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
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