Hello my friends and welcome back for another Saturday Morning of classic cartoons. For me the Christmas season begins as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Since this is the first Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, this is the first Saturday morning to be exclusively about Christmas cartoons, which will continue until the Saturday before Christmas day. So sit back and enjoy these classic Christmas cartoons.
With the studio's latter day reputation, a Disney Christmas cartoon sounds like it would be very cute and sentimental. However in the early 1930's Disney films, especially the Mickey Mouse cartoons, were often just one gag after another and that is exactly what Mickey's Orphans (1931) is. Despite having a story that could easily be extremely sentimental, the story is just an excuse to fit in as many slapstick gags as possible. A review in the Motion Picture Herald stated "The youngsters will get a real kick out of this short, and the oldsters will extract a bit of enjoyment." A review in The Film Daily gave the same sentiment stating "It will delight all children and get many a laugh from their elders." An issue of The Film Daily (Dated February 7, 1932) stated "In addition to El Brendel in person this week's show at the Roxy is a special treat for the kids. The presentation includes four scenes based on 'Mickey's Orphans,' the Mickey Mouse cartoon that was held over for three weeks at this house. The characters of Mickey and Minnie are portrayed by the Arnaut Brothers, popular pantomimists. Patricia Bowman, Fred Waring's orchestra in a novelty entitled 'Dancing Melodies,' and the Roxyettes also are part of the proceedings. In the Mickey scenes, the Roxyettes and ballet group are made up to represent kittens, musical notes and animated furnishings in Minnie's boudoir." This cartoon was reissued to theatres in 1934.
Santa's Surprise (1947) is an especially delightful Christmas cartoon from Famous Studios. This cartoon is best remembered as the first cartoon to feature the character of Little Audrey. Little Audrey was an original character for the studio and also a replacement for Little Lulu, who the studio had made a series of cartoons with in the past. Little Lulu was not created by the studio but was the star of a comic strip by Marjorie Henderson Buell. When Paramount decided not to renew the license for Famous Studios to use that character, Little Audrey was created. The character was designed by veteran Disney animator Bill Tytla (possibly my favorite Disney animator), who was know a director at Famous. This short's lead animator was Myron Waldman, who specialized in cute animation (often shining his best in the studio's Casper series). Myron would later remember this cartoon as one he was especially happy with.
My favorite Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoon is True Boo (1952). This film puts a lot of delightful Christmas spirit in with its traditional Casper story. The gags where Casper uses everyday objects to make toys, heavily borrows from the Max Fleischer Color Classic, Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936).
Next is one of my favorite of Rudolf Ising's Merrie Melodies from the early 1930's, The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives (1933) the beginning of this cartoon is as atmospheric as these early Merrie Melodies got, and the song is extremely catchy.
The last cartoon for this post is from a very underrated cartoon series. This is Van Beuren's Little King cartoons. These films were often extremely creative and quite funny. This cartoon offers one very creative moment after another, showing what the series could be at its best. This short movie is Christmas Night (1933).
Thanks for joining me come back next week for more animated Christmas treasures.
I normally don't write about concerts I went to on this blog, but I just saw a concert that was so amazing I can't help but talk about it. This will be a brief post, but I hope it will let you know if you have a chance to see Dwight Yoakam in concert don't miss it.
Dwight Yoakam is a country music legend and he certainly proved it at a concert I went to last night. His voice has never sounded better, and his selection of songs was fantastic. He did many of his great hit songs including Fast as You, Honky Tonk Man, Guitars, Cadillacs, Turn It Up, Turn Me On, Turn Me Lose, It Only Hurts When I Cry, Streets of Bakersfield and A Thousand Miles From Nowhere. These songs were performed with pure energy and joy from Dwight. He certainly showed that at 62, there are no signs of him slowing down. He did his great signature moves on stage much to the delight of the whole audience. As well as performing his own hits he did quite a few covers of hits by other artists. One thing that always amazes me about Dwight is his ability to cover someone else's song and make it completely his own. He certainly showed that here with fantastic covers of songs by The Eagles (Peaceful Easy Feeling) and Buck Owens (Act Naturally). Since this was a California country music concert he even did a three song tribute to the great late Merle Haggard. He performed three of Merle's biggest his to absolute perfection. These were Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down, Swinging Doors and Okie From Muskogee. As well as playing incredible music Dwight proved himself to be excellent at talking to the audience. He reminisced about his early days in Southern California, causing many audience members to cheer loudly. He also gave us a history lesson on Southern California, country-rock showing his pure knowledge of that type of music. He even complemented a man wearing an Angels hat. This was everything you could want from a country music concert and more.
