Silent Film of the Month: The Haunted House (1908)

 

Run Time: 6 minutes. Studio: Pathé Frères. Director: Segundo de Chomón.

It is October once again and that means it is time to watch spooky themed films. One of my favorite types of spooky films is the haunted house flick. This sub-genre has been around since cinema was young. This month we take a look at one of the earliest haunted house flicks, a 1908 French classic, The Haunted House. 

Being only six minutes, the storyline here is very basic. Three friends are taking a trip together and decide to rest at an abandoned house, not knowing that the house is haunted. 

Like much cinema from this time period the narrative simplicity and brief running time are a part of this film's charm. Sometimes it is simply fun to watch something that is simple and directly to the point. And if you want to watch a haunted house movie, this film provides exactly that. This film puts our characters in that haunted house right away and soon after creepy stuff is already happening. Despite being a haunted house film, the main point here is not to scare you. Instead, it is to delight you with a flux of pure imagination. Much of the haunting comes from stop motion animation and camera tricks. There is a real playfulness to how these are executed that I find irresistible. It feels like everyone involved was having a great time making this and that feeling translates to the audience. 

Despite its age many of the visuals hold up quite well. The opening outdoor scene as well as our first view of the house (from the outside) are simply lovely to look at and quite atmospheric. While the special effect can seem simplistic compared to those of today, they still get the job done and are fun to watch. The demon (if that is what he is supposed to be) looks fantastic and I simply love his costume. The final scene offers wonderful horror movie visuals that are as fun and creative as anything modern horror filmmakers could come up with. 

If you want to watch this delightful film, you can do so below.

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #297

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

Today's cartoon selection starts with a delightful short from the Disney studio, Suzie the Little Blue Coop (1952). This cartoon is a perfect example of what Disney could do better than nearly any other animation studio. It not only humanizes an inanimate object, but it makes us truly emotionally connect with this little blue car. This is a sweet and charming film that never fails to make me smile. This short film would make its TV debut on the Disneyland TV show episode, Adventures in Fantasy (1957), only five years after this film hit theaters.  

We continue with a real classic, Gold Diggers of '49 (1935). This short film was directed by the one and only Tex Avery. It was the first film, he directed for Warner Brothers and much of his famous style is already here. This cartoon does not feel like the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts that came before it. Instead, this cartoon has a faster pace and wackier sense of humor. While there is no doubt that Tex would have timed some of these gags even faster later in his career, you can clearly see the inklings of what would become his signature style. This is also the first black and white Looney Tune to feature Porky Pig (though the character had appeared in a color Merrie Melody beforehand). This is important as Porky would soon become the main star of the black and white Looney Tunes series. Yet in this film he is a supporting character. The real star is Beans the Cat. Both of these characters had made their debut in the color Merrie Melodies short; I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). Beans would remain the star of the Looney Tunes series for short while until Porky took over the series. 

Next comes Gandy Goose in The Frog and the Princess (1944). This short film follows a typical Gandy Goose pattern with its story. Gandy falls asleep and dreams of some elaborate fantasy world. 

Now for another Terry Toons cartoon, Fanny's Wedding Day (1933). This cartoon features a human villain named Oil Can Harry, years before Mighty Mouse fought a feline villain with the same name. Many cartoon fans believe these to be the same character. This human Oil Can Harry did not only appear in this character but in a series of melodrama spoofs. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Now for the silent cartoon short, Koko the Knight (1927). 

The Pink Panther began his animated career appearing in the opening credits of Blake Edwards' great live action feature, The Pink Panther (1964). Blake Edwards contacted animation producers Friz Freleng and David DePatie to create an animated Pink Panther for this title sequence. They created many different panthers, but when Blake saw the various drawings, he immediately knew which one he wanted in his film. The title sequence was a smash hit, and the character was spun off into a series of theatrical cartoon shorts (at a time when those were on their way out). Today we will look at the first and possibly best of these cartoons, The Pink Phink (1964). This cartoon set a template for many more shorts to come. The basic storyline involves a formula that would be often used. The Pink Panther wants to turn everything pink much to the annoyance of a little man (who may look a little like Friz). The gags come fast and furious and the design work is lovely. All in all, this cartoon was a delight and the best way to start this series possible.

Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Jesse and James (1931). 

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. 

Resources Used

Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town! by Jerry Beck

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

  

Silent Film of the Month: Kid Speed (1924)

 

Run Time: 18 minutes. Studios: Larry Semon Productions, Chadwick Pictures Corporation. Directors: Larry Semon, Noel M. Smith. Writers: Larry Semon, Noel M. Smith, Leon Lee. Producer: Larry Semon. Cast: Larry Semon, Dorothy Dwan, James J. Jeffries, Oliver Hardy, Frank Alexander, William Hauber, Grover Ligon.

To many Kid Speed may be just a typical run of the mill silent comedy short. However, it is one that holds a special place in my heart. That is because it is one of the first silent films I ever saw. I was already a fan of some of the Laurel and Hardy talkie films, when my grandpa got me a DVD set of Laurel and Hardy. The set featured Laurel and Hardy's two public domain feature films, the first silent short film the duo made together (The Lucky Dog (1927)), a public service short featuring the two (Tree in a Test Tube (1947)) and a selection of silent short films featuring either Stan Laurel or Oliver Hardy before the two teamed up. This set ended up being my very first introduction to silent film and I quickly became a fan. 

This short features Oliver Hardy in the type of role that he most often played in his days before teaming with Stan Laurel. Here he plays a heavy or in other words a villain that goes up against the main comedian. The main comedian here is Larry Semon. Though mostly forgotten today, Larry Semon was incredibly popular in his time. His work often favored fast paced action over characterization and story. His best works may not have the artistry or inventiveness of the films of Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, but they move quickly enough that they still can entertain. 

In this film Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy play rivals participating in a car race hoping to win the affections of a wealthy businessman's (who is sponsoring the race) daughter. 

Kid Speed is one of Semon's best films. True to the title, this film moves at a very quick speed. This is the type of comedy that Semon's sensibilities were best suited for. The gags and action come so quick here, that it almost doesn't matter if they are actually funny. The pure energy is enough to make the film entertaining. Yet despite this there are actually some pretty good slapstick gags here. The boxing scene (featuring former heavy weight champion Jim Jeffries) especially always puts a smile on my face. Most of the action though is more fun and energetic than actually funny. The climatic race sequence also features some very impressive stunt work that still looks great today. 

The following is an exhibitors review from Moving Picture World.

"KID SPEED. (Larry Semon Special Comedy). Star, Larry Semon. A real comedy with more thrills and spills than ever put before in a comedy. We class it as the very best comedy for many moons. James J. Jeffries in the cast helps get 'em in. Buy "Kid Speed." Boost it and it will not fail to please. Tone, good. Sunday, yes. Appeals to everyone. Ned Pedigo, Pollard Theatre (800 seats), Guthrie, Oklahoma." 

The following is a review from The Moving Picture World. 

"The first subtitle tells you all about it: 'The tale of two bold men, both loving a maiden fair. To decide the case, they entered a race, the loser to take the air.' In this Larry Semon, special comedy produced by Chadwick Pictures Corporation, the star is all bent to on winning a girl. Opposition is furnished by another automobile racer, and the two of them have it hot and heavy on the racetrack with a bit of dirty work at the crossroads. There you have the story in a nutshell, except for some hilarious, slapstick developments in a blacksmith shop presided over by James J. Jeffries, former champion fighter. This Semon subject is a pippin of a thriller comedy. The racing scenes are some of the most exciting to ever be seen on screen, with much exploding of the villain's dynamite, much skidding on the turns, and some reckless driving through houses and fences. Woven among the thrills are real bits of comedy, with Semon playing a fairly straight role and excelling at it. Among the players are Dorthy Dawn, Oliver N. Hardy, Frank Alexander, William Hauber and Grover S. Ligdon. - S.S.  

Moving Picture World, 1924

To watch this delightful comedy short, you can click on the YouTube video below. 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #294

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Midnight Frolics (1938). This Columbia Color Rhapsody cartoon was directed by none other than Ub Iwerks, co-creator of Mickey Mouse and at one time Walt Disney's right-hand man.  

Now for more singing and dancing ghosts here is the Terry Toons cartoons, Seeing Ghosts (1948). 

Though Chuck Jones would be one of the main contributors into Daffy Duck changing from his early wild, unhinged and well Daffy personality into the later self-absorbed and greedy duck, Chuck's earliest cartoons with Daffy featured the duck as completely crazy. In my opinion one of the best of these films is To Duck or Not To Duck (1943). This is a wild and crazy and very funny cartoon that is instantly quotable. This short has fallen in the public domain and therefore those who collect VHS and DVDs of classic cartoons will instantly recognize it. A review in The Film Daily stated, "Leon Schlesinger has turned out another ace Technicolor cartoon featuring the characters of Daffy Duck and the Goofy hunter."

When Ub Iwerks had his own cartoon studio, it unfortunately had the same problem that many forgotten studios did. Ub's studio struggled to find a character that would fully win over movie audiences, the way the Warner Brothers and Disney characters did. One of the forgotten characters from the studio was Willie Whopper, a young boy who told great tall tales and tried to pass them off as stories from his life. Here is one of the Willie Whopper cartoons, Rasslin' Around (1934). While his cartoons have a certain charm to them, it is easy to see why the character never took off like Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Now we join Dingbat in The Hard-Boiled Egg (1948). This is the first of five theatrical cartoons starring this crazy yellow bird. 

Today's cartoon selection concludes with one of Walt Disney's great Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, The Ocean Hop (1927). Like the early Mickey Mouse cartoon, Plane Crazy (1928), in this film Oswald takes to the skies in his self-made plane. Here though Oswald is in a race against a variety of competitors including an early version of the later Mickey Mouse nemesis Peg Leg Pete. When it comes to the early Disney cartoons, the animator most cartoon buffs think of is Ub Iwerks. However, Iwerks animates surprisingly little footage in this movie.  Still, what he does animate shows his skill to its finest level. For instance, there is an incredible scene (animated by Iwerks) in which Oswald's "plane" is spinning wildly out of control and rotating around the sky. Rollin "Ham" Hamilton's animation looks crude in comparison with other Disney animators, but there is some great acting in his scenes that come across perfectly. This is something that is well seen when Oswald tells a couple of mice to blow up a balloon. Hugh Harman animates the majority of action in this cartoon including a great scene in which Pete uses a stick of gum to prevent Oswald from winning. There is unfortunately a missing scene from this film. That scene involves the dog falling into a taxi's engine and coming out as a series of sausages. While that joke sounds mean spirited today, it was a common joke during this time period and Walt Disney himself had previously used a similar gag in the Alice Comedy, Alice’s Mysterious Mystery (1926). These Oswald cartoons were later released in the 1930's with new soundtracks and unfortunately scenes shuffled around and left out.

Next is the Mickey Mouse cartoon, Orphan’s Picnic (1936). The original story outline for this film had the orphan mice playing various practical jokes on Mickey. However in the finished film, these jokes are aimed at Donald instead. 

Now let us close with a song. 

Thank you 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

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

https://lantern.mediahist.org/

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/disneys-oswald-rabbit-the-ocean-hop-1927/

  

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #293

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Bugs Bunny in Bugsy and Mugsy (1957). This film was a semi-remake of the Slyvester cartoon, Stooge for a Mouse (1950). Bugsy and Mugsy would later be remade as the Dogfather cartoon, Heist and Seek (1974).

Next comes the silent Out of the Inkwell film, Koko Plays Pool (1927).

Now for the Aesop's Sound Fables cartoon, Farm Foolery (1930). While this may seem crude compared to what Disney was doing at the same time, there is a certain charm to that. The music is fun and some of the gags are quite creative. The final gag is bizarrely surreal in the best way. 

Next comes Donald Duck in Contrary Condor (1944). This short film was directed by Jack King, who directed most of the Donald Duck cartoons at this time. For a while in the community of cartoon and Disney lovers, the Jack King Donald Duck cartoons were rarely given the accolades they deserve because more attention was paid to the later Donald shorts that Jack Hannah directed. However luckily today many Disney fans are reevaluating this and realizes what wonderful films, the Jack King Donald cartoons are. Contrary Condor is just one of the many examples of how great of a cartoon director Jack King was. However, this film also works because of a wonderful team of animators. John McManus animates the opening moments as well as Donald tossing the dummy and the mom diving after it. Judge Whitaker animates Donald yodeling while climbing the mountain, Donald's first meeting with the mother, Duck applauding the small bird's flight, the small bird gliding and landing, Donald's landing and Donald contemplating a new plan. Nick Nichols animates Donald discovering the nest and hiding in the egg, the hatching sequence, the small bird being jealous, the little bird snaping Donald off the limb, Donald's "flight," the mother applauding, the mother missing the dummy as it falls into the water and the closing sequence. Paul Allen animates the mother pushing the small bird off the limb, the mother encouraging Donald to fly and Donald trying to escape with the egg until the small bird intercepts it. George Nicholas animates the small bird falling and trying to fly. Don Townsley animates the small bird lowering its legs like landing gear and the mother's card trick. Hal King animates the mother attempting to push Donald off the limb and Donald faking a bad wing, Marvin Woodward animates the mother trying to trick Donald with the berry. The working titles for this film were Contrary Condors, Egg Collector and The Colombian Condor. The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Donald Duck provides plenty of laughs in his attempt to swipe an egg from a condor's nest. When Donald emerges from his hiding place in an empty egg shell which a mother condor mistakes for an unhatched egg she accepts our fine feathered hero as one of her own. Her attempts to get Donald to fly are extremely humorous. The Technicolor cartoon is aces." 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now we join our good friend Farmer Al Falfa in Flying Oil (1935). This is a delightfully silly, surreal and creative cartoon.

 Now for an early Disney Silly Symphony, The China Plate (1931). This short film was directed by Wilfred Jackson, who would later co-direct such Disney features as Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and Lady and the Tramp (1955). Even at this stage, Disney cartoons had all star casts of animators and this short is no exception. Joe D'Igalo, who would work not only for Disney but also for Warner Brothers, MGM and Fleischer Studios (where he would work on both of their feature films (Gulliver's Travels (1939), Mr. Bug Goes to Town (1941)), animates the teacup and teapot as well as the cherries being delivered to the mandarin. Johnny Cannon animated the mandarin eating and sleeping, the geishas dancing, the boy fishing and dragon swallowing the rock. Jack Cutting does much less here only animating the orchestra. Frenchy de Tremaudan (who animated on many of the best Disney shorts of the 1930's animates the first scene with the girl, the dragon eating the mandarin, capturing the girl and fighting with the boy. Rudy Zamora, who would have a long career in animation and would direct episodes of the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoons of the 1980's, animates the scene with the boy and the girl with the butterfly. Future Woody Woodpecker and Barney Bear director Dick Lundy would animate the fight between the mandarin and the boy. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941), animates the couple being chased by both the mandarin and the dragon. David Hand, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942), animates the scene involving the couple and the mandarin at the bridge. Future Donald Duck director (who directed the Donald cartoon earlier in this post) animates the couple dislodging the rock and in the boat. Walt Disney himself provides the laugh for the boy. Six years after this picture the Disney story department proposed a Japanese themed Silly Symphony that would be similar to this short, but that film was never made. 

Next is probably the most famous Humphry the bear cartoon, In the Bag (1956). One reason this cartoon is so well remembered is because the very catchy song. As late as Cars 3 (2017), Disney movies would even include references to this delightful song. In the Bag marked the last Disney short made for CinemaScope and after this film the cartoons would go back to a regular aspect ratio. This theatrical cartoon made its TV debut in the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color episode, A Square Peg in a Round Hole (1963). 

Now to close with a song. 

Thank you 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.

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

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald 

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

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

   

Silent Film of the Month: The Adventures of Pinocchio (1911)

 

Run Time: 50 minutes. Studio: Società Italiana Cines. Director: Giulio Antamoro. Main Cast: Polidor, Augusto Mastripietri, Natalino Guillaume, Lea Giunchi. 

The 1940 Disney film version of Pinocchio has had a permanent effect on how people view the character and his story. Though there have been many film versions of the character since then, almost all of them have been at least partially inspired by the Disney movie. However, the story of Pinocchio has been around much longer than that. In fact, Disney's version wasn't even the earliest film adaption of Collodi's classic story. In hindsight it is a bit shocking to watch a film version of Pinocchio that came out before the Disney version was even thought of and was not affected at all by that landmark movie. However, that is also what makes this 1911 silent movie such a joy to watch. 

The storyline here definitely reflects Collodi more than it does Disney. While Disney created a tightly woven and traditionally structured story, this silent film keeps the very episodic nature of Collodi's original version. The storyline here is simply treated as an excuse for the wooden puppet to get into one misadventure after another. Unlike the Disney version, Pinocchio's goal to become a real boy is less important than the various misadventures he gets in along the way. 

With its episodic structure, this is easily the most playful film adaption of the story. Imagination and fun set pieces take front stage here. As such it lacks the emotional connection of later film adaptions or the depth of Collodi's original story. However, it makes more than up for this in pure fun. There is such a surrealistic and playful tone here that I couldn't help but have a great time watching it. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously and we don't have to either. We can just enjoy the pure imagination and silliness. This is heavily enhanced by the look of the film, which embraces the more surrealistic and adventurous feel of the story. There are times when the costumes can look a bit more like something out of a play version than a film adaption, but this actually fits perfectly with the tone of the film.  Ferdinand Guillame (an acrobatic clown who was already well known to Italian movie goers) is very charming and energetic in the main as the main character. He can mug at times but that honestly fits considering the tone of the film. 

As an adaption, this film is rather strange. Most of the set pieces come directly from the original. However, they seemed to be shuffled into a completely random order. The result is that none of the sequences seems to lead into the next. As episodic as the original story was, each misadventure seemed directly lead into the next. As fun as this movie is, the shuffling of scenes from the original story can make it feel a bit disjointed in a way that the source material did not.

The same year this film was released, Collidi's original story was reissued in a new storybook version which featured new illustrations by Attilio Mussino. Interestingly the look of this film is extremely similar to that of Mussino's illustrations. For many Italians of that generation Mussino's illustrations become the definitive look for Pinocchio.

If you want to watch this fun film, you can do so below.

Resources Used

Pinocchio: The Making of The Disney Epic by J.B. Kaufman

https://wise-cafe.com/2023/08/31/pinocchi-o-rama-8-pinocchio-aka-the-adventures-of-pinocchio-1911/

 

Full Schedule for Cinecon 62 is Online

 

For true movie lovers, the Cinecon Film Festival is one of the greatest highlights of the year. This film festival is aimed at the most dedicated cinephiles, and you can spend five days living a life that completely revolves around movies. These are not just any movies, but many are films that even the most die-hard movie buffs have never seen. Most of them come from the silent era through the 1940's, though some later films are included as well. For many of these films this is the only way you can see them as they aren't available on home video or streaming. Though these are mostly old films, you are experiencing them with an audience who has also never seen them and doesn't know what to expect. This makes them feel so fresh, new and exciting. 

As well as being filled with movies, the festival also honors some great special guest stars. And this year has some truly incredible guest stars. Receiving the Cinecon Legacy Awards this year are Lainie Kazan, Nancy Kwan, Barbara Eden (of I Dream of Jeanie fame) and Anna Maria Alberghetti. Each will be interviewed following a showing of a lesser-known film of theirs. For Lainie Kazan they will be showing My Favorite Year (1982). For Nancy Kwan, they will show, The Main Attraction (1962). For Barbara Eden, there will be a screening of All Hands on Deck (1961). That movie features Pat Boone, who will be presenting Barbara Eden with her award. For Anna Maria Alberghetti, there will be a screening of The Starts are Singing (1953). 

Other highlights of the festival include a new restoration of the silent OZ film, The Magic Cloak of OZ (1914), the John Ford directed silent, 3 Bad Men (1926), the John Wayne B-Western, The Lucky Texan (1934), the rarely seen tru-color musical That’s My Gal (1947), a tribute to the George Pal's stop motion Puppetoons and rare Paramount Technicolor shorts. As well as the cinematic treats there will be some rare early live television delights featuring comedians Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason and Sid Ceaser. 

The film festival will be held at the Landmark Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles (11272 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025), It will take place Labor Day Weekend from September 3-7, 2026. 

To view the full schedule and buy tickets for the festival, please go to Cinecon's website by clicking here. 

 

 

Oswald The Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons (2017)

 

If you are a fan of Disney, cartoons and/or silent film, then this book is for you. 

After a delightful introduction by the great film historian (and one of my heroes) J.B. Kaufman, this book delves into the history of Walt Disney's career leading up to and including Oswald. Much of this will be familiar to many Disney lovers but it is still very well written and sets the stage up beautifully for those who are reading this as their first Disney history book. The highlight of the book though is the film by film look at Oswald's Walt Disney directed cartoons. Each surviving film receives a full in-depth story summary as well as the history of how these films (many of which used to be missing) were found, recovered and restored. There is even information on how these silent films were given new scores and why certain music was chosen for these scores. Author David A. Bossert here provides something completely different than what can be seen in most film history books. You can find many books that talk about the behind the making of classic silent films or give critical insight into these films. However, there are so few books about the art of film preservation. This makes this a very unique read that deserves to be read by any true cinephile. Not only is this a topic that is not often covered in film books, but the discussion of it is very well written and in depth. For the lost films, Bossert provides us with original scripts and artwork as well as some reviews from the time period. This allows us to get a great glimpse at these lost films, providing us with the closest thing we can get to actually watching them.

All in all, this is essential reading for any Oswald fan. 

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #287

Good morning my friends and welcome for a special Fourth of July edition of Saturday Morning Cartoons. 

 In 1997 animation legend Chuck Jones wrote a children's book starring Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny titled Daffy Duck for President. When Warner Brothers decided to follow the feature film, Looney Tunes Back in Action (2003) with a series of new animated Looney Tunes shorts for movie theaters, one of these shorts was a cartoon based off this book. Daffy Duck for President (2004) never got the theatrical release it should have as Looney Tunes Back in Action proved a disappointment at the box office. However, this is a truly delightful cartoon. It was dedicated to Chuck who had passed away in 2002. 

Now we join our sailor friend Popeye in Patriotic Popeye (1957). This Fourth of July cartoon features Popeye and two nephews. When Popeye's nephews were introduced, he had four of them. This then went down to three and then to two. 

