All-New Super Friends Hour: Doctor Fright (1977)

 

This is the first segment of the fourth 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, the evil Dr. Fright plans to spray Metropolis with his fear gas. Superman and Wonder Woman team up to save the day.

This is a very fun cartoon. As I have stated before, I always love when these cartoons can make a non-super powered villain a real threat to the Super Friends and this cartoon does a good job at just this. Though his design is rather ordinary, Dr. Fright is a very fun villain (even if he can be very similar to the Batman villain The Scarecrow). It is very fun to watch just simply how much he enjoys his evil plan. This is simplistic fun at its best. Though he technically had a motivation (to make humanity more peaceful), he simply has a great time carrying out his task. This is very fun. To see him make a complete coward out of the most powerful super friend (Superman) gives this cartoon a good sense of suspense as well. This also helps make it believable that Superman would really need help from another superhero, as Wonder Woman plays a major role in helping save the day. 

This is simply put, a cartoon that is very fun in its simplicity.    

Video Link: Red Skelton in When Television Comes

Here is a comedy skit by the great Red Skelton from the movie, Ziegfeld Follies (1946).

Movie Review: One Life

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A simply wonderful movie. 

This film tells the true-life story of Nicholas Winton, a man who helped over 600 children get out of Czechoslovakia, before the Nazis invaded. We see him both as an old man (played by Anothony Hopkins) and as a young man (played by Jonathan Flynn). As an old man we see him trying to figure out what to do with a briefcase of documents pertaining to his saving of these small children. As a young man we see him, dedicating his entire life to saving as many children as possible. While much of this story is told in a very conventional way, it is also told in an incredibly heartfelt way. This is a movie that will move you to your core. Much of this is due to the truly great performances by Hopkins and Flynn. There is not a single film with Anothy Hopkins that is not much better because he is in it and that is certainly the case here. There are times his performance here will lead you to tears. This is especially true in the scenes when he reflects on the children he wasn't able to save. The fact that he saved so many and yet still felt pain about those he couldn't save, says all we need to know about this man. Anothony Hopkins perfectly conveyed this and the way I saw the pain in his eyes, moved me deeply. However, the ending is probably the most emotional part of the film, and it will leave most any audience completely teary-eyed. The flash back scenes with him as a younger man are also great. Seeing the drive of this man and how he was unable to rest as long as there were more kids to save is incredibly inspiring. It makes us perfectly understand why this man was such a hero and why his story needs to be told in this movie. You will leave the theater wondering what more you can do to help fight any injustice in this world. This film makes you understand that we can't make this world a better place by simply being opposed to evil, but instead doing our best to help anyone in need. This is a message that is not only relevant to our time, but will always be relevant. The movie also benefits from great dialogue and some much needed and truly funny humorous parts to help even out the heaviness of the story. 

This is a truly a must see.  

Cowboy Church #166

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with their 1950 recording of May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to Ya. 

Then comes Jim Reeves with Where We'll Never Grow Old. This version of this classic hymn comes from Jim's 1962 gospel album, We Thank Thee. This song was written by James Cleveland Moore in 1914. This song was inspired by him listening to his father sing, but his father's voice failing him because of old age.

Afterwards is Kris Kristofferson with They Killed Him. This song (written by Kris) pays tribute to three heroes of Kris. Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It is a shame that in this world, people who preach a message of love can often get killed for doing it. As Christians though love for others should be a major priority. After all God us love and it is through love that we can best see him.  Despite Kris writing this song he was not the first to record it. Kris would record the song in 1986, but Johnny Cash had already recorded it in 1984. In 1986 Bob Dylan also recorded the song for his Knocked Out Loaded album. 

Next comes George Jones with I Wonder How John Felt (When He Baptized Jesus). This comes from George's 1974 gospel album, In a Gospel Way. 

Now for Floyd Cramer with Peace in the Valley. The hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey who later explained the origins of this song, “Peace in the Valley,” “It was just before Hitler sent his war chariots into Western Europe in the late 1930s. I was on a train going through southern Indiana and saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley. Everything seemed so peaceful. It made me question, “What’s the matter with mankind? Why can’t men live in peace?” Out of those thoughts came “Peace in the Valley.” This version of the hymn comes from Floyd's 1972 gospel album, Sounds of Sunday. 