But wait there was an opening act as well. This was the new country band, Midland. I admit not being as familiar with them, but they certainly impressed me. Since they haven't even released their second album yet, it is fair to say they gave us a major selection of their music. These songs were very good and the band's musicianship was excellent. They even through in some great covers of Jerry Reed (Eastbound and Down) and Tom Petty (Last Dane With Mary Jane). I certainly look forward to hearing what they do in the future.
If you are a country music fan like me and you ever have the chance to see Dwight live, do not pass it up, he puts on one of the best concerts I have ever seen. In fact if you have a chance to see Midland live, I would recommend that as well.
Mickey's Kangaroo was Mickey's last theatrical cartoon short in black and white. Earlier the same year this cartoon was released Mickey's first color cartoon, The Band Concert had already been released and had been a smash hit with audiences and critics. From this, there was no doubt that Mickey was going to stay in color. This is one of the only two black and white Mickey's to be released after The Band Concert with the other being the excellent, Mickey's Service Station. This was not only the last black and white Mickey, but the last black and white theatrical cartoon from the Disney studio.
By this time, Mickey was no longer the star of his own cartoons, the way he was the previous year (1934 still featured cartoons like Two Gun Mickey, Shanghaied and Mickey Plays Papa, where the mouse was clearly the star). Instead Mickey Mouse cartoons found the mouse playing straight man to characters that were once his supporting cast. This film is an example of that. Though credited as a Mickey Mouse cartoon, Pluto is the real star of this film getting most of the laughs. Speaking of Pluto this cartoon marks one of the only two cartoons where Pluto is actually given a voice (The other being The Moose Hunt (1931). True in other cartoons an angel and a devil would appear on Pluto's shoulders and we would hear them speak, but in this film it is the mutt himself that gets dialogue. Truth be told it is hard to say he speaks. As the dog's mouth never moves, what we are hearing is his inner thoughts. This is not true of The Moose Hunt where Pluto actually does speak to Mickey. Still in both cartoons it is obvious why the studio never did this again. The reason is it doesn't work. The animation is more than good enough for us to tell what Pluto is thinking without hearing his thoughts, making the device pointless. Still that is not to take away from this cartoon, which is fast paced fun entertainment. There is some good slapstick and the animation is fantastic.
This cartoon is oddly enough inspired by a true event in Disney history. An Australian wine maker named Leo Buring set Walt Disney two wallabies as a present in 1934. If Walt could receive these as a present why couldn't Mickey receive a kangaroo as a present. The following appears in an issue of The Film Daily (dated Friday 12, 1935).
"Inspired by the gift of three wallabies from an Australian admirer, Walt Disney has added a kangaroo to his gallery of animated cartoon characters. It appears in 'Mickey's Kangaroo,' being released by Untied Artists."
This cartoon was directed by David Hand, who would later be the supervising director for two of the studio's best animated features, Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942).
The following is a very brief article in The Film Daily (dated April 10, 1935).
"'Mickey's Kangaroo' Walt Disney subject released by U. A. will have its premiere at Radio City Music Hall on April 18."
The following is an exhibitors review in Motion Picture Herald (dated June 12, 1937).
"Mickey's Kangaroo: Mickey Mouse - Oh boy! This is a corking good cartoon. Mickey Mouse sure has a time of it with a kangaroo by giving him a working out with a pair of boxing gloves. Running time- one reel - Rudolf Dubs, Royal Theater, Kimball, S. D. Small Town Patronage."
The following is a review in the Motion Picture Daily (Dated Friday May 3, 1935).
