Fleischer Xmas cards '35

FLeischer Christmas cards; unlike the one I posted last year, I think these are actually from 1935...
http://www.fleischerstudios.com/image_display.php?g_num=0&img_num=0

Waylaid

Writing this a month in the past, I see life has waylaid my ability to finish this blog in this year, so I'm declaring a do over (kinda; I just want to say it in my onarch voice). It's possible I could catch up, but I think I'm going to be better off not doing that. See you in a year (that's likely to be controversial with some, as it was when I did it last year; too bad; also \, there will be some interim posts before July 2013; one is already sitting in the December queue); even if I don't write any more ever again, there's still about a month of posts ready to roll. We'll see just how many years I can drag 1935 out through. Kisses.

093 Parrotville Post Office

 

Title: Parrotville Post-Office
Studio: Van Beuren
Date: 06/28/35
Credits:
Directed by
Burt Gillett and Tom Palmer
Music by Winston Sharples
Series: Rainbow Parade
Running time (of viewed version): 7:24
Commercial DVD Availability: TTRP

Synopsis: Destructive children outmaneuver mail robber.

Comments: Those are some red bushy eyebrows on the captain. He wants to make more children with Mrs. Perkins. Is "she's always on time" a joke or a simple reference? Dramatic music. They were still using the style in the Phantom serial in 1943. They don't get tired of the underwear jokes. The Black Parrot Mail Robber has a good attitude. This is clearly not the Foxy Terrier. This is a strongly not funny cartoon. It's unclear why the ribber didn't shoot the captain before he raised the shotgