #272

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Sylvester and Hector the bulldog (named Butch in this cartoon) in Pappy's Puppy (1955). If the storyline of this movie seems very familiar that is because it is quite similar to much more often seen Tom and Jerry cartoon, That's My Pup (1953). However, to the credit of this short it never copies or steals gags from the aforementioned Tom and Jerry cartoon. Considering how many cartoon shorts there were from all the American cartoon studios being released to movie theaters at this time, it is quite possible that the similarities are coincidental. Strangely enough this movie actually features less dialogue than the Tom and Jerry film.

Next comes a World War II era Barney Bear cartoon, Bear Raid Warden (1944). 

Now for Humphrey Bear in Hooked Bear (1956). This marked Humphrey's first solo short. Before this he mostly worked opposite Donald Duck, though he made his debut in the Goofy carton, Hold That Pose (1950). This cartoon was submitted but not nominated for an Academy Award. Other films that were submitted but not nominated that year were, A Cowboy Needs a Horse (Disney), Down Beat Bear (MGM, Tom and Jerry), Pedro and Lorenzo (Paramount), Dutch Treat (Paramount), The Three Little Bops (Warner Brothers), Hillbilling and Cooing (Paramount, Popeye), Mousetro Herman (Paramount), The Talking Dog (Walter Lantz), How to Have An Accident at Home (Disney, Donald Duck), Calling All Cuckoos (Lantz, Woody Woodpecker) and A Short Vision (George K. Arthur). The cartoons actually nominated were all from the UPA studio, Gerald McBoing Boing on the Planet Moo, The Jaywalker and Mr. Magoo's Puddle Jumper. The winner was Mr. Magoo's Puddle Jumper. Hooked Bear made its TV debut on the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color episode, The Ranger of Brownstone (1968). 

Though Betty Boop had appeared in films before, Stopping the Show (1932) was the first one credited as a Betty Boop cartoon. What a perfectly delightful start to one of the great cartoon series of the 1930's. This is a creative, fast paced and very funny cartoon. Reviews in old movie magazines show that this was a very popular film when first released. A review from The Film Daily stated "A knockout animated cartoon number from the Max Fleischer studios. Different, clever and highly entertaining." The review went on to call the film "a treat on any bill." An exhibitors review called the cartoon, "extra good." Another called it "a very clever cartoon." A much less enthusiastic one called it "Fairly interesting."

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes the Terry Toons short, The Owl and the Pussycat (1934).

Now for the Fox and Crow in Room in Bored (1943). Though rather forgotten today, the Fox and the Crow were probably the most popular characters to come out of the Columbia cartoon studio. They were not only popular in these theatrical shorts, but they had a very successful comic book series (published by DC Comics) as well. 

In the mid-1960's Warner Brothers began to team up Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzales for a series of cartoons where they were mostly adversaries. Up next is one of the best of these films (and one where Speedy plays a smaller role than usual), A Taste of Catnip (1965). 

Now let us 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. 

Resources Used

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

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1956/

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

 

Movie Trailer: Disclosure Day

 

Movie Trailer: Obsession

 

Movie Trailer: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

 

Video Link: This Superhero Was Cancelled Before She Even Got Started! - Causally Comics

 

Video Link: Behind Disney’s Strangest Mickey Mouse Design - West of Neverland

 

Douglas Fairbanks Tells You How to be Athletic

 Have you ever watched any of Douglas Fairbanks' amazing on-screen stunts and wished you could do the same thing. Well, your wish is about to come true. Here is a 1916 article from Photoplay Magazine where Doug tells us just how we can be athletic like him. 

If you have any trouble reading the following pages, just click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here. 

Now see Doug in action with a feature length movie. 

Movie Review: Hoppers

 

Note: Like other recent Pixar movies this movie does not have a short film before it. Every time there is not a short film before a Pixar feature, I am extremely disappointed. The short films were often the highlight of going to a Pixar movie for me. These shorts were often times just as great if not better than the features. They helped make going to a Pixar movie feel special to me. 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An excellent, if flawed Pixar movie. 

If there is one thing Pixar knows how to do it is how to open a film. The early scenes of this movie with our main character, Mabel as a small girl show Pixar at its best. As someone who had a very close connection with my grandparents and has a love of animals, I felt myself being incredibly moved by these early scenes. While the rest of the movie doesn't completely live up to the beginning, that is a high bar to clear. After this very strong start, the movie still continues to be quite engaging and fun. Much of this is because of Mabel herself. After the excellent prologue, we see Mabel as a 19-year-old college student. Again, it is so easy to see ourselves in her. She is like many of us were at that age. She is impulsive and this impulsiveness causes her to make a mess of things. Yet she is also very passionate and willing to fight for what she believes is right. In some ways we are jealous of her zeal and wish we could be like her again. However, we also recognize her impulsiveness and remember wrong decisions we made because we didn't take the time to stop and think things through. Because her character captures a 19-year-old so well, we immediately grow an emotional connection to anything that happens in this movie. This emotional connection keeps this film grounded even when its story veers into sci-fi territory. 

