Happy Saturday morning my friends, I hope you are ready for some more cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Bugs Bunny film, Bugsy and Mugsy (1957). Though he is most associated with foes like Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam, Bugs Bunny had a wide variety of reoccurring villains. Many of these characters were handled by one specific director and the duo of Rocky and Mugsy were handled by Friz Freleng. These characters did not only appear as agonists to Bugs. They went up against Daffy Duck in Golden Yeggs (1950) and were in the Sylvester and Tweety cartoon, Catty Cornered (1953). However they are best remembered by cartoon fans for their outings with Bugs. Having Bugs go up against two gangsters makes sense for Friz Freleng as Friz felt Elmer was too little of a threat and too sympathetic to work as a Bugs Bunny villain. This was an idea that also lead to the creation of Yosemite Sam. This cartoon is somewhat of a remake of an earlier Friz Freleng cartoon (staring Sylvester), Stooge for a Mouse (1950).
Next comes Cubby Bear in Mild Cargo (1934). Though the title of the cartoon is lost on most modern day viewers, audiences of the time certainly got it. This film is a parody of the feature length movie, Wild Cargo (1934) starring real life game hunter Frank Buck. Frank Buck was a major name at this time and pretty much everyone knew his "...bring 'em back alive" trademark. A very positive review from the Motion Picture Herald stated, "A hilarious burlesque on Frank Buck's 'Wild Cargo' that should make any audience roar." An extremely short exhibitor's review (also from the Motion Picture Herald) had a differing opinion on the cartoon, "MILD CARGO: Cubby the Bear Cartoons—Terrible. —M. F. Bodwell, Paramount Theatre, Wyoming, Ill. Small Town Patronage."
Next comes a quite funny Color Rhapsody cartoon, Red Riding Hood Rides Again (1941). This cartoon has a real Warner Brothers feel to it, so it should come as no surprise that its director, Sid Marcus would go on to write some classic Warner cartoons (including the Tazmanian Devil's first appearance).
Daffy's Rhapsody (2012) is an excellent post golden age Looney Tunes effort. This short film is based off a recording that Mel Blanc made in the 1950's. The filmmakers took this recording and animated to it making a brand new and highly entertaining cartoon.
Today's cartoon selection continues with one of the all time classic Betty Boop cartoons, Is My Palm Read (1933). This film is everything a Betty Boop cartoon should be. It is fast moving and incredibly imaginative. They are completely off the wall bizarre (as they are in all the best Bettys) and quite risque for the time. At the time of this film's release, some weren't fans of it for all the reasons people love it today. This is clear from the following exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "IS MY PALM READ: Betty Boop—Poorest cartoon we've ever had from Paramount, and just last week reported that Paramount had the best one- reelers. We book cartoons especially for the children, and lately the horror craze has crept in. One reel.— J. J. Hoffman, Plainview Theatre, Plainview, Neb. General patronage."
Today's cartoon selection ends with a Popeye, Gopher Spinach (1954).
Thank you for joining me, come back next week for more animated treasure. Until then may all your tunes be Looney and Melodies Merry. -Michael J. Ruhland.
Σχόλια