Next is Josh White with his 1933 recording of I Don't Intend to die in Egyptland. 

Now for Charlie Walker with This World Is Not My Home. This recording comes from his 1968 gospel album, He is my Everything. 

Today's musical selection ends with the Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Heavenly Airplane. This song was written by Bob Nolan, one of the founding members of the group and one of my favorite songwriters. Bob also has the lead vocals on this song. Hugh Farr's fiddle playing here is truly wonderful. This recording was done when Roy Rogers was still a member of the group before embarking on his solo career. 

Next comes a full-length feature film starring Allan "Rocky" Lane as Red Ryder, Stagecoach to Denver (1946).

Now for a message from S.M. Lockridge. 

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

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 #267

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Little Lulu in Snap Happy (1945). In this short film Little Lulu tries to get a news cameraman to take a picture of her. 

Up next is Casper the Friendly Ghost in Casper Comes to Clown (1951). This short film was directed by Izzy Sparber and Myron Waldman. In this cartoon Casper makes friends with a bear and trains him to do circus type tricks. 

Now for an early cartoon staring Porky Pig, Boom Boom (1936). This movie is very similar to an earlier Looney Tunes cartoon, Bosko the Doughboy (1931), which in turn is quite similar to Disney's Oswald cartoon, Great Guns (1927). The film is directed by Jack King, who after his stint at Warner Brothers would direct some of the best Donald Duck cartoons at Disney. Porky here is not yet voiced by Mel Blanc but instead by Joe Dougherty. Joe was the original voice for Porky and unlike Mel he really stuttered. Unfortunately, his stuttering caused real problems with the filmmakers because of how much time it took, and he would later be replaced in the part by Mel Blanc. However, Porky is not the main star of this movie. Our hero is instead Beans the cat. Beans first appeared in the same cartoon as Porky, Friz Freleng's I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). Jack King clearly preferred Beans over Porky and gave Beans the main role in most of his cartoons around this time period. Sometimes Porky just had a cameo and sometimes didn't appear at all. This is the first time that Porky received a decent size role in a Jack King cartoon. Later when Porky's popularity clearly eclipsed that of Beans, Jack King would make cartoons starring Porky. Beans here is voiced by Tommy Bond, who many of you may know for playing Butch in the Our Gang films. 

Now for the Aesop's Fables cartoon, Runaway Blackie (1933). Though this short film is very primitive compared to what Disney or some of the other cartoon studios were putting out at the same time, it has a weird charm all its own. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

One thing that sets the Disney cartoons apart from what other cartoon studios were doing in the 1930's is the sheer number of major characters that appear in one film. For instance, in Hawaiian Holiday (1937), Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Minnie all appear. This cartoon is the first Mickey film to be distributed by RKO after Disney left United Artists. The Disney studio certainly started their RKO run on the right foot with this short. This is a delightful cartoon in every way. This film also shows the mastery Disney had over character animation by this time. This is probably best shown through Pluto's run om with a crab. Though Shamus Culhane was not new to animation at this time (having worked for Fleischer and Ub Iwerks before), with this film he made a name for himself at the Disney studio. He wouldn't stay long at Disney as he would animate for Fleischer, Warner Brothers and most importantly Walter Lantz. At Lantz he would direct some of that studio's funniest films. The following are some exhibitor reviews from The Motion Picture Herald, "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—These Disney cartoons so far out-shadow the other producers in drawing power and workmanship that there is no comparison. This one is great. Running Time, Seven Minutes. - A.J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town and rural patronage."  "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—This was the first RKO Disney we have played. The kids and adults eat them up and ask for more. Running time, 10 minutes. —R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, New- port, Wash. General Patronage." "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—I am decidedly a Disney fan. Walt has always given us something to sell that we were sure would click. This was up to the standard of all Disney subjects. Our audiences watch for his subjects like they do weather reports. They are the top money getter of all cartoons, no doubt. Weekend with 'Everybody Sing.' Running time 9 1/2 minutes. - R.D. Leatherman, Rialto Theatre, Denison, Texas, Railroad town patronage."  "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Walt Disney Cartoons- Just a fair Mickey Mouse cartoon. Running time, 7 minutes. —Richard C. Welch, Comique Theatre, Camden, Me. General Patronage." 

Now for a classic silent short film, He Buys a Jitney (1916). 

Now for Slyvester and Tweety in Tweet and Sour (1956). 

Let us close by singing a song we all know. 

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

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

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

Movie Review: Dune: Part Two

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

Everything a sci-fi movie should be. 

The main goal of any sci-fi film is to make its world feel real to you. This movie does even better. After the film starts you are no longer in a movie theater, but you have been transported into the world of the movie. Everything about this world is perfectly realized from the incredible visuals (make sure you see this in IMAX and don't wait for it to come to streaming) to the mythology and politics. I can't remember the last time I was this engrossed in the world of a sci-fi movie. Despite the film's long length when the end credits started playing, I did not want to leave this world, I had become so engrossed in.  

While this is already set to be one of the greatest visual spectacles of the year (I know it is early in the year but what can top this), the incredible visuals never become the substitute for a great story. This movie has an incredibly intelligent script. It takes a deep dark look at both religion and politics, that is much deeper and more complex to what you have come to expect from a Hollywood blockbuster. Unlike most Hollywood blockbusters that try to say something, this film never oversimplifies what it is trying to say and never directly preaches to its audience. Instead, it is all incorporated perfectly into the story. Because of this, you can enjoy the story on a surface level or dig a little deeper. If you decide to dig deeper, you may find that this film causes you to look deep within yourself and your own beliefs. While the main character being "the chosen one" is a poplar trope in movies and books, I have rarely seen it be as well examined as it is here. This film follows this trope into the more complex implications that few movies explore. The result is incredibly thought-provoking. The arc the main character goes through concerning this is completely engrossing and keeps us glued to the screen. The romance here is also very well realized and believable (especially because Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya have great chemistry), which makes the climatic scenes of the movie all the more emotional. 

I have a feeling that one day the Dune trilogy (there is one more movie coming) will one day be just as revered as the original Star Wars trilogy. If the two movies so far have anything to say about it, this will be a trilogy that may even be better than the original Star Wars.  

Silent Film of the Month: Kid Boots (1926)

 

Run Time: 60 minutes. Studio: Paramount Picture. Director: Frank Tuttle. Writers: Tom Gibson, Luther Reed. Titles: George Marion Jr. Based on a play by William Anthony McGuire and Otto A. Harbach. Producer: B.P. Schulberg. Main Cast: Eddie Cantor, Clara Bow, Billie Dove, Lawerance Grey, Natalie Kingston, Malcom Waite. Cinematographer: Victor Milner.

When one thinks of silent film comedy, images of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and the Keystone Kops immediately come to mind. However silent comedy is a much vaster world than that. In fact, much of silent film comedy was not even the slapstick humor that comes to one's mind. I personally love some of the wacky romantic comedies of the era, some of which look forward to the screwball comedies of the 1930's and 40's. Kid Boots is a wonderful example of just such a comedy. 

Kid Boots (Eddie Cantor) works in a men's tailor shop, when a dangerous customer (Malcolm Waite) comes in. Kid Boots finds himself on the run after he botches the job. While on the run he ends up agreeing to help a rich playboy (Lawrence Gray) get a divorcee. Unfortunately, this leads him to running into the dangerous customer and his girlfriend (Clara Bow). Things get more complicated when Boots falls for the customer's girlfriend. 

This film is everything you could want from a movie like this. The whole movie moves at a fun fast pace. The sheer amount of gags that are fit into its brief hour-long runtime is incredible. Even more impressive is how many of these gags are truly funny. The climax of this film can hold its own with the films of the silent era's best comedians. Though he is often best known for his musical comedy work, Eddie Cantor proves himself to be incredibly adapt at the world of silent comedy. He is simply fantastic in this movie and brings a real charm to the role. The story itself may be light and often times an excuse for the comedy, but it is quite charming and does its job very well. Most importantly though, there is not a second of this film that is not very entertaining to watch. 

This movie marked the feature film debut of Eddie Cantor, one of the most popular comedians of his era. His success covered such various mediums as stage, radio, movies and later television. He was the rare comedian to have equal success in all these mediums. To start his movie career, Kid Boots was a film adaption of one of his most successful stage plays at the time. Though the play was a musical, its basic storyline and comedic situations made it a great fit for a silent comedy.  

His leading lady was one of the most popular movie stars of her time, Clara Bow. At this time, she was at the height of her popularity. Her stardom came not only from her acting ability but also her screen presence. This screen presence is what made her soon to be defined the "It" girl (she would even star in a movie called It (1927)). Popular romance novelist of the time, Elinor Glyn referred to it as something that makes a woman incredibly attractive which goes beyond physical attractiveness or sex appeal. Still all the years later Clara Bow has this special something and it is what fully endeared her to audiences then and now. It has even been said that partly because of Clara Bow's popularity, when this film made its premiere, a large number of officers from New York Police Department were assigned for crowd control. 

This movie also benefits from a very strong supporting cast. Though not as well remembered as she should be Billie Dove was a major star during the silent era appearing in such films as All the Brothers Were Valiant (1923), Wanderer of the Wasteland (1924), The Air Mail (1925), The Black Pirate (1926), The Marriage Clause (1926), Sensation Seekers (1927) and The American Beauty (1927). Malcom Waite will be a familar face to any Charlie Chaplin fan, as he played Jack in The Gold Rush (1925). He also appeared with Laurel and Hardy in Why Girls Love Sailors (1927) and Harry Langdon in Feet of Mud (1924). Natalie Kingston is another face that will be familiar to silent comedy fans, especially due to her work with Harry Langdon in various of his films for producer Mack Sennett. She also appeared in such films as Street Angel (1928), Tarzan the Mighty (1928), Tarzan the Tiger (1929) and His Private Secertary (1933). The later features an early leading man role for John Wayne. 

Frank Tuttle may not be the best remembered directors, he had a long career that lasted from the 1920's through the 1950's. His films include The Cradle Buster (1922), The American Venus (1926), Her Wedding Night (1930, starring Clara Bow), The Big Broadcast (1932), Roman Scandals (1933, starring Eddie Cantor), Waikiki Wedding (1937, starring Bing Crosby), Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939), This Gun for Hire (1942), Suspense (1946), A Cry in the Night (1956) and Island of Lost Women (1959). He directs Kid Boots with a fun fast-paced energy that helps make the movie a blast to watch. 

However Edward Sutherland may have been considered to direct this film as well. This following advertisement refers to Sutherland as the director. 

Motion Picture News, 1926

The following from an issue of the Moving Picture World (dated January 30, 1926) also states that Sutherland would be directing.

"While Edward Sutherland is in Chicago to confer with W.C. Feilds, comedian in Ziegfield Follies whom he will direct in 'It's the Old Army Game,' he will consult with another Ziegfield star, Eddie Cantor, now appearing in 'Kid Boots.'

"The long-run musical comedy will be transferred to the screen as a Paramount Picture, to be started at the Long Island studio early in the summer, with Sutherland at the megaphone and Cantor duplicating his stage role in films. Townsend Martin, who is to supervise 'Kid Boots' is also in Chicago with the director and star."

If any of you have any information on why Edward Sutherland didn't direct the film, I would love to hear it. 

Motion Picture News, 1926

The following is from a 1926 issue of Motion Picture News.

"Manager Chas. F. Shire capitalized on his intermissions during the week pervious to the showing of 'Kid Boots' by doing some stage advertising when 'Kid Boots' played at the Lincoln Theatre, Lincoln, Neb.

"The stage was set with a back drop and set pieces and showing golf course. A Studebaker automobile was also used on stage to add a little more atmosphere. A cut-out sign hung from the border lights read 'Eddie Cantor in Kid Boots at the Lincoln next week.' The back piece set was cut from a 24-sheet.

"This stage advertisement was displayed on intermissions three times a day and proved a very effective way of getting the message across. 

"On Thursday, prior to the opening, 2,000 valentines were distributed through the office buildings and to the students at the local university. The valentines carried a cut of Eddie Cantor, appropriate copy, title of picture, theatre and play dates. 

"Fifty-six valentines were enclosed in envelopes and mailed to fraternities and sororities.

"Three thousand one hundred postal cards carrying appropriate copy about Eddie Cantor and the picture, were mailed to every farmer in the county owning automobiles." 

Moving Picture World, 1927

The movie was a huge success both finically and critically. Today, it is still easy to see why. It is just as fun today as it must have been in 1926.   

For anyone interested this film can easily be found on YouTube. 

Recourses Used

A-Z of Silent Comedy by Glenn Mitchell

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017028/?ref_=tt_urv

https://lantern.mediahist.org/