"It was Pluto the dog, that had a local theatre audience howling at his antics in this, the latest of the Mickey Mouse series. Mickey is his usual comedic self, but this short is all Pluto and the two new characters, the Kangaroos.
Mickey gets a present of a mother and a baby kangaroo from a friend in Australia. On discovering the animals box, Mickey puts on the gloves with the mother. He takes a terrific beating and winds up in a hay bailing machine. In the meantime Pluto has been chased all over the place by the baby. The four wind up pals however.
Highly recommended. Production Code Seal No. 715. Running Time, 8 1/2 mins. 'G'"
The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald (Dated January 25, 1936).
"Mickey's Kangaroo: Mickey Mouse - Laugh from start to finish. Running time 8 minutes. - W. M. Allison, Princess Theatre, Tucumcari, N. M. Small town and rural patronage."
On the same page directly proceeding that exhibitor's review was this exhibitors review.
"Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies: These are by far the cream of the cartoon release. Adults get a great kick out of them. - Frank E. Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage."
The following is a review from The Philadelphia Exhibitor.
"Mickey's Kangaroo. Untied Artist - Disney. 8 min. Up to the standard of the series with Mickey getting some kangaroos as a gift. After Mickey boxes with a big one and Pluto takes over the little ones, they have enough. It all ends pleasantly with the usual okay Disney gags and ideas. Okay."
The following is an article from Variety (dated Wednesday, September 18, 1935).
"Roxy, N.Y. It would be unfair to call the current week's stage show 'typical.' Its pretty bad and the Roxy's average is usually pretty good.
"Another cause of complaint this week is the Roxy's inclusion of a cartoon short, 'Mickey's Kangaroo,' which was exhibited around town about a year ago. That is putting a penalty on the regular going theatre-goer that is hard to justify. New short entry entry is the first of Columbia's 'Voice of Experience' series.
"Against the jumbled, lame and lethargic stage layout and the repeat of short product the house has a bang-up feature in Gaumont-British's '39 Steps' so business will probably be spiffy. But that stage show!
"One of the Gae Foster production numbers starts with the 'Old Spinning Wheel' sung from the tormenter by Norman Neilson and then romped into two-four time for hoofing. Three sections of girls all attired differently, seem to be adlibbing with their feet. There is a lack of unity, harmony, and sense that is bewildering.
"One of the headliners is Cecil Mack. He played the house a year ago and seemed funnier. With the assistance of stooges he entices some giggles but the act is meandering. Several vulgarisms by Mack should be eliminated. The both- thumbs - to - nose gesture directed at the audience is unpardonable and many hells and damns don't belong.
"Other headliner is Billy Hill, the songwriter working with Mrs. Hill. Audience goes big for his western and hillbilly ballads. He wrote 'The Last Round Up,' 'Spinning Wheel,' etc. Finale has Johnny Boyle, holdovers daughter and son tap dancing to Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with the stage and chorus dressed in motif. That's okay."
Though the idea of a stage show being part of the movie going experience seems odd today, it was not uncommon during this era. For those unaware, The 39 Steps was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and I agree with this reviewer that it is an excellent film. If you have not seen it I could not recommend it more.