The basic sci-fi premise of this movie is very clever. While the film itself points out the similarities to Avatar, frankly this movie handles the idea much better than James Cameron's film does. The story telling here is simple more mature, clever and fresh. The story itself moves at a quick pace and never once loses the audience's interest. There is a very strong and fun villain as well. While the action packed climax may go on too long, it is again very creative and entertaining. 

The main problem with this movie is that the humor often falls flat. It feels like the filmmakers are trying too hard to be funny. Instead of funny the comedy can come off as too loud obnoxious.

This film's director was Daniel Chong, who is probably best known for creating the Cartoon Network TV series, We Bare Bears. However, he has worked at Pixar before as a story artist. As a story artist he worked on such Pixar movies as Cars 2 (2011) and Inside Out (2015) (my personal favorite Pixar movie). Since Turning Red (2022), he has been credited as part of the Pixar Senior Creative Team. The movie's writer was Jesse Andrews. This is his second film for Pixar (after Luca (2021)). His non-Pixar films include the live action movies Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) and Every Day (2018). 

Though it has some flaws, this movie is creative and features the heart that Pixar movies are known for. I strongly recommend this to all Pixar fans.    

Fathom Big Screen Classics 2026

 

Every year Fathom Events brings a selection of classic movies back to the big screen. Each of these movies features a Turner Classic Movies style introduction by film historian and critic Leonard Maltin. 2026 features a really great line up of films, many of which I can't wait to watch at the AMC Theater across the street from my job. 

 

Ben-Hur (1959)

Directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston, this religious epic tells the story of Judah Ben Hur (Heston, a Jewish man who has everything taken away from him and seeks revenge on the former friend who is responsible. Though, I personally prefer the 1925 silent film adaption with Roman Novarro, this 1959 adaption has its followers and quite a bit of charm itself. 

March 29, April 1-2

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

An FBI trainee (Jodie Foster) interviews the brilliant and cannibalistic Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). The first horror film to win Best Picture, this movie is just as disturbing and powerful as it was 35 years ago.

April 26 & 29

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

In this comedy-drama a housewife (Kathy Bates) visits a nursing home and creates a bond with an old woman (Jessica Tandy) there. The two bond over stories of two women from the past at the Whistle Stop Cafe.

                                                                     May 10 & 13

The Birdcage (1996)

Directed by Mike Nicols and starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, this comedy is a favorite of many. Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane) are a happy gay couple. However, tension comes when Armand's son announces he is going to marry the daughter of extremely right-wing Senator Keeley (Gene Hackman). 

 June 7 & 10 

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

This very fun remake of the Rat Pack classic is returning to the big screen for its 25th anniversary with a new 4K restoration.

June 21 & 24

Citizen Kane (1941)

Considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made, this film is an incredible masterpiece that is just as engaging as it is groundbreaking. Orson Welles' first and most beloved film, tells the story of Newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane, from the point of view of various people who knew him. The result is one of the most complex characters in the history of cinema. Bernard Herrmann's musical score (his first score for a film (his last would be Taxi Driver (1976)) and Greg Toland's cinematography are so masterful that it hard not to be in awe of them. I don't know if this is the greatest movie of all time, but it certainly is an incredible one. 

July 5 & 8

The Fifth Element (1997)

Luc Besson's stylish sci-fi movie has a strong cult following who will love seeing this beloved film on the big screen. 

July 26 & 27

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)

This adaption of Roald Dahl's classic children's book was not recognized for the great film it is upon its release. However, over the years it has gotten the reputation it deserves. This movie played a major role in my childhood as I am sure it has done for many of you. If you haven't seen this on the big screen don't miss your chance. 

July 5 & 8

 

Gone With the Wind (1939)

One of the greatest of all Hollywood movies. This civil-war romantic epic still is full of classic movie magic and still can sweep audiences off their feet. This movie is exactly what I think of when I think of a classic Hollywood epic. This movie won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. For her supporting role as Mammy Hattie McDaniel won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar making her the first African American to win an Oscar. 

July 5 & 8

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Mathematically genius, John Forbes Nash, Jr. (Russell Crowe) makes an incredible discovery early in his life but finds himself set back by tragedy and hardships. This movie won four Academy Awards. These were for  Best Picture (Brian Grazer, Ron Howard), Best Director (Ron Howard), and Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Connelly) and Best Screenplay (Akiva Goldsman).

November 22 & 23

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Featuring Humphry Bogart in his breakout role and John Huston in the director's chair for the first time, this is possibly the greatest detective film ever made. Tense, atmospheric and completely engaging, this is a pure masterpiece and one of the great works of classic Hollywood. 

  December 6 & 9 

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

This is not only a Christmas classic but one of the most moving films of all time. If you do not find yourself moved by this classic, you may be missing a heart. A pure masterpiece that features one of James Stewart's all-time best performances. 

December 18-26

Hope you can make it to the cinema to see some of these classic movies. You won't regret it. For any more information go to Fathom's Website.