Next comes the silent cartoon short, Bobby Bumps Fourth (1917). The Bobby Bumps films were made by Earl Hurd. Earl Hurd has a very important place in the history of animation. He was in fact the inventor of animation cells. Him and John R. Bray owned a patent on animation cells and any studio that used them had to pay license fees. About the Bobby Bumps cartoons film historian and critic Leonard Maltin would state, "They are among the most mature, most well-conceived cartoons of the silent era - certainly the best work done in the mid- to late teens."

Now for a short film from Stephen Bosustow Productions, Freedom River (1971). This is an intelligent and lovely film that is helped by narration from no less than Orson Welles. The film was directed by Sam Weiss, who would go on to work as a layout artist on such animated TV shows as The Bullwinkle Show, The Dick Tracy Show, Underdog and Rugrats.

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Now for our favorite pink friend in Yankee Doodle Pink (1978). This is essentially a reissue of the earlier Pinky Doodle (1976) with a few extra scenes. 

In December of 1941 the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morganthau contacted Walt Disney about making a short film encouraging Americans to pay their taxes. The story goes that Walt was surprised by this request believing that all American citizens paid their taxes on time. Disney writers Joe Grant and Dick Huemer wrote a story involving Donald Duck as an average tax payer. When an aide was surprised that Disney didn't create a new character to represent the average tax payer, but Walt felt that Donald was a natural choice. He argued that this was the same as when a Hollywood studio would use one of their biggest live action stars to promote the war effort. Donald was the Disney studio's biggest star at the time (as well as a character everyone loved and saw themselves in) and to have him push the war effort was vital to the project. The cartoon was titled The New Spirit (1942) and was a major success. The Treasury Department stated that about sixty million Americans saw this cartoon and a poll showed that 37% of these Americans stated that this positively influenced them when it came to paying taxes. In 1943 the Treasury Department approached Walt about making another one of these shorts. This resulted in The Spirit of '43 (1943).

Let us end with another patriotic Disney short, Ben and Me (1953). 

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 the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin.

Donald Duck: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/ducks-and-taxes-the-story-of-the-new-spirit/

Old Town Music Hall Schedule for July 2026

 

My personal favorite place to see a movie is at Old Town Music Hall (140 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA 90245). Decorated as a mini-movie palace of the 1920's, this theater has been providing classic films nearly every weekend since 1968. The centerpiece of the theater is the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe organ, a 1925 instrument that was created to accompany silent movies. Though in recent years, the theater has expanded what decades are defined as a classic (some movies even are as late as the early 21st century), they still play silent movies here with the organ accompanying it live. For those newfangled talking pictures, the organ still plays beforehand. As well as movies, this place also hosts concerts, mostly of the jazz variety. 

Here is the list of what this wonderful theater is playing this July. 

July 5th

The General (1926) 

Silent starring Buster Keaton. 

One of the most beloved silent comedies of all time, this film was a box office disappointment upon its original release. Yet over the years, movie lovers, the world over discovered what a masterpiece it is. Filled with great laughs, exciting action scenes (which hold up marvelously today) and a larger-than-life epic scale, this is comedian Buster Keaton at his absolute best. 

With live accompaniment by organist David Marsh and an introduction by film historian Randy Haberkamp. 

Sunday July 5, 2:30pm.

Get tickets here.

July 11th

Grease (1978)  

Directed by Randal Kleiser. Starring John Travolta and Oliva Newton-John.

Probably the most popular movie musical of the 1970's. The unpretentious lighthearted feel makes endears this movie to new generations as well as old. The songs especially are a lot of fun. Who cares if the actors are obviously older than high school age. 

Saturday July 11th, 2:30pm

Buy tickets here.

 

Laura (1944)

Directed by Otto Preminger. Starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews.

 

One of the all-time great film noirs. This spellbinding movie pulls you in from the opening scene. Style overflows from this classic with many images that stay in the minds of movie lovers long after they watch. A great cast, a well-written mystery and a great score by David Raksin makes this a true masterpiece of the genre. 

Introduced by author and filmmaker Steven C. Smith.

Saturday July 11th, 7pm.

