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579,418 | 583,640 | 53,921 | 9 | Wile E . Coyote-a study in singlemindedness . | Wile E Coyote is a study in blind perserverance . He pursues one quarry with total fixation and even a failure rate of stunning perfection deters him not a whit . If the concepts of reincarnation and karma are at all valid , then you have to wonder just what horrible sin lies in a past life to cause Wile E . Coyote such agony and misfortune . The only thing I can figure is that he was the first politician in a previous life , possibly a lawyer , ( or both ) as that is the only thing that would remotely consign him to such a karmic fate . Excellent cartoon . Well worth watching . Most recommended . |
578,860 | 583,640 | 61,663 | 9 | One of the better Speedy / Daffy pairings | One of the biggest problems with the Speedy versus Daffy cartoons is that they aren't really natural adversaries , so it's hard to sell Daffy as really a believable nemesis , unlike Sylvester ( a natural pairing , obviously ) , so the cartoons aren't terribly logical , even for cartoons . Add to that the fact that Daffy seems exceptionally mean and nasty , even for him , in one or two . This one , however , is logical and effectively executed . Well worth watching . Recommended . |
578,815 | 583,640 | 38,413 | 9 | Another successful combination of classical music and animation | This short , nominated for the Academy Award , is another in a long line of shorts that take music ( in this case , classical music ) and set animation to the music . Music and animation in concert ( sorry ) with one another . While all the studios did this , with varying degrees of success , Walter Lantz , with his Swing Symphonies ( set to jazz ) and Musical Miniatures ( classical ) was most successful in doing these types of shorts routinely . As usual , Woody Woodpecker quite outshines Andy Panda , but the short is great fun and well worth hunting down . It's a pity that the Lantz material isn't in wider circulation than it is at present . Recommended . |
579,364 | 583,640 | 114,388 | 9 | Excellent period piece , well adapted and with a witty script and fine performances . | This is a remarkable film that does a very good job of depicting a rigid and quite hidebound society that often made India's caste system look reasonable and moderate by comparison . One of the more enjoyable points for me was the fact that the " sense and sensibility " of the title had a most definite 19th Century feel and yet still remains very timeless and does not attempt to force Twentieth Century mores ( probably by use of a crowbar ) into a script where they do not belong . Modern day viewpoints do not belong here . If you want a modern day version , fine . But it would be , at best , only a glancing and quite loose adaptation of the novel , so why do an adaptation at all , then ? Not all films have to reflect present day sensibilities . This is a very human and compelling story with a fine cast and wonderfully witty script . Look for a very dry and understated performance by Hugh Laurie as Mr . Palmer , the long-suffering husband of the daughter of Mrs . Jennings . Were I Mr . Palmer , I'd have long since invested in earplugs or opened a vein . Very fine film and most highly recommended . |
579,549 | 583,640 | 101,811 | 9 | A delightful and enchanting film about love and growth | The true measure of any fictional piece of work is whether or not the characters grow from their experiences and emerge from the experience altered in some significant way ( note that this change need not be positive or beneficial ) at the end . By that measure , Enchanted April is a resounding success . As a film in general , it succeeds quite well-excellent ensemble cast , well-developed characters you come to care about , wonderful script and beautiful sets and locations . In short the film is , well , enchanting . Although all the performances are first-rate , three must be mentioned-Josie Lawrence , Jim Broadbent and Joan Plowright . It says something when Miranda Richardson does her usual fine work and yet is overshadowed by so many others in the cast . Most highly recommended , particularly if you are a romantic at heart . Further Deponent Saith Not . |
579,779 | 583,640 | 140,812 | 10 | If you get a chance to get this one , do so ! You'll be glad you did . | This short is part of the Warner Brothers contribution to the war effort , here trying to encourage the purchase of war bonds and stamps . The relative scarceness of this short today has less to do with the datedness of its connections to World War II than it does to Bugs's appearance in blackface parody of Al Jolson , which is now frowned upon by a culture ignorant of the context and for whom the past is breakfast that morning . Historically significant for many reasons , this one is well worth the effort to obtain and watch . Most highly recommended . |
578,980 | 583,640 | 36,905 | 10 | A lesson in the effective use of animation to achieve an end . | This cartoon is a very effective piece of propaganda and demonstrates the strength and effectiveness of animation as tools for generating propaganda . The initial project of UPA studios , it was undertaken because the outcome of the Presidential election was in doubt in 1944 and a great many people saw the continued presence of FDR in the White House as vital to the prosecution of WWII . As has been said before , " Anything can happen in a cartoon " and that freedom allows for images much more striking and powerful than words alone can be to be used to make the point forcefully that Roosevelt was far and away preferable to Thomas Dewey . What makes this propaganda is the fact that , while undoubtably FDR was best suited to continue the fight , if for no other reasons than continuity , Dewey wouldn't have been nearly as bad as this indicates he would have been . The most telling attack , the " Jim Crow laws " car on the Dewey train conveniently overlooks the fact that , in the 1940s , the South was largely in the hands of the Democrats and " Jim Crow " laws received broad support from both parties . Propaganda is exaggerated for effect , for the purpose of motivating people , often out of fear , to a particular course of action . This is a most effective piece of propaganda . You can see both the fine hand of Chuck Jones and John Hubley all over this cartoon . It also shows what would later become known as the UPA style in its infancy . Though obviously quite dated ( by its nature , it would have to be ) , this holds up very well and is well worth seeing , particularly for those with an interest in politics and / or animation . Well worth getting . Most highly recommended . |
579,651 | 583,640 | 44,009 | 10 | Excellent underwater camera work | This won an Academy Award for Documeentary Feature and most definitely deserved to win . The whole project is well-executed and the underwater camerawork is particularly worthy of mention . Holds up very well after almost fifty years . Turner Classic Movies usually shows this a few times a year . Highly recommended . |
579,408 | 583,640 | 480,247 | 10 | Haunting story about man's inhumanity to man and the strength found to survive almost anything | How this short failed to win the Academy Award for Documentary Short , I'll never know . At times chillingly matter of fact about the historical truths and the statistics surrounding the genocide in Rwanda , ultimately you come away feeling some hope after hearing the stories of five women who have been given body blows by life and have managed to not only survive , but to gain ground in a country where women were little regarded . Because I want to discuss some of the details , this is a spoiler warning : The events which took place in Rwanda have already been well-chronicled elsewhere , so I won't say much beyond this-a systematic attempt was made to obliterate an entire tribe , planned in a methodical and deliberate campaign by the Rwandan government in an attempt to consolidate its power and outright murder was not the only weapon they used . As in most things great and small , the Law of Unintended Consequences showed up in the aftermath here . Given the horrific number of casualties , women are now a significant majority of the population and now hold positions which they could never have obtained prior to the genocide , because it was a male-dominated society . Now , there is no choice-if the jobs aren't filled by women , many of them won't get done . The women tell their own stories and basically relate them in a very matter of fact tone of voice , even though the stories they tell are almost invariably violent and grisly . They have survived and even thrived in adversity . One story , which is about par for the five which we are shown , touched me a little more because of the last words we hear from the woman , who , in a very self-effacing manner , describes herself as " not wonderful " . From her tone and her words , I gather that she doesn't see what she's done and is doing as anything worthy of notice or praise , to which I respectfully disagree . She and all the other survivors profiled are precisely that - " wonderful " . I cannot recommend this excellent short more strongly . By all means see it , if you get the opportunity . Most highly recommended . |
579,992 | 583,640 | 36,874 | 10 | A great score in a jazzy take on Goldilocks | This short is just wonderful , with a jazz soundtrack and with the three bears as a jazz combo that takes a break ( takes five ) because their instruments get too hot from their playing . This is another short that will probably never see broadcast or commercial release because it's politically incorrect . Which is truly a shame , because there's nothing here that would offend anyone , unless it's someone that sees racist overtones in their breakfast cereal . It's fast paced , infectious and totally delightful . Well worth seeing . Most highly recommended . |
