Hello my friends and Merry Christmas and Happy Saturday Morning. Are you in the mood for some classic Christmas cartoons? I hope so because I sure am.
Today's cartoon collection is familiar to pretty much anyone who watches DVDs of public domain cartoons, as it has appeared on nearly every set even slightly Christmas related. The cartoon is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1948). Despite being made for the often forgotten Jam Handy Studio, the name of the director will immediately be familiar to cartoon fans as it is the one and only Max Fleischer (of Popeye and Betty Boop fame). Music history buffs may immediately be surprised when this video starts as it it begins with the famous song, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. While this may seem natural to many, those who know their music history will note that Johnny Marks wrote the song (and gene Autry recorded it) in 1949, a year after this cartoon was released. The reason for this is that what you are about to watch is a 1951 re-issue of the film with the now hugely popular hit song added. This cartoon was instead based off the 1939 short story written by Robert L. May (Johnny Marks was his brother in law).
Up next comes a classic Silly Symphony, The Night Before Christmas (1933). Though the Silly Symphonies were mostly one off shorts, the occasional sequel could happen (with the Three Little Pigs sequels being the most well known). The Night Before Christmas is a follow up to the often better remembered Santa's Workshop (1932). Yet as much as I love Santa's Workshop, I love this sequel even more. It could be argued that this film picks up where the previous one left off, as the last one ends with Santa leaving the North Pole for his trip and this cartoon has him visiting houses. Like the last film this is a reissue and there is a bit of a difference towards the end. In the original 1933 version, Little Junior is disappointed to get a chamber pot for Christmas. Here he is happy to get a puppy. In this version we do get a bit of Junior getting a blackface appearance from the chimney soot that would be cut out when the film was shown a Disney TV Christmas special in 1983. For all four years of the original Mickey Mouse Club, this would be the Mousekartoon on the last new episode to be aired before Christmas. The following is a brief article from The Film Daily (dated December 28, 1933), "In conjunction with the showing of Walt Disney's Silly Symphony, 'The Night Before Christmas,' The Radio City Music Hall is exhibiting six original Walt Disney drawings used in the production of this picture. The short, a united Artists release, will be held over a second week." A review of the cartoon in The Film Daily called The Night Before Christmas "... one of Walt Disney's best cartoons." Not everyone was so impressed as evidenced by the following exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE: Silly Symphony—These Silly Symphonies arc okay, but not worth difference in rental United Artists asks for them.-P. G. Held, New Strand Theatre, Griswold, Iowa. General patronage."
After this we celebrate Christmas with Pooch the Pup in Merry Dog (1933). This short has everything I love about Walter Lantz cartoons of this era. The jokes are incredibly silly and more often than not just plain strange. In fact this film is pretty much one bizarre joke after another and I simply love it. The following is an exhibitors review from the Motion Picture Herald, "MERRY DOG, THE: Pooch the "Pup—Excellent cartoon for anybody's program. "Night Before Christmas" theme with snow storm and blizzard effects which almost made us forget that it was the hottest day of the summer. (106 and no shade.) Running time. 8 minutes.—Wm. Sayre, Delmar Theatre, Morrill, Neb., Rural and small town patronage."
The Christmas cartoon selection continues with one of my favorite Christmas TV specials, A Pink Christmas (1978). This Pink Panther half hour special has everything a Christmas special should have a good sense of humor, some Christmas magic and a lot of heart.
Let us end with a song that reminds us just why we love Christmas.
Thank you 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. -Michael J. Ruhland
Kommentare