But tickets here.

July 12th

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielson.

One of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time. Made at a time when science fiction was treated as a children's genre, this film is anything but kiddie fare. Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, this film is an intelligent and thought-provoking masterpiece that explores deep and dark themes dealing with the dark side of human nature. Still remains just as powerful today as it was back in the 1950's.

Introduced by special effects artist Craig Barron. 

Sunday July 12th, 2:30pm 

Buy tickets here.

    

Toons and Tunes

Part concert and part cartoon show, these special shows are pure delights. Hosted by singer Janet Klein, animation historian Jerry Beck and organist Randy Woltz, this show is filled with live music (featuring songs from the 1920's and 30's) and some classic 1930's cartoon shorts. A must see. 

Sunday July 12th, 7pm

Buy tickets here

 

July 18th

Robin Hood (1922)

Silent, directed by Allan Dawn and starring Douglas Fairbanks and Alan Hale

Before the immortal Errol Flynn version, the most popular action star of the 1920's, Douglas Fairbanks, played the famous character in this still exciting 1922 silent adaption. A pure treat for the whole family as well as the first movie to receive a Hollywood premiere (at the Egyptian Theatre in 1922). 

Accompanied by organist Robert York. Introduced by stand-up comedian (and great-granddaughter of Alan Hale), Samatha Hale.  

Saturday July 18th, 2:30pm

Buy tickets here.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966)

Directed by Sergio Leone. Starring Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach. 

The most famous spaghetti western is also one of the definitive screen westerns. The final entry in The Dollars Trilogy (preceded by A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965)), this features Clint Eastwood in his most famous role as The Man with No Name. With stylish direction by Sergio Leone and an iconic musical score by Ennio Morricone, this is a cinematic delight, even for those who think they may not actually like a western. 

Saturday July 18th 7pm 

Buy tickets here

 

July 19th

The Awful Truth (1937)

Directed by Leo McCarey. Starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

One of the definitive 1930's screwball comedies. This film is directed by one of the greatest Hollywood comedy directors, Leo McCarey, who worked with Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers and Charley Chase on some of their best films. He would win an Oscar for Best Director for The Awful Truth, and it is easy to see why. This is absolutely hilarious and can hold its own with more famous screwball comedies. Of course, this is helped by an incredible cast headed by Cary Grant (for whom this would help cement his screen image), Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy. The chemistry between Grant and Dunne makes them one of the greatest pairings in screwball comedy history. 

Introduced by author and filmmaker Steven C. Smith

Sunday July 19th, 2:30pm

 Buy tickets here.

July 25th

WALL-E (2008)

Animated Pixar classic directed by Andrew Stanton.

This is everything a Pixar movie should be. It is smart, funny, creative and very moving. Among the animated sci-fi fun is a surprisingly touching and lovely romance between the two main robots. Without saying anything but their names, these two characters feel so real to us and move straight into our hearts. 

Saturday July 25th 2:30pm.

Buy tickets here.

Hairspray (1988)

Directed by John Waters. Starring Sonny Bono and Ruth Brown.

John Waters' most mainstream film is also one of his most enduring. This musical comedy is so much fun that it would later become a very popular Broadway musical. 

Introduced by film historian Randy Haberkamp. 

Saturday July 25th, 7pm 

Buy tickets here

 

July 26th

Double Indemnity (1944)

Many consider this to be the greatest film noir of all time. It is easy to see why. Featuring all the hallmarks of the genre, legendary director Billy Wilder creates a movie that is possibly a definition of film noir. This dark and thrilling ride is held together by brilliant cinematography, great writing and a top-notch cast. Included in this top-notch cast is Fred MacMurray in one of his best dramatic roles, Edward G. Robinson at the top of his game and Barbara Stanwyck who gives a powerhouse of a performance. 

Introduced by film historian Antonia Carlotta. 

Sunday July 26th, 2:30pm

Buy tickets here.