579,617 | 583,640 | 47,862 | 10 | A marvelous look at one of the most important turning points in American history | Shot on location at the battlesite , this short , which was nominated for two Academy Awards , uses visuals from what is now a national landmark and monument to tell the story of a critical moment in American history . Visually arresting and impressive , the cinematography is incredible for a short . The narration doesn't always flow , but it doesn't have to . This shows periodically on Turner Classic Movies and almost certainly will be run in March for the " 31 Days of Oscar " festival they run each year . Most recommended . |
579,173 | 583,640 | 151,980 | 10 | VERY nice cartoon , with some great sight gags and an excellent musical bit ! | Though , for the most part , Terrytoons releases are limited , though fairly competent and enjoyable , the studio did do some very good work . This short is an example of the kind of thing that Paul Terry's studio could do far more often than a lot of people give them credit for ( including , I must admit , myself ) . As I want to talk about this short , this is a spoiler warning : The short starts with a goat , which eats the fenders and running board from one side of a car . It develops hiccups with an unusual side effect-every one produces an elephant-presumably the pink elephants of the title ( I say " presumably " , because this short was done in black and white ) . The elephants frighten the little goat so badly that it runs into the house and upstairs , running under Farmer Al Falfa's bed . One of the elephants materializes in the bedroom and shakes up Al Falfa as well . The next part of the short consists of a lot of sight gags , culminating in an extended musical riff on Cab Calloway . Al Falfa actually winds up dancing with one of the elephants at one point . This musical section , at least from my point of view , is the highlight of the short . Just when all looks like it is lost , Al Falfa discovers a weapon . Never underestimate the power of an old man with a vacuum cleaner ! The elephants start falling like pins at a bowling alley , until only one is left and it leads a merry chase until it , too , disappears as a puff of smoke into the bag . The end is very nice and I won't spoil it here . This short is well worth tracking down and watching . Recommended . |
579,231 | 583,640 | 262,257 | 10 | Odd but entrancing look at a most thorough streetsweeper | This short is beautifully drawn and animated . Depending on your point of view , the title character is either immaculate or insane . Personally , I think he just believes in doing his job extremely well . There's no dialogue here and none is needed . How this failed to be nominated for an Academy Award puzzles me . It would never have won , of course-that was the year of Creature Comforts and one of the Wallace and Gromit shorts . Wonderful use of black and white . This can be found on two of the Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation tapes and is most definitely worth getting . Most highly recommended . |
579,164 | 583,640 | 151,970 | 10 | Great mix of Jazz and animation in a re-telling of the Pied Piper fairy tale . | Walter Lantz used jazz music to score quite a few cartoons because the head of his music department liked jazz and knew some musicians personally . Jack Teagarden was one of the musicians who appeared on the soundtracks to at least two of the better musical shorts , the magnificent Sliphorn King of Polaroo and this one , that's almost as good . Here the Pied Piper plays swing on a trombone to rid the town of rats and the mayor sounds like Lou Costello . Wonderful cartoon that should be available . Well worth tracking down and getting . Most highly recommended . |
579,207 | 583,640 | 41,785 | 10 | One of the best in the rabbit's career . | This is an excellent cartoon . While by their nature , cartoons are a visual medium and sight gags are a major part of most Warner Brothers shorts , Bugs Bunny is probably the most verbally oriented character they created and the best gags here are verbal in nature , rather than visual . This should be out on video and / or DVD . Hopefully , the much anticipated , long-overdue release on DVD will happen soon . It is much deserved . Well worth watching . Most highly recommended . |
579,075 | 583,640 | 85,548 | 10 | Yet another triumph from the National Film Board of Canada | This documentary , which won an Oscar for Documentary Short , shows a dance class in session with the students being shown how to dance flamenco . Interspersed between shots of the students practising steps and dancing , the instructors are interviewed . It's a fascinating view of a beautiful style of dance as well as proof that some people are most fortunate to be able to do something they love for a living . The National Film Board of Canada was involved in overseeing this production and has consistently produced excellent work for more than sixty years . |
579,435 | 583,640 | 36,968 | 10 | This is a filmed jam session with some of the best Jazz musicians around . Excellent ! | This short was nominated for an Academy Award and I wish it had won ! Basically a filmed jam session between some very talented musicians , including Lester Young and Joe Jones , the music is incredible ! Hollywood quite often embraced Jazz ( particularly animation , believe it or not ) but this is a rare look on film at an improvisational jam . This has been added to the Film Preservation list and deservedly so . TCM runs this as filler periodically and runs it every March sometime for its ' " 31 Days of Oscar " tribute . From downtown at the buzzer , swish , nothing but net and the shot's so smooth , the net barely moved . Most solidly and highly recommended ! ! ! |
579,091 | 583,640 | 43,953 | 10 | The funniest of a very good triptych of cartoons | Rabbit Fire has some of the absolutely funniest lines and sight gags that have ever been seen on film . It is one of three cartoons done as more or les a series and is , in my opinion , the best of them . From Elmer's opening line to the hilarious final line , this is an unalloyed delight . There's also a beautiful gag with an elephant . Much as I love Tex Avery , Chuck Jones's work here and elsewhere is the equal ( and , sometimes , superior ) to Avery's best . Very much recommended . |
579,206 | 583,640 | 45,585 | 10 | One of the best of all time ! | This is a masterpiece , a veritable classic ! Bugs is cast in the perfect situation with the bull as a perfect foil . Sight gags galore , including a bit with a rifle that is absolutely priceless ! The ending is gloriously funny ! Catch the look on the bulls ' face in the last part of the closing bit , it's wonderful ! Good to see it's available . You have to see this . Most highly recommended ! |
578,949 | 583,640 | 75,953 | 10 | Excellent combination of strengths ! | This short was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award and is an excellent effort . The Hubleys teamed up well with Gary Trudeau . They were able to take the comic strip characters and animate them while still making a cartoon that was recognizably a Hubley cartoon . This was the last thing John Hubley finished before his death . Trudeau and the Hubleys meshed together quite well and it is unfortunate that they didn't get an opportunity to do more as a team . Worth the effort to locate . Most Highly Recommended . |
579,733 | 583,640 | 118,540 | 10 | A thouroughly moving , tour de force and the best thing Spike Lee has done to date | This is an incredible documentary ! How it failed to win the Oscar puzzles me , although I must confess that I haven't seen the winner . Be that as it may , Spike Lee put together a moving ad compelling tribute to four innocents . The incident covered here , ironically , probably gave much needed impetus to the civil-rights movement , particularly with people in the North , a bittersweet point not lost on many of the interviewees . See this documentary ! Most highly recommended ! |
579,040 | 583,640 | 75,847 | 10 | One of the best Claymation cartoons I've seen | This is an absolutely marvellous animated short , with the most unusual cast of characters that I've seen in quite some time . It's also about as apt an example of the old line by Robert Burns , " The best laid plans of mice and men . . . " . The short is quite bittersweet in its ending . Very much worth more than one viewing . Most highly recommended . |
579,544 | 583,640 | 21,884 | 10 | Simply put , one of the all-time classics ! | This film is an incredible piece of work and will stand the test of time-actually , it has already stood the test of time by this point , given that it is 70 years old . A remarkable film that , along with Dracula , succeeds not only as horror , but as cinema . If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery , then this is one of the most flattered films in cinemtic history . One of the all-time greats . Most totally , wholeheartedly and completely recommended . |
579,683 | 583,640 | 87,880 | 10 | This did not win the Oscar in 1984 , but I think it should have | Contrary to the summary of the other reviewer , this excellent short did NOT win the Oscar ( Charade , another excellent short that year , was the winner ) but I think it should have won . An exceptionally beautiful and fascinating animation , the colors are breath-taking and the detail is incredible ! A production of the National Film Board of Canada , this is a wonderful short and well worth the efforts to locate . Most highly recommended . |
579,724 | 583,640 | 38,964 | 10 | My absolute favorite Tom and Jerry | Just to hear Tom slapping that bass and singing , " Is You Is , or Is You Ain't , My Baby ? " makes this one priceless ! All the action flows from that serenade . Jerry either needs his sleep or is making an editorial comment on Tom's musical talents when he frees the bulldog . There is also a very important object lesson here : be very careful when closing your eyes in a romantic interlude ! There was general merriment and joy overflowed the main environs and flooded surrounding areas ! Highly recommended . |
579,309 | 583,640 | 106,961 | 10 | Monty Python meets Orson Welles over the body of Franz Kafka with spectacular results ! | Franz Kafka is probably still spinning over this one almost ten years after the fact . There are echos of suspense in this one , but mostly it resembles Python at its full-bore , full throttle best . In fact , if I'm not mistaken , the costumer here also did costumes for The Python series . Too many moments to pick anything out , but it is absolutely wonderful . The incredibly serious among you will probably gnash teeth and pound thy breasts over the violation of Kafka , but the sufficiently twisted will love this ! This won the Academy Award for Live-Action Short ( in a tie with Trevor , he noted for accuracy's sake ) and it's good to see this in print and available . Most highly recommended . |
578,913 | 583,640 | 68,156 | 10 | I've read the play , heard the original Broadway recording and seen the movie and loved them all ! | This is one film I can never see too often ! I love the film , particularly Howard De Silva as Ben Franklin ( another actor-Ray Everhart , I believe , was in the cast on stage , but was replaced ) and he very nearly steals the film from William Daniels . My one quibble with casting is Martha . Blythe Danner is quite good , but Betty Buckley should have made the transition from stage to screen . I suppose the fact that she was married to Ken Howard made it to great a temptation for the powers to be to resist casting them as Tom and Martha Jefferson . I first read the book and lyrics for this in 1973 in my 7th grade Speech class and got hooked then . I saw the film a few years later and heard the Broadway cast recording in college 20 + years ago . I have got to upgrade to CD and DVD some day ! A joy to watch . Recommended . |
579,271 | 583,640 | 43,857 | 10 | Greater damage is done trying to do good in life ( and cartoons ) ! | I believe it was Thoreau who said , " If I knew that a man were coming to my home with the fixed intention of doing me good , I would flee for my very life . " Tom develops amnesia and Jerry and Mammy try to " help " him recover his memory . While Jerry's efforts are not entirely altruistic ( Tom's rather irritating behaving like a rather large mouse ) Tom is better off as a cat . But the best laid plans of mice and men don't go very well here , with painfully obvious and hilarious results . Lots of great sight gags and semi-vocal effects for Tom . Well worth looking for and most recommended . |
579,645 | 583,640 | 97,674 | 10 | Stone wall may not make a prison , but a snowglobe works fairly well here ! | This has got to be one of the most delightful animated shorts I have ever seen in my life ! It was once said that a man's reach should exceed his grasp . Watching this , I wondered if that includes snowmen ! The ending of this was magnificent ! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry ! Pixar did a grand job here . While I know features are their bread-and-butter , I fervently hope they continue producing these little darts that score bullseyes most of the time . Pixar , please put your shorts back in circulation ! Pardon me , but I need to get a certain snowman something that will cut through plastic ! Most joyously recommended . A grand slam ! |
578,819 | 583,640 | 37,090 | 10 | Tom's " how to " book must have been written by a mouse ! | This cartoon won an Oscar in 1944 and it's easy to see why . Tom tries to use a book's advice on how to catch a mouse . Which works out very well for Jerry , but not for Tom ! I suspect that the book was written by a mouse-maybe even Jerry himself . Tom certainly comes out the worse for wear here . I almost feel sorry for Tom . Almost . A very funny ( and violent , even for a Tom and Jerry ! ) cartoon that runs frequently on the Cartoon Network . Recommended . |
579,092 | 583,640 | 23,969 | 10 | Possibly the funniest film of all time ! | I am tempted to just put in the summary and go on about my business , because anything I might say about this gem of a movie will do it precious little justice . But if this isn't the funniest movie ever made , it's in the top three ! The mirror sequence , the running gag with the motorcycle and the side-car , Groucho's song outlining the " rules " of his administration-I could go on and on and I haven't even quoted my favorite line ! The Marx Brothers were comedic geniuses . I love this movie to death ! Greatly , highly , certainly recommended . |
578,998 | 583,640 | 45,709 | 10 | Termite Terrace at its best ! | This is one of the top five cartoons Warner Brothers did , which is saying something . When Warner's really hit one out of the park , they could match anyone , Disney included . As usual , poor Daffy is upstaged by Porky , who steals every short they're in together . Porky's only competition is Marvin the Martian . Porky even has the best two lines , including the last words . Daffy does match up well with Marvin , though , in terms of character chemistry . The Cartoon Network has developed a new show revolving around Dodgers , Porky's Space Cadet and Marvin , which premiered today . It's reasonably good but this is a masterpiece ! Well worth watching . Most highly recommended . |
579,639 | 583,640 | 63,050 | 10 | Phenomenal performaces make this a memorable and haunting film ! | I will not forget this movie for the rest of my life ! Although the direction is excellent with a very good script and good production values , the performances are the standout aspect of this remarkable film . Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke make the film work and were both nominated for Oscars for their work here . Their scenes are magic , but Arkin is easily the stronger performance of the two . The supporting cast is very good , but Chuck McCann deserves special mention here . A comedian who's work has mainly been very lighthearted , he plays a straight dramatic role here and does a excellent job . A very human , very touching , very emotional film , the last 15-20 minutes will stay with you a very long time . Turner Classic Movies runs this on occasion and it is currently in print . Most highly recommended . |
578,817 | 583,640 | 99,317 | 10 | Delightful concept ! | This short won the Oscar for Animated Short , beating another Aardman Studios short , A Grand Day Out . The concept behind its creation is an old one , used by John and Faith Hubley : record conversation and come up with fitting animation . In this case , someone went around interviewing residents of a housing development and the answers were transformed into the answers given to an interviewer by animals in a zoo . Everything here is excellent : animation , dialogue are wonderful . Most definitely worth getting . In print on more than one source : a compilation titled Creature Comforts and on The World's Greatest Animation . Highly recommended . |
578,923 | 583,640 | 61,390 | 10 | Excellent cartoon about being who ( or what ) you are , whatever others believe you are | Every time I see this cartoon , I remember what Anatole France once reportedly said : " If a thousand people say a foolish thing , it is still a foolish thing . " This cartoon is about a bear and the nightmare his life becomes when others persist in believing a foolish thing and manage to briefly convince him that it's the truth . Remember wht Shakespeare said : " To thine own self be true " . This runs occasionally on Cartoon Network . Most recommended |
579,255 | 583,640 | 47,672 | 10 | An Oscar winner and one of the best Magoo shorts they did | This short won the Oscar and probably deserved to . It's an excellent effort and one of the shining moments of the Mister Magoo series of theaterically released shorts . It is hilarious and quite mad and chaotic , even for a Magoo cartoon . Most recommended . |
579,016 | 583,640 | 38,998 | 10 | Given the torture this guy goes through trying to cures his hiccoughs , I think I'd keep them , myself ! | This is another of the Pete Smith Specialities , which was co-written and directed by Dave O'Brien , who plays the poor fool with the hiccoughs . He tries various " remedies " to " cure " himself ( some of which Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition might have applauded ) to no avail . It's all great fun , for everyone but the poor twit . O'Brien frequently played a character not likely to be joining Mensa any time soon in these shorts . This runs on TCM as filler fairly often and virtually every March as part of the " 31 Days of Oscar " . Most recommended . |
579,519 | 583,640 | 56,464 | 10 | Absolutely wonderful in style , tone and execution | This short , nominated for an Academy Award , is precisely what its title indicates-an instruction on how to defend oneself if one is a coward . As a President Emeritus of The Coward's Guild ( I was President three times running-literally ) , I cannot advocate physical defense as the wisest personal reaction ( I prefer being elsewhere-as far as possible ) , but the " instructions " doubtless will work . The selection of Arthur Treacher as narrator was a stroke of genius . This is one of four in a series of " Self-help " shorts made by Rembrandt Films . All four are on Rembrandt Films Greatest Hits and are all very good indeed . Well worth getting . Most highly recommended . |
579,395 | 583,640 | 33,260 | 10 | Tex Avery gave us the Bugs Bunny we all know and most of us love ! | While Tex didn't do the first Bugs cartoon , he did the first one with many of the characteristics of Bugs that make him Bugs , including the catch-phrase , " What's up , Doc " . So it's fitting and proper that , while Chuck Jones did more with the wabbit , Tex Avery did the first Bugs to get a date at the Academy Awards , losing to the wrong feline cartoon . sigh Bugs wouldn't win an Oscar for another 18 years , but that's for another comment at another time . Highly recommended . |
