Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #259

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

Today’s cartoon selection begins with the most talked about cartoon on the internet right now, Steamboat Willie (1928). Though this film going into public domain has its dark side, it is still wonderful to see such an old film get so much attention. While contrary to popular belief this was not the first sound cartoon, there is no doubt that no cartoon before had used sound as well as this film did. This was the short that opened up the door for what sound cartoons could be and its effect could soon be felt on almost every sound cartoon being made. Though this was not the first Mickey cartoon made either (Plane Crazy and The Galloping Gaucho were both made before it), this was the film that made Mickey a true movie star. In fact, after the success of Steamboat Willie the two earlier Mickeys were given synchronized soundtracks because of Willie's success as a talkie. Willie brought about the idea that unlike early live action talkies (which often sparsely used music outside of musical numbers), sound cartoons would use music as just as important a part of the storytelling as the visuals. Even when studios like the Fleischer studio and Warner Brothers would make cartoons in their own style, this principal was largely employed. Walt would later recall "When the picture was half finished, we had a showing with sound. A couple of my boys could read music and one of them [Wilfred Jackson] could play a mouth organ. We put them in a room where they could not see the screen and arranged to pipe their sound into the room where our wives and friends were going to see the picture. The boys worked from a music and sound effects score. After several false starts sound and action got off with the gun. The mouth organist played the tune and the rest of us in the sound department bammed tin pans and blew side whistles on the beat. The synchronization was pretty close. The effect on our little audience was nothing less than electric. They responded almost instinctively to this union of sound and motion. I though they were kidding me. So they put me in the audience and ran the action again. It was terrible but it was wonderful! And it was something new." The reaction from audiences when the film hit theatres was if anything even greater. It is hard to overstate just how incredible the reaction to this cartoon was when released. While this cartoon can not have the feeling of newness or startling innovation it once had, it still works today wholly on an entertainment level. The truth is that this cartoon is still a lot of fun, and the gags remain charming and clever over 90 years later. The film received the #13 spot in Jerry Beck's book, The 50 Greatest Cartoons. November 18, 1928, marked Steamboat Willie's debut at New York's Colony Theater and that date is now widely considered to be Mickey's birthday.

Up next is Triple Trouble (1941) starring Sneak, Snoop and Snitch. These characters were created for the Fleischer feature film, Gulliver’s Travels (1939) and and were spun off into their own short lived series of shorts. 

Last week I mentioned that in the 1960’s there were actually a series of TV cartoons based off of the Fleischer silent-era Out of the Inkwell shorts. Here is another one, Mean Moe Tells William Tell (1963). 

Now we join our good friend Gandy Goose in Flying Fever (1941).

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next is a silent Aesop's Film Fables cartoon, The Walrus Hunters (1923). 

Next comes a real classic, Falling Hare (1943). This cartoon features one of the few characters to get the upper hand of Bugs, the gremlin. Despite only appearing in this one short, the character has proven quite popular and has appeared in quite a few Looney Tunes spin offs. The original title for this movie was going to be Bugs Bunny and the Gremlin. However, since Disney was working on an animated feature film about Gremlins (a movie that would never be finished), the studio took the word Gremlin out of the title of this cartoon to appease the Disney studio. The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Literally and figuratively, Bugs Bunny, already a prime favorite among current cartoon characters, gets off to a flying start in the distribution season just started. The buck-toothed, long-eared clown meets up with a gremlin and both find themselves aloft in an airplane, with Bugs or what's left of him being darn glad to get back to earth. There are plenty of laughs throughout. The tough Bunny, if this initial '43-'44 offering of his producer Leon Schlesinger, is any criterion, is in for a further rise in popularity among fans who like humor. Of course, the reel is in Technicolor. It was supervised by Robert Clampett and animated by Roderick Scribner. Warner Foster wrote the story and Carl W. Stalling handled the musical direction." This movie amounts to one of my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoons and it is appropriately in Jerry Beck's book, The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes. 

Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in The Art Museum (1988). This is one of the short Simpsons cartoons for The Tracey Ullman Show, before the cartoon family got their own TV show. 

 Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another selection of 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.

The 50 Greatest Cartoons edited by Jerry Beck

100 Greatest Looney Tunes edited by Jerry Beck. 

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

 

Movie Review: The Boys in the Boat

 

Michael’s Movie Grade: B

An very good feel-good sports movie. 

Director George Clooney fully understands what people love about this type of feel-good sports movie. While the clichés may make this not a critics favorite sports movie, Clooney has given us a sure-fire crowd pleaser here. This is an extremely well-constructed film. This especially shows during the rowing scenes. These scenes are perfectly timed and shot to make them as exciting as can be. Even when the clichés tell you what will happen next, the excellent filmmaking will make you second guess your own predictions (even if they are often right). This film also does a great job at making you care about these characters. While not every character is fully fleshed out the ones that are feel very relatable and likable. Because of how much we care about these characters, we want nothing more than to see them be victorious. Because of this we feel a true sense of triumph when they succeed. This is the key ingredient to a film like this and this is why it works so well. This movie also has a wonderfully old-fashioned feel to it. Set in the 1930's, this movie makes the best of its 1930's setting. This creates a truly handsome film, that uses props, sets and old-fashioned filmmaking to create something that is just a joy to look at. It also helps that this movie fully embraces its clichés. It is not ashamed of them and approaches them with great sincerity. Because of this heartfelt sincerity, the film is even very charming during its most clichéd scenes.