Animation Les Clark (Mickey painting Pluto's sign - Truck back - Pluto happy - Jumps around; Pluto knocks Mickey down - licks face - Mickey kisses - O.S. postman's whistle; Postman delivers box - exits - Mickey and Pluto in; C.U. of delivery tag; Mickey starts to open box - Mickey falls on face. Pluto follows box out of scene; Box hopping - Pluto following - box on note - box chases Pluto; Mickey says 'Hot Dog' etc. exit towards kangaroo; Mickey shakes kangaroo's hand - says "Hi ya pal" "Wait 'till I get my gloves. Then exits; Door shot - Mickey says "be right out" Falls - enters doorway; Kangaroo hops out of the scene, Pluto out from under porch... barks; Kangaroo hopping - turns - honks at Pluto; Pluto dives under porch, comes out through step. Surprised expression)
Fred Moore (Kangaroo ripping into doghouse scene, happy - dive in - tail bursts out - head points out - kangaroo honks; Pluto by rooftop- "Busting up my house"; Kangaroo licks Pluto off dog house; Pluto- "Last Straw." "I'll run him off the place".... exits; Dog house scene - fist out through entrance - knocks out of scene; Pluto lands in basket- shakes pins off - exits towards kangaroo; Mother eating leaves - baby pops out of pooch - smacks Pluto - Pluto pouch - baby up - wallops him out of scene; exterior of house - Mickey runs out - holding up gloves - jumps over rail toward kangaroo; Kangaroo and baby - Mickey in - lifts out of pouch - "Hey Pluto look"; Mickey and baby - baby socks him - they spar; Pluto enters - "Take care of the little one" etc. Mickey exits with mother; Mickey and mother on pan - gym in barn; C.U. Pluto - "Now's my chance - get the little guy first."; Pluto starts after baby - circle action another pan; Pluto diving after baby - kangaroo clunks Pluto - baby-out - Pluto follows)
Dick Lundy (Mickey sparring with mother - dialogue Lupino Lane action - Mickey socks kangaroo. Dialogue. Kangaroo socks Mickey out of scene; Mickey into ropes - spins around - dialogue and spins back again (unspins) back towards kangaroo; Mickey circles kangaroo - swings at him - misses - kangaroo pounds Mickey - poses of kangaroo boxing Mickey - knocks him out of scene; Mickey lands against wall - in bucket - kangaroo in - punching bag action; Kangaroo mauling Mickey; Kangaroo bouncing Mickey from punching to wall; Kangaroo and Mickey repeat action - punching bag breaks - Mickey exits; Bale of hay bumps to stop - Mickey pops out - dialogue "let's mix it up")
Gerry Geronimi (Pan - Pluto hopping after baby - Pump pan in - water gag - Pluto follows baby out; Wheel barrow - Baby hops over - Pluto lands on handle - somersaults - rides wheelbarrow down hill - hits rock; Pluto lands in dump heap - up through derbies; top of dump - baby hops in Happy "heep beeps."; Pluto sore - hops out after baby - springs on feet; Baby scoots as Pluto lands - business of Pluto bouncing up and down; Hopping onto baby - both hop - Pluto snaps at tail - finally bumps head; Clothes line - Pluto lands in corset - bounces on vertical angle pan - ropes snap - loosen - Pluto exits; Exterior of house - Pluto crashes thru; Interior - Pluto dazed - coming to - Baby looks in door "Beep-beep" hops; Closer view - baby kisses Pluto - Pluto dialogue - off stage crashes)
Hardie Gramatki (Exterior of barn - biffs and bangs - pigeons and chickens scatter; Exterior window - Pluto and baby hop in - look in window; Interior of doorway - Pluto and baby follow - bouncing action; Bailing machine - Mickey lands in machine - machinery goes into action; All three take it big - dive out windows and doors; Bailing machine - bale of hay pops out - machine collapses; Fireside scene - Mother kangaroo - baby up out of pouch - Pluto up - kissing, etc. Mickey looks in window)
Story: Our film starts with Mickey painting Pluto's name on the dog's new dog house. Pluto likes it very much and licks Mickey. Mickey gets a present from Australia. It turns out to be a mother kangaroo and her baby. The excited mother kangaroo jumps around and ends up breaking Pluto's new house. Pluto is mad. Pluto heads after the big kangaroo, receives punches to the face. This gives Mickey an idea. The mouse gets out his boxing gloves and decides to do some sparing with the mother. He asks Pluto to take care of the son. Pluto gives the baby chase only to receive punches from the little guy. Meanwhile the mother kangaroo is absolutely beating up Mickey. Meanwhile the baby gives Pluto a big kisses. This melts Pluto's heart and the two become friends. The two go to watch Mickey and the mother fight. The mother knocks Mickey into the hay bailer, and Mickey comes out in the middle of a bail of hay, still as happy as ever. Pluto joins his new friend in the mother kangaroo's pouch for a sweet happy ending.