579,049 | 583,640 | 248,808 | 10 | Tex Avery would be proud ! | This is one of the funniest shorts I've ever seen ! Lots of things popped into my head while watching this : it's an example of instant karmic payback , for one , an equally solid example of the law of unintended consequences as well . This has got to have one of the top five closing sight gags of all time ! Tex Avery would have probably loved this one ! I for one hope that Pixar continues to do shorts of one stripe or another , because the ones I've seen are fabulously done . I haven't even watched Monsters Inc . yet and consider the DVD worth the price of admission just to see For the Birds . The rest is icing on the cake . Excellent piece of work and well worth watching . Most highly recommended ! |
579,776 | 583,640 | 37,180 | 10 | Tashlin at the top of his form ! | Frank Tashlin is not one of the first names that come to mind when discussing Warner Brothers cartoons . with Tex Avery , Chuck Jones , Bob Clampett and Friz Freleng being more well-known . That's not a surprise at all . But it's a bit sad to think that the general public doesn't know more of him , particularly his work in animation . He worked , like many people , for more than one studio and also made the successful switch to live-action direction . A very talented man , to say the least . This short is vintage Tashlin and he handles the material perfectly . Everything here is great . The ending , where Goering and Goebbels suffer a momentary bout of candor that costs them dearly , is absolutely priceless ! Hatta Mari is a precursor to Jessica Rabbit , as is Tex Avery's Red character . Only Mari IS BAD-as well as drawn that way ! Pay particular attention to the scene in the squadron barracks when the commander displays her wanted poster . Marvelous short and well worth tracking down . Most highly recommended . |
578,897 | 583,640 | 189,121 | 10 | Fascinating look at a closed book-China in the late 1960s-early 1970s up through 1989 . | This documentary , comprised of archival newsreels , still photos , artwork by the director / narrator and other material , is a largely autobiographical look back at life for one man in The People's Republic of China . By extension , it looks back at China , because his life is enmeshed ( as we all are , to one degree or another ) by the society in which we grow and live . This lost the Academy Award to another very good work , The Personals , and although I like both works , I confess that I would have picked this one and I'm not really sure exactly why it lost out . It's a remarkable look at what was , for years , a closed society . One man recounts his journey through idealism and devout belief in the rightness of his society through his growing disenchantment and disillusionment , which led to his leaving China . This film could not have been made in China . It probably could not have been made easily in the United States , either , for different reasons . In China , it would be a crime to do so . In the United States , it would only be made if you managed to get the wherewithal to do the filming . But it was possible to do this here , whereas it would not be , even today , in China , at least not without great risk . Almost as great a testament to the human spirit as that sterling moment of grace under pressure , of the lone figure standing in front of the tanks one day some fourteen years ago , in Tiananmen Square . The human spirit is never destroyed-like all matter , it simply changes shape . This is yet another project produced under the auspices of the National Film Board of Canada . Exceptional piece of work and well worth tracking down . Most highly recommended . |
579,819 | 583,640 | 48,074 | 10 | I absolutely love this cartoon ! | I make no claim that this is a great cartoon or that there is anything special or noteworthy about it in any technical sense . I LOVE IT ! ! ! ! It's the first Tex Avery I can remember and therefore remains much beloved . SO SUE ME ! ! ! Recommended . |
579,727 | 583,640 | 32,272 | 10 | I love this cartoon ! ! ! | I absolutely love this cartoon ! I've only seen it two or three times , but I love 1 ) cartoons 2 ) Edgar Allen Poe's " The Raven " and 3 ) books . I keep hoping that they'll run it again on Cartoon Network . I couldn't remember the exact title . I knew it started with " The Bookworm . . , " and now I know . This really makes my day ! This one is really worth seeing . Highly recommended ! |
578,796 | 583,640 | 41,592 | 10 | One of the first appearances of the little mouse , called Nibbles here | This cartoon , an Oscar winner ( with good reason , as it's marvelous ) features one of the early appearances of the little mouse named Nibbles primarily ( although sometimes called Tuffy ) , he is rather cute and endearing . But I'd hate to pay his grocery bills ! Nibbles became a very frequent and popular character and this was his second cartoon appearance , after The Milky Waif . Most highly recommended . |
579,684 | 583,640 | 21,749 | 10 | The best film of 1931 | This is one of the best film of all time and yet it is arguably only the third best film Charlie Chaplin made , after Modern Times and The Gold Rush . Some of his most memorable bits are in here , most of them revolving around his comic ( and sad ) attempts to help a blind flower seller , played by Virginia Cherrill . Chaplin's sense of timing was wonderful , as always . Wholeheartedly recommended . |
579,054 | 583,640 | 30,357 | 10 | Atypical Popeye , with no fisticuffs ad showing the essential natures of the three principal characters . | This Popeye , set on New Year's Eve , doesn't feature a brawl over Olive , or over anything else , for that matter . Popeye . a good-natured sort , decides it's not right that Olive's grandma be left at home while they go out , so he invites her along . Bluto escorts Olive and they both find it amusing that Popeye asked out grandma . Popeye is the soul of courtesy to grandma . A perfect example of the type of small kindnesses the world can never have enough of , then or now . Wimpy puts in a cameo ( with a different voice ) and the ending is quite funny . Listen for some of Jack Mercer's asides . This is a wonderful cartoon altogether different in mood and tone from the standard Popeye shorts , appropriately so , for the New Year's Eve setting . I wish all who read this a happy and healthy year . This short is well worth seeking out . Most recommended . |
579,342 | 583,640 | 41,598 | 10 | Typical Bugs any very funny | This is an exceptional Bugs Bunny cartoon and is very funny . One of the better bits is when Bugs enters the concert hall dressed as Leopold Stowkowski and the crowd continually whispers , " Leopold " . This cartoon has some nice operatic bits as well as Bugs singing " What Do They Do On a Rainy Night in Rio ? " Now why in the world would anyone want to miss that ? Recommended |
579,811 | 583,640 | 28,467 | 10 | This is not your grandfather's Longfellow | Take one poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , add Porky Pig and put them in the Tex Avery blender , set on " maniac " and this cartoon is what resulted . Tex Avery style of gags abound . Pay attention to backgrounds and the extras . Some very good stuff to be seen here . Well worth your time . |
579,777 | 583,640 | 17,871 | 10 | Before cartoons had sound or color , but they still did brilliant work-like this short ! | This short is one of the best of all time and is proof ( just like most of Charlie Chaplin's work ) that sound and color are not requirements for quality work . In fact , this cartoon uses ( and may have started ) some of the gags and devices that became standard in animation in later years , like caricatures of celebrities ( including the afore-mentioned Chaplin . While the characters are silent , they do " speak " , by use of word balloons , just like in the comics . Given that Felix started out in newspapers as a comic strip , this device is a natural . The atmosphere and style of the short is completely harmonious with that of the comic strip while adding another dimension ( literally and figuratively ) and makes this short a delight to watch . Well worth taking the time and effort to get . Most highly recommended . |
578,780 | 583,640 | 141,110 | 10 | Magoo possesses an indomitable spirit that will not permit him to be defeated ( Here there be spoilers ) ! | I rarely divulge details that might spoil a viewers ' enjoyment of a particular film , but with this one , I would find it virtually impossible to fairly discuss its virtues without going into detail . You have thus been warned . Mr . Magoo has mistaken a walrus for a human friend and various sight gags are shown in typical Magoo fashion . Atypically , however , circumstances force Magoo to confront his error and by extension , his poor eyesight . Magoo manages to turn a crushing blow into a triumph and thus saves the day for the good guys ( of which he is most certainly one ) and a good time is had by all . The Magoo character has engendered a good deal of anger because many make a fundamental error : they see Magoo as making fun of the blind . What they overlook is that despite his poor vision , Magoo goes about his life and not only survives , but perseveres . The animators aren't making fun of Magoo , but lauding him . Magoo isn't the myopic one ; his detractors are . Excellent cartoon . Well worth the trouble to seek out and find . Most highly recommended . |
579,438 | 583,640 | 45,937 | 10 | One of the best Tom and Jerry cartoons ever done ! | This cartoon quite rightly won an Oscar and is probably one of the top two or three best that they did . With narration by Hans Conreid ( one of the best voices for narration work and particularly for animation work ) , this also features Strauss's music to advantage and is just a delight to watch . Somewat static animation because of a sorybook framing device , but it's still a marvelous idea in conception and execution . Most highly recommended . |
579,853 | 583,640 | 93,488 | 10 | Words do not adequately do this justice , but I will try . | Where do I begin with this comment ? I could echo other commenters and describe the plot , which in no way will detract from the films ' impact on a first-time viewer . Or I could talk about the absolutely breathtaking animation , the beautiful backgrounds and incredible detail that make this one of the most visually arresting pieces-animated or live-action-I have ever seen or ever expect to see in my life . I could mention that Christopher Plummer's narration rings perfectly , blending with the animation so seamlessly as to make a whole vastly greater than its already stellar parts . I could mention that this wonder is , at least in the U . S . , shamefully out of print , unless I've missed it somewhere and I wonder why some organization interested in environmental concerns hasn't pushed for it to be in print , because it says what they say so eloquently that their point would be easy to make . I could mention that it deservedly won the Academy Award for Animated Short and was selected as one of the fifty greatest animated shorts of all time in a poll of animators and film historians several years ago . But I guess what I'll do is just state the obvious : I love this short , think it should be widely available and wish it were being shown in schools across the world . Frederic Back is a supremely talented man and far too neglected . This may be his crowning achievement and , by itself , would justify his entire life in the sight of mankind , the universe and his creator and I thank him and everyone involved in this splendid work . You have to see this film ! ! ! Most joyously recommended . |
579,035 | 583,640 | 72,380 | 10 | One of the best shorts done by John and Faith Hubley | John and Faith Hubley were among the more successful independent animation studios both artistically and commercially . While some of their work is less successful , it's all worth watch and invariably at least interesting . This short , nominated for an Academy Award ( which , were it not for the absolutely brilliant short Closed Mondays , I suspect it would have won in a walk ) this is an incredible piece of work . The selection of Maureen Stapledon and Dizzy Gillespie to do the voices was one of a myriad of touches large and small that make this an excellent animated short . Attention to detail , music , backgrouds-it's all first-rate . Most wholeheartedly recommended . |
579,998 | 583,640 | 48,012 | 10 | Ralph and Sam are at it again . | Another day , another dollar . Ralph and Sam are hard at work in their jobs as predator and protector . I hope Ralph has a good insurance plan ! This is one of the better ones in an all to brief series of shorts directed by Chuck Jones . The characters are fascinating and the sight gags are great . The few bits of dialog are often priceless . I really like Sam ! Most definitely worth seeing . Highly recommended . |
578,790 | 583,640 | 43,685 | 10 | Possibly Tom's worst nightmare ! | This short , nominated for an Oscar , features Tom almost at his worst . In an act of self-preservation , Jerry cals upon his cousin ( the very well-named Muscles ) for his help . At times , I almost feel sorry for Tom ( almost ) . Tom more or less gets what he deserves here and , were he not a cartoon , would very likely not survive his encounter here with " Jerry's Cousin " . Cartoon Network shows this one fairly frequently . Highly recommended . |
579,036 | 583,640 | 72,410 | 10 | Disney again does an excellent job of adapting Pooh | Disney has been criticized ( often justifiably ) for the sometimes very loose adaptations of other works to animation . But they generally have done quite well by the Winnie-the-Pooh adaptations . This short , nominated for an Academy Award in the excellent year of 1974 , is a first-class adaptation of the denizens of the 100-Acre Wood . Personally , Tigger is my second favorite character ( after Eeyore ) so I particularly like this one . Disney used animation to actually create the feel of the A . A . Milne books and did very well by the stories . Highly Recommended . |
578,874 | 583,640 | 32,856 | 10 | One of many cartoons that was to use Of Mice and Men as an influence of sorts | Tex Avery was fond of using Of Mice and Men , or at least the characters of Lenny and George , as the starting pont for his characters in his cartoons . The title of this one is a play on Steinbeck's title and Willoughby is basically Lenny . The prize bit in a very good short is Willoughby's first encounter with a very puzzled bear ! Well worth seeking out . Recommended . |
579,004 | 583,640 | 54,698 | 10 | What some think of as Audrey Hepburn's best film , it is certainly her signature role | Many think that this is Audrey Hepburn's best film ( I think it was Charade ) or that this is her best performance ( I think that was in Wait Until Dark ) . What this was for Hepburn is the most single memorable role of her career-her signature role . I cannot picture anyone else as Holly Golightly , no matter how hard I try . She made better films ( Charade and My Fair Lady , among others ) and did better work ( The Children's Hour and Wait Until Dark , among others ) but this is the part most people associate with Audrey Hepburn in their minds first . ery good film , with a memorable score and an excellent cast , although Mickey Rooney chews the scenery a bit TOO hard here . Most recommended . |
579,654 | 583,640 | 59,122 | 10 | Exceptional effort to maximize the limits inherent in limited animation quite successfully | This short won an Academy Award and justly so . While others have said the scripted narration is not terribly good , I disagree . There are one or two excessively florid points , but Robert Morley's marvellous reading covers those and overall , the scripted narration is good . The animation succeeds in part because of the narration . Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble have every right to be well pleased with this cartoon . Why it isn't in print , I don't understand . Highly Recommended . |
579,090 | 583,640 | 103,272 | 10 | Simply hilarious but also tender and joyous | Having never been all that enthralled with Bloom County , I watched this with some doubt-for all of about two minutes and then I was hooked . What I saw was at one and the same time funny and heart-wrenching . There are a few running gags ( watch the carolers particularly ) and there is a very effective use of visual imagery on the fringes . Like with Who Framed Roger Rabbit ? , invariably when I watch this again , I see some little bit I've missed . Very effective use of music to set the appropriate mood throughout . And the ending is perfect ! Highest Recommendation . |
579,658 | 583,640 | 72,431 | 10 | An incredibly funny and affectionate send-up of the horror film in general and Frankenstein films in particular | There really isn't much I can say that doubtless someone else hasn't said . Brooks used the same location and sets that were used for the lab scenes in the original 1931 James Whale version . Anyone who doesn't laugh at either the scene with Gene Hackman as a blind hermit or the scene where Marty Feldman and Gene Wilder are discussing the brain that Feldman brought for transplant has absolutely no pulse whatsoever . Gloriously funny from start to finish . Kenneth Mars is a hoot and Liam Dunn is a scream in one of the most painful-looking funny scenes in cinematic history ! Most Highly Recommended . |
579,125 | 583,640 | 30,448 | 10 | Anything can happen in a cartoon ! | Disney in the late 1930s did animated shorts like no one else did them . Warner Brothers was after the visual gag and creating continuing characters , while MGM was interested in making visually pretty cartoons and mostly one-shots , with few recurring characters . For Walt Disney , shorts served a couple of primary purposes : one , they kept the Disney name and his principal characters before the public and two , most importantly to Disney , they were a good testing and training ground for new animation techniques , so he could make the feature films as close to perfect as possible . In this short ( a fantastic cartoon in its own right ) , the visual gags are great , but the timing on everything has to be perfect or it won't work . You can see the seeds of things Disney did later in features like Dumbo and Bambi in shorts like Mickey's Trailer , which serve as dry-runs while being great works in and of themselves . Some of the best bits ever done were done for these shorts just to see what worked and what didn't . Magnificently animated . Well worth watching . Most highly recommended . |
579,957 | 583,640 | 97,372 | 10 | Twenty years after the first manned moon landing , there came the best documentary about Apollo , and by extension , the space program that I've ever seen ! | Nothing I can say could possibly do this documentary justice , but I'm going to try anyway . One of the greatest ( in more than one sense ) and most profound of human endeavors that has ever been undertaken is the effort at spaceflight . The most notable achievement is the landing and return of humans to the Moon . This documentary recaptures the awe and wonder I felt ( and still feel today ) when I watched the landing . Nominated for Documentary Feature , it should have won ( or at least tied ) . As good as Common Threads was and is , for For All Mankind not to have won says more about the Academy and present-day society's fixation on now and its indifference to both yesterday and tomorrow . In a disposable society where creativity is less honored than timliness and for whom all too many , the past is what they had for breakfast , twenty years may as well be two thousand . Sic Transit Gloria ( Thus Passeth Glory ) . Most , most highly RECOMMENDED ! ! ! |
579,007 | 583,640 | 41,488 | 10 | Hilarious fun from a master of the animated short | This is a very good cartoon from Tex Avery , a master of the art form known as the animated short . Avery typically came up with a premise , often an innocuous one and then proceeded to do the most outlandish and ridiculous sight gags imaginable fired rapidly at the audience starting from the basic idea . Usually , there is a running gag threading its way throughout the short . This time , Avery is ostensibly giving his ausience a look at the house of tomorrow . Hilarious and glorious fun . Highly recommended . |
579,542 | 583,640 | 70,296 | 10 | Excellent combination of music and animation | This short was nominated for an Academy Award and was most deserving of the honor . Narrated by Roberta Flack , who also sings the folk song about John Henry , this is a particularly effective use of the animation style used here-minimal animation and very basic drawings . Emphasis here is on the story and Flack is marvelous in the narration . An excellent re-telling of an old , familiar tale . Highly recommended . |
579,902 | 583,640 | 23,803 | 10 | Wonderful jazzy score is just one highlight here out of many ! | As a general rule , when I comment on things , I try to avoid saying too much specific about plot , scenes , et cetera , while trying to give anyone reading my comment a basic idea of the feel of the film or short so they can decide if it might be their cup of tea , so to speak . Occasionally , I run into something I want to describe a bit more specifically , but I'll still try not to spoil anything . I may still let too much spill here . You have been warned . This starts out with Bimbo and Koko playing Mad Scientist . They get distracted by Betty and start watching her instead of the stuff in the lab and an experiment goes awry . Shades of Boris Karloff as the experiment sets out to make Betty his Elsa Lanchester . Sight gags set in time to a great jazz score , some of them things that would have been unacceptable to the Hays Office a year or so later ( one in particular that I'll remember the rest of my life ! ) and an ending that's incredibly silly , but fun to watch . This has everything an early Fleischer Boop should have-surreal sight gags , a little risque material ( though tame today ) , great music and the unexpected . One thing I'll never know , though : did James Whale ever see this and I wonder what he thought of it if he did . 11 on a scale of 10 . In print and available . Most highly and gleefully recommended . |
579,826 | 583,640 | 382,734 | 10 | As one of " the others " , I found this short quite funny and moving . | To be quite frank , I expected Destino to win the Oscar and was surprised and a bit disappointed on hearing that another short had won instead . Until I finally saw Harvie Krumpet the other day . Here there be mild Spoilers . Harvie Krumpet is both funny and frightening , sometimes at the same time . A modern-day version of Job ( Job would probably look at Harvie's life and shudder ) , Harvie goes through a life that is tedious and tragic , all the while collecting " fakts " that are interspersed as graphics throughout the short . There are sight gags aplenty here . You'll never look at a pair of false teeth in quite the same way after you watch this . Given that this is set from the 1920s through the 1980s , some of the references are topical and somewhat dated and I'm sure there are in-jokes and references that anyone more familiar with Australia would get that I missed , but I found this extremely engaging and well worth my time . Though there are a couple of nominees I haven't seen yet , I think that this one probably won the Oscar walking away , deserved to and certainly is no disgrace to the Academy in having done so . Happily it is currently in print . Most highly recommended . |
578,868 | 583,640 | 23,801 | 10 | Betty Boop's impression of Barney Oldfield | This short spoofs the very popular sport of auto racing . At the time this short was made , Barney Oldfield , an auto racer , was one of the more notable and famous celebrities of the day . This is auto racing , Fleischer style . Bizarre gags and excellent animation highlight this one and it's charming to watch . Fans of Late Night Black and White , the old Cartoon Network show , will recognize this as the cartoon footage is taken from for the " Groovie " ( a series of fillers used to fill out the hour ) titled , " Rollin ' " . Well worth watching . In print and available . Most recommended . |
579,692 | 583,640 | 30,215 | 10 | One of the best in a long line of " books ( or magazines ) come to life " shorts by Waner Brothers | There's a great deal to say about this short and some detail is necessary , so spoilers are ahead . This short is an excellent example of a type of cartoon that Warner Brothers did very effectively : Characters from books and / or magazines coming to life or being used as part of a sight gag . Generally set in a bookstore , the first done was Three's a Crowd , done in 1933 . Castles originally featured a caricature of Alexander Wollcott doing an opening and a close as the " Town Crier " , but the studio heads were afraid Wollcott might take offense and the framing sequences were removed . Caricatures were a staple of animation by this point and Castles features a number of them . Why did the animators do these type of cartoons ? I suspect it was because it gave them the advantage of using material that would be very familiar to the audience on at least two levels : books that were familiar to a fairly well-read public ( or magazine titles familiar to that same public ) as well as a visual connection , given that many of these books had also been made into films . Given that animation is a very visual medium by it's nature , audience familiarity with titles and faces allowed the animators to fire dozens of short sight gags at the audience in a short time-frame . Audience recognition of W . C Fields or Greta Garbo , coupled with wide familiarity with books like So Red the Rose and So Big makes the gags work in different ways for different viewers . They did these for the same reason books were adapted into films : audience familiarity with the subject matter . Studios routinely optioned film rights to best-selling books on the not unsound theory that someone who read the book and liked it would pay to see a film version as well . Back in the 1930s , the four principle forms of entertainment were radio , movies , reading and music . Cartoons strip-mined all four for material and Warner's did this superbly . They even re-used themselves on occasion , including a bit in Castles that was first used in Clean Pastures and is used here ( " Swing For Sale " ) . This short is in print on Looney Tunes Golden Collection , Vol . 2 , with the original Wollcott framing sequences included . Highly recommended . |
579,321 | 583,640 | 41,721 | 10 | One of Tex Avery's better Droopy shorts | This is one of Tex Avery's Droopy cartoons and it is excellent . Droopy is okay , but the show is stolen by a fox with a very mannered nature , Ronald Colman sounding voice and speech pattern and entirely too clever for a bunch of incredibly over-matched hunting dogs ! Given that my sympathies in such matters as hunts , bullfights and other " sports " which require needlessly killing something as the goal are with the stalked rather than the stalker , I rather like this short and consider the fox to be the lead character here , which I gather Tex Avery intended . Sight gags aplenty here , but much of what the fox says is rather dryly humourous as well . Sadly , this is not in print at present , but it's well worth seeking out . " I do this sort of thing all through the picture . " has got to be one of Avery's favorite lines ! Most recommended . |
579,250 | 583,640 | 47,959 | 10 | Typical Tex Avery insanity | This short , nominated for an Oscar , is pretty typical of Avery , with one small difference-where he typically started with a rather mundane normal situation and then twisted it in insane ways , here he starts with an absurdity ( the infusion of dog plasma into a man and vice versa ) and THEN twists it in insane ways ! A hilariously funny cartoon and the ending is perfect . Highly Recommended . |
579,891 | 583,640 | 68,373 | 10 | An excellent adaptation of the Dickens classic | This short , which won an Academy Award , is the best animated adaptation that I've yet seen and is better than a couple of the live-action versions . Everything is top-notch-animation , voice-casting ( particularly Sim reprising his performance as Scrooge ) , production values . The adaptation is quite true to the tone and spirit of the original work , even with the necessary truncation imposed by the brief length . Good to have it in print . Most recommended . |
579,643 | 583,640 | 91,455 | 10 | Very innovative ( and cute ) CGI short | This is a very impressive example computer animation . It is also an extremely cute cartoon ( bordering on precious at times ) and was nominated for the Academy Award . Fairly early effort by Pixar and quite good even some 15 years later . Well worth searching for . I believe it's included in front of one of the Pixar features on the VHS and DVD releases . Most recommended . |
578,776 | 583,640 | 37,251 | 10 | One of Tex Avery's attempts at developing a continuing character . | Tex Avery preferred doing one-shot cartoons as opposed to using a regular character or characters . He was more interested in the gags than anything else . Studios , of course , want something recognizable to the audience , to developing continuing interest and thus sell more tickets . So Avery , because MGM wanted him to come up with a character to rival the Tom and Jerry shorts done by the other principle unit at the studio ( Hanna and Barbera ) came up with Screwball Squirrel . While Screwy was a decent enough character , the trouble was that he was too limited , too much a one-note character . He was a walking sight gag . There were five cartoons done with Screwy before the series ended , in typical Avery style , with Lonesome Lenny . The Screwy cartoons are funny , but also too predictable . The first one , here , opens wonderfully with a lighthearted ( or maybe not ) shot at cutesy little animal cartoons that were staples at " other studios " for years and takes off from there . This is probably the best of the series . Well worth watching . Most highly recommended . |