Unfortunately, though this movie does try to do a little too much for a film that is a little over two hours. Because of this, there are interesting subplots that simply are not allowed to be as fleshed out as they should be. They instead feel rushed. This is sad since these subplots have a lot of potential. 

Despite any flaws, this is a very effective feel-good movie. 

On the downside   

Movie Review: The Iron Claw

Michael’s Movie Grade: A-

An emotionally devastating film. 

As someone who has never paid attention to wrestling (and having never heard of the real life people on whose lives this is based), I came into this movie having no idea what to expect.  I certainly did not expect to leave the theater as emotionally devastated as I did. This film is an all out tragedy disguised as a sports movie. While there are gleanings of the tragedy that is to come early on in the film, it takes a while for the movie to become a full tragedy. This is the perfect way to tell such a story. It gives us time to connect with and care about these characters. If it didn’t do this then the movie would have no point but being depressing. 

Instead this is a film about this family first and foremost. It is about the strong bond these brothers have and how they pretty much go through hell for each other. It is about a dad that is so obsessed with what he never achieved himself that he is willing to push his sons incredibly past their breaking point. It is about a religious mom, who is often regulated to the background but whose loving heart helps keep the family together. While this is far from your traditional family, this is a film about family, both at their best and at their worst. And though it may not be a feel-good movie (by any means), it has just as much heart as any of the more traditional sports movies. Because of this the film manages to be both gripping and hard to watch at the same time. Though much of the movie is emotionally draining, you care so much about these characters and their story that you can’t stop watching. 

This movie also benefits from some incredible performances by the whole cast. However Zac Efron is the stand out here. If you haven’t taken him seriously as an actor before this, you will after. 

This is a great film but just know it will leave you emotionally wrecked. 

The All-New Super Friends Hour: The Whirlpool (1977)

 

This is the final segment of the first episode of The All-New Super Friends Hour, unlike most other Super Friends formats, this one had hour long episodes that were made up of various shorter cartoons. The first segment would be an adventure staring two members (or three in some cases as Batman and Robin would often team with another Super Friend) of the Super Friends. The second would be a morality play staring the Wonder Twins. The third would be a typical half hour Super Friends adventure. The fourth and last segment would feature one of the main Super Friends teaming up with a special DC Comics guest star. 

In this cartoon, Aquaman teams up with Black Vulcan (a character created for this show but very similar to the DC comics character, Black Lightning) to stop a sea captain, from going through a dangerous whirlpool and putting the lives of his crew at risk, in order to beat a speed record. 

This is a very fun and very simple superhero adventure. While I am normally not the biggest fan of these PSA style episodes, this cartoon works quite well. The scenes at sea at wonderfully well done. The lighting and the art work gives this a very atmospheric look. The episode also makes great use of both Aquaman and Black Vulcan's powers to make some fun visuals. The animation and design work, while simple, are very effective. Also more time in this episode is spent on the fun and adventure rather than the moral, making it feel less didactic than some of the Wonder Twins segments. This is just pure superhero fun that also has a little lesson and that is what makes it work. 

This is a fun little cartoon. 

 

Movie Review: Ferrari

 

Michael's Movie grade: B+

An excellent biopic. 

Despite being a film about car racing, this is not a fast-paced story, nor is this a feel-good sports movie. This is instead a dark and complex portrait of a man that often comes off as anything but likable. This may be unpleasant at times, but the film never asks to sympathize with him or like everything we see. Instead, it simply presents this complex character with all his demons being all to visible. As we watch more of this movie, we begin to understand more (that not all) of what makes him the way he is. None of this is presented in a way that tries to excuse his very dark side, but rather in a way that gives us a clearer picture of the man. We also begin to understand as the film goes on, how his mission to build the perfect car, has made it so the people in his life have become almost afterthoughts to him. Even Adam Driver's (who is completely unrecognizable in the role) performance doesn't ask for audience sympathy. It is an excellent performance that works perfectly for the film. It is also one that is purposely cold. However, the real stand out performance here is Penelope Cruz as his wife. Despite being a major star, there is no glamour to her character or performance. Instead, she is deeply real and human here and her performance provides the real heart of the film. This film's story and exploration of these characters is simply fantastic. While it can make you uncomfortable, it is hard to look away and many of the most uncomfortable moments are the most gripping. Becuase of this, there are scenes here that will stay with you long after the credits roll. 

Though racing is not the focus here, the racing scenes are incredibly well made. The filming and the editing simply much these scenes a pure visual treat, that will even grip people who hate sports (like me). Director Anothony Mann's instance on practical effects over CGI also help make these scenes very visually gripping. 

I have one major problem with this film though. That is that the main character's mistress and son are incredibly underdeveloped. Because of this they can feel more like plot points than actual characters. Considering how much of this film centers on them, it can become a major flaw in an otherwise great movie. 

Though this may be an uncomfortable watch, it is also a very rewarding one. 

Movie Review: Trolls: Band Together

 

Michael's Movie Grade: C+

An enjoyable but easily forgettable animated movie. 

The third feature film in the Trolls franchise does not revitalize the series in any way but it is enjoyable, and fans of the previous films should have quite a bit of fun. The story is very basic, but it does its job quite well. What makes the basic story work is that you care about these characters. Branch and Poppy are pretty much the heart of this franchise, and they are just as likable here as they were in the previous films. Branch still continues to be a very likable and relatable character, who remains our main emotional connection to the story. Poppy continues to be a fun to watch very energetic (but never annoying) character, who also has a very sweet heart that makes us equally like her. Though their relationship is not the main focus of the film, it is very well done here, and it is always nice to see these two characters share the screen. However, the new characters of Branch's brothers and Viva, are also very likable here. None of them are complex characters, but they are all easy to care about and their relationships with Poppy and Branch are very well done. Meanwhile the story as basic as it is, moves at a quick place and the hour and a half go by very quickly. The animation and design work are excellent here and a joy to look at.

Like many current family movies, the humor here is very hit and miss. There are some gags that are quite funny but there are just as many that simply fall flat. To be honest the ratio of gags that work and those that fall flat are pretty near even. 

This film does suffer from weak villains. They are never either that interesting or entertaining. There is also the problem that this movie is a little too predictable and you always know exactly what will happen next. 

This movie was directed by Walt Dohrn, who directed the last feature length Trolls film and was co-director on the first. The co-director is Tim Heitz. Heitz has previously worked as a storyboard artist on some of DreamWorks' other animated features starting with Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008). Though this is his first feature film as a co-director, he did direct the Trolls Christmas special, Trolls Holiday in Harmony (2021). 

This is not going to be a new DreamWorks classic but makes for an enjoyable trip to the movies. 

Silent Film of the Month: Cinderella (1911)

Run Time: 14 minutes. Studio: Thanhouser Film Corporation. Director: George Nichols. Based the fairy tale by Charles Perrault. Main Cast: Florence La Badie, Harry Benham, Anna Rosemond, Frank H. Crane. 

Due to its familiarity with any movie audience, film adaptions of Cinderella were very popular during the silent era. Legendary silent era director Georges Méliès even made two film versions, one in 1899 and another in 1912. Film historian J.B. Kaufman has written about many of the silent versions of this classic tale on his website. In fact, today's silent film of the month is not even the only film adaption of Cinderella in 1911. The Selig Company released a three-reel version of this story the same year. Also, in 1911 the Edison studio would make a modernized version of the story with a short film called, A Modern Cinderella (the Vitagraph studio made a film of the exact same name in 1910). While this version of the classic tale is not the most technically impressive silent film version, it still is a solid and fun little film. 

This film follows the storyline you all know. A young woman is treated like a slave by her evil stepmother and stepsisters. She dreams of going to the ball but is left behind. Her fairy Godmother shows up and helps her go to the ball. There she meets a handsome prince who falls in love with her. 

Short literary adaptions were quite common in films of this period. Often times these literary adaptions would have to condense a much longer story into a much short time frame. Relying on an audience's familiarity with these stories, the films would often times require that someone knew the source material to be able to understand the film. This type of very condensed storytelling can be off putting for many modern movie fans. However, since Cinderella is such a simple and basic storyline, it works perfectly within this short run time. In just 14 minutes this film feels like a complete retelling of the classic fairy tale. There is no important part of the story missing or rushed through. Instead, the story plays naturally and perfectly to a modern audience. The film can even take its time in a few moments, which makes the film all the more effective. Because of the simplicity of the story, it can be told with very few intertitles. There are very few intertitles here and honestly this almost pure visual telling of the story works perfectly. It even adds quite a bit to the charm.

Not only is the story well told but this is also a very handsome film. The costumes and sets are simply lovely to look at. The give the whole film a wonderful fairytale like feel that is completely charming. While the visual effects here are quite basic, they are also effective. They do a great job of helping tell the story, while not calling too much attention to themselves. Also making this film work so well is Florence La Badie's performance. Not only is she very beautiful but she also brought a real charm and sense of fun to the role. It is very easy to see why she was such a popular star at this time. 

Director George Nichols may not be the best remembered name in film history, but he was a very prolific director and actor during the silent era. Probably his biggest claim to fame as a director is that he directed some of Charlie Chaplin’s Keystone shorts. Chaplin was not a fan of Nichlos' comedy style after saying that his comedic repertoire consisted of "one gag, which was to take the comedian by the neck and bounce him from one scene to another." His acting credits include Mickey (1918), The Extra Girl (1923), Winds of Chance (1925), The Eagle (1925) and The Wedding March (1928) among many others.  

For anyone who wants to see this film, it is available on YouTube. 

Resources Used

The Chaplin Encyclopedia by Glenn Mitchell. 

https://www.jbkaufman.com/cutting-room-floor/silent-cinderella