578,946 | 583,640 | 32,953 | 10 | The first Tom and Jerry cartoon | This short , nominated for an Oscar it should have won in 1940 , is the first Tom and Jerry , for all that the cat's name is " Jasper " . The Tom and Jerry cartoons generally break down into one of four eras : the early ones , when Rudolf Ising was involved , then the ones that Hanna and Barbera did with Fred Quimby producing , then the ones Chuck Jones did and finally the Gene Deitch efforts . Each had a different look and feel to them that make them instantly recognizable and unmistakable as to who did them . But the most remarkable transformation in appearance and style was the change between the early ones and the ones in the later 1940s . In every way , it's quite a change . This is the best of the early ones . Most recommended . |
579,606 | 583,640 | 39,189 | 10 | The best Daffy Duck solo cartoon ever made | This is the best cartoon they made were Daffy wasn't playing opposite Bugs or Porky Pig . His foils are a dog named Leopold and his master , a parody of Peter Lorre . The best lines in the whole cartoon are spoken by the " mad scientist " and they're some of the funniest I can recall . The cartoon really gets going during the requisite chase scenes . After all , what's a cartoon without a chase sequence ? One of my all-time favorites . Most definitely recommended . |
578,789 | 583,640 | 43,581 | 10 | Minimal animation , even for UPA , but delightful characters and script | This short , which won an Oscar , spawned two sequels and a TV cartoon show , has minimal animation but adelightful script ( by Theodore Geisel aka Dr . Seuss ) and aneven more memorable and enchanting main character . UPA pioneered a style of animation that even influenced Disney during the mid-1950s and produced some of the best animated shorts done in the late 1940s and the 1950s . This is on of their finest . God to have it in print . Highly recommended . |
578,953 | 583,640 | 97,509 | 10 | Thoughtful , funny and compelling animated short | This short was nominated for an Academy Award and , but for the fact that Balance was eligible in the same year , it probably would have won . It did win a BAFTA for Animated Short . I guess if I were to try and sum up an 18 minute short in one word , it would be perspective . It largely depends on how you look at something that determines how you react to a situation . This short examines different people and their reaction to the same surroundings and events . It's by turns humorous and quietly thoughtful in doing this examination . This was included on Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation , which makes this a great tape to grab , if you can find it , all by itself . A marvelous piece , without a doubt . Most Highly Recommended . |
579,876 | 583,640 | 54,590 | 10 | The dialogue in a Pepe Le Pew is essential to the success of the cartoon ! | Given that this is Bastille Day , a comment on a Pepe Le Pew is appropriate , don't you think ? In this one Pepe is Pepe , of course , and the lines ( mainly delivered by Pepe ) are wonderful . While good scripts were important in most of the series that Warner Brothers did , visual gags tend to overshadow dialogue much of the time . For Pepe to work , the lines need to be funny , as visual gags are a bit limited by the premise and Pepe's personality is part of the charm to be found here in any case . This short has great lines , like , " You may call me Streetcar because of my desire for you . " The ending is hilarious . My favorite sight gag in any Pepe Le Pew is in this one . Watch for the scene with the frog , with the frog's reaction to Pepe being the absolutely perfect reaction to have . Rumor has it that the frog here was a cousin of Michigan J . Frog who kept pestering him for work . This walk-on role was Michigan's way of " discouraging " his cousin from pursuing a career in show business . It worked quite well-his cousin reputedly joined the French Foreign Legion " to forget " his experience . Great cartoon . Well worth watching . Most highly recommended . |
579,234 | 583,640 | 206,319 | 10 | Excellent combination of animation and music . | This short is beautifully executed , but hard to describe . I cannot really figure out what , if any , relation the title has to the animation . I can say that it's an extremely good blending of movement to music , although the visuals can sometimes have a jarring effect on the viewer , mostly in the color combinations . A BAFTA nominee , well deserving of the honor , it was included in Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation , Vol . Four and is well worth tracking down . Most recommended . |
579,029 | 583,640 | 206,312 | 10 | Thoroughly and delightfully bizarre | This short , which won a well deserved Academy Award , has got to be one of the most delightfully twisted cartoons I have seen in my life ! Through a series of twists and turns so odd that it seems like a combination of Kafka and Hitchcock , we follow three people-a husband , his wife and the mailman-through a most eventful day for them all . It changes their lives most completely . Black humor runs throughout this absolute gem and it is delightfully funny ! Though I wonder if the Canadian Postal union feels the same about this one ! Most recommended ! |
579,006 | 583,640 | 266,425 | 10 | A remarkable and fascinating film with excellent performances from a largely unknown cast | This is a very well-done and memorable film that chills you to the bone as you listen a group of men sometimes happily discuss genocide ! There are excellent performances from a cast with few well-known , familiar names , but Stanley Tucci as Eichmann and Kenneth Branagh as Heydrich particularly shine . Given the history of the two men they portray ( neither one terribly pleasant but , fittingly , neither were their ends ) , the performances are all the more disturbing by their understated nature . An excellent film . Most highly recommended . |
579,941 | 583,640 | 50,194 | 10 | An Oscar winner and one of the best Sylvester and Tweety cartoons | This is a delightful cartoon and one of the most effective and entertaining Sylvester and Tweety cartoons Warner Brothers did . The B . A . meeting is inspired parody and Sylvester's attempts to kick the " bird habit " are exceptionally funny . Tweety's closing line is the perfect capper to a wonderful ending . Won a well-earned Oscar . Shows frequently on Cartoon Network . Highly recommended . |
578,979 | 583,640 | 162,458 | 10 | One of my personal favorites , it was a BAFTA nominee . | This is one of my favorite Magoo cartoons and takes place on a train . In a case of mistaken identity , Magoo is thought to be a spy in a drop ( note of puzzlement here , though : Magoo's behavior has an explanation , as he's near-sighted . But for the other characters , the only explanation for much of what they do is that they are idiots studying to be morons and not managing to grasp the material . Some real Rhodes scholars here ) and the bulk of the cartoon is spent pursuing Magoo once the error is discovered . Magoo's good fortune prevails once again and he blithely strolls through the wreckage and chaos strewn in his wake , emerging without even the whisper of a scratch . The pack of 40 watt bulbs giving chase is not nearly so fortunate . The situations here are a riot ! Well worth tracking down . Simply marvelous . Most highly recommended . |
579,168 | 583,640 | 153,850 | 10 | Meet some children with quite vivid imaginations ! | This excellent and very creative short is somewhat hard to find , but it is one of the better efforts done by UPA , which is no small compliment . The minimalist nature of UPA's style of animation lends itself extremely well to this tale of children playing cowboys one fine day and the imagination these children show is delightful . Well worth the effort to track down . That it isn't seen more these days is a sad commentary on the crackdown on violence in cartoons , while in television and films , shooting and explosions are commonplace in things easily viewed by the same kids the self-appointed guardians of acceptability seek to " protect " . Most highly recommended . |
579,706 | 583,640 | 105,335 | 10 | Warning ! : Not a cartoon for children or the squeamish ! | This short , nominated for an Academy Award , is basically a Kabuki play done using puppet animation . This one makes Romeo and Juliet look like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm ! It is a very violent cartoon ( I'm not talking cartoon violence here , either ) and is not for everyone . Excellent animation and well worth watching . Most solidly recommended with the above warnings in mind . |
579,738 | 583,640 | 39,251 | 10 | An excellent mix of classical music and animation-and a good Tom and Jerry cartoon as well ! | Cartoon studios have been blending animation with music probably since the start of animation . Particularly classical and also jazz . Every major studio has done at least a few cartoons where the animation is done to the beat of the music . This is one of the best of the MGM efforts . One of the few times when my sympathies have been with Tom more than with Jerry . While Rhapsody With Rivets is the best short to blend classical with animation ( Sliphorn King of Polaroo was tops for jazz ! ) , this cartoon , with several other Tom and Jerry shorts , does very well indeed and won an Oscar . Highly recommended . |
578,811 | 583,640 | 108,598 | 10 | The short that proves one shouldn't let one's spare room to unfamiliar penguins without excellent references ! | This marvelous short won the Academy Award and is the best of the series , though all so far have been delightful ! The praise heaped on Wallace and Gromit has been vast and well-deserved , so my additions are gilding the lily , but I'll still say something . The Wrong Trousers is funny , sad , insightful and just plain mad , frequently all at once . If there's any justice , they will remain in print in perpetuity . Most recommended . |
579,028 | 583,640 | 188,913 | 10 | If you have a chance to get this one , by all means , do so-it's exceptional ! | George Santayana , call your answering service . This is a perfect example of what he was talking about with history repeating , if on a smaller , more localized , scale . Watch this carefully and you'll see what I'm talking about . This lost to Bunny for Animated Short , which I'm certain Bunny won because it is a more visually stunning cartoon . Given that both have a lot going for them in terms of intent , plot , ideas and eloquence , I suspect More could have won if Bunny hadn't been visually incredible . Personally , I wish there had been a tie between them . There is certainly nothing for either of these magnificent shorts to be sorry about and both deserve praise and a wider audience . More is solid in all respects-animation , backgrounds , story , music and so on . In most years , probably a winner of record . Given how precious little recent short animation is in print at the moment ( very little ) , an audience for More is preferable to any award , in any case . Too bad that there isn't perceived to be much of a market for things like Bunny and More . It may not be huge , but a market does exist . If you can see More , by all means , do so . Most Highly Recommended . |
578,821 | 583,640 | 53,090 | 10 | Another remarkable production for Disney to be justifiably proud and that should be in print . | This is one of Disney's finest efforts . It shows just how incredibly diverse and compelling this planet we inhabit truly is and the camera work is atounding ! Of course , as is the Mouse's nature , it is not in print . The best one can manage is that it runs from time to time on the Disney Channel during " Vault Disney " in the wee hours . It is most decidedly worth seeing . There are more things in heaven and on Earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy . How true ! Recommended ! |
579,586 | 583,640 | 30,128 | 10 | Disney does justice to an excellent work of children's literature | Disney has had a reputation ( in large part , justifiably so ) for taking literary works and making them overly cute , thereby not doing justice to the source ( i . e . , Bambi ) , but here do a wonderful job of bringing Ferdinand off the printed page and into glorious , moving color ! This is one of the best shorts Disney ever did and took the Oscar for 1938 , beating three other Disney shorts ( including a Mickey Mouse ) and a Paramount cartoon called Hunky and Spunky . With remarkable backgrounds and detail , even for a Disney cartoon , this really should be in-print . It does show on The Ink and Paint Club . Most joyously recommended ! |
578,775 | 583,640 | 41,301 | 10 | That poor dog ! | This is one of the better Tex Averys , as well as one of the more violent ones ( please recognize that " cartoon violence " and real violence are NOT the same thing , though ) , most of it directed at Speedy , the unfortunate dog . While I do understand the rabbit's actions and have not one problem recognizing a desire ( and need ) for self-preservation , I find myself more in sympathy with the dog than the rabbit as things unfold here . Sight gags for the most part and quite good ones they are , too . Well worth watching . Recommended . |
579,344 | 583,640 | 51,189 | 10 | The classic Bugs Bunny cartoon | This is probably the best opera parody I have ever seen . The only other cartoon I've seen that comes close is " Rabbit of Seville " and the lyrics are funnier here ( although the sight gags are better in " Seville " ) and besides , Bugs and Elme do an aria together . What else do you want ? This is also where Elmer sings , " Kill the wabbit ! " . One piece of advice-you may not want sneer at a man with a spear when he says he has a magic helmet . At least I wouldn't . I don't have Wile E . Coyote's constitution ! |
579,256 | 583,640 | 56,923 | 10 | Wonderful teaming of Hepburn and Grant in an exceptionally charming film | This film is a combination thriller / romantic comedy and has a great cast , an excellent script and some lovely locations . Grant and Hepburn make a fine couple and work well together on-screen . The supporting performances are wonderful , particularly James Coburn in a quite menacing turn in a very early role . This film has suspense , romance and one or two hilarious scenes , one a shower scene not likely to be forgotten by anyone who sees this film . Most recommended . |
579,972 | 583,640 | 67,731 | 10 | Excellent ( and quite faithful ) adaptation of an Oscar Wilde children's story . | Oscar Wilde has always fascinated me . A controversial figure , he is arguably the most successfully literary figure , certainly in terms of range , in the English language . He wrote verse , prose , plays with equal skill and success and wrote short stories and novels with the same facility . His work has often been adapted for the screen and usually the adaptations are remarkably faithful to the source material , something Hollywood in particular is not noted for . The Selfish Giant is Wilde at his best . The story is , like all great children's literature , for young and old alike . At times funny and sad , it touches the audience and stays with you . I read the story first , before seeing this . I generally make allowances for adaptations , particularly to film . Such allowances are unnecessary here . It's beautifully done , with care and an obvious affection for the original . The animation , backgrounds , the music , all works marvelously , but the narration is the key . It is , essentially , Wilde's story converted to voice-over and dialogue . Wonderful ! I saw this first not quite thirty years ago , twice , and , when I recently got a copy , recalled virtually every scene in detail . This needs to be re-issued . Well worth tracking down . Most highly recommended . |
579,229 | 583,640 | 35,774 | 10 | Daffy joins the military as a commando | This is a marvelous little bit of propaganda using Daffy to help lampoon the enemy , in this case the Nazis . I think my favorite bit is Daffy singing as he parachutes down , although the ending is a close second . Something I find myself wondering when I see this cartoon ( which probably means I have way too much time on my hands ) is whether the writers on the film Stalag 17 decided to name the guard in their film Schultz after this cartoon's Schultz and if , in turn , Schultz in Hogan's Heros was named after the guard in the film . My , such grand philosophical questions I ponder ! Great short and most definitely worth seeking out . Most highly recommended . |
579,382 | 583,640 | 24,404 | 10 | Music was a big part of cartoons in general and Betty Boop in particular . | Animation and music have gone hand in glove since the sound era and probably beforehand . While Warner Brothers and MGM featured music prominently , Lantz and Fliescher went a step or two further , by creating series built around music ( mostly jazz ) and the Betty Boop shorts featured music frequently . This short is one of the best they did . The mix of the animation and the Cab Calloway song is fantastic ! All the studios used music in the creative process for their animation , with varying success . Warner Brothers did so because they saw a way to utilize the large catalog of songs from their film library , while Disney saw the potential revenue streams music would afford them . Whatever the reason , some great cartoons were made , including quite few Betty Boops . This is a must see . Most highly recommended . |
579,773 | 583,640 | 43,481 | 10 | Tex Avery strikes again ! | Tex Avery's most successful original continuing character was Droopy . Though Avery was involved in the development of many of Warner Brothers principal characters , most of the time he preferred doing one-shots , not wanting to be tied into a regular character continuously . Under pressure at MGM to develop a continuing series like the rival unit Hanna and Barbera had with Tom and Jerry , he tried with Screwy Squirrel and the characters George and Junior , which had short runs , then came up with Droopy and hit a small jackpot . Droopy was the perfect character for Avery-a quiet , nondescript little fellow who always seems to come out ahead . The series was loose enough to permit Avery to do the sight gags he loved but also had a character recognizable enough to audiences that he could be a hook to grab audiences and build in popularity , thus keeping the studio and Avery reasonably happy . MGM continued the series , with mixed results , after Avery left the studio . This particular short has loads of hilarious sight gags and the ending is hilarious . Well worth watching . Most recommended . |
579,341 | 583,640 | 152,477 | 10 | An Overlooked Treasure | This cartoon seems to have vanished from the radar screens , along with most of the Walter Lantz material , which is a shame . The basic premise is that a trombone player named Jackson falls overboard and washes up on the island of Polaroo . The trombone solos are played by Jack Teagarden , a great jazz trombonist and there is a wonderful song the denizens of the island sing about Jackson , called , naturally enough , " Jackson , Sliphorn King of Polaroo " . It's all great fun and a good time is had by all and sundry . Hans Conreid's narration is just perfect and there are sight gags worthy of the master , Tex Avery . I wish I could see this one again . I don't know why so little of the Lantz output is available . If anyone can tell me , I'd appreciate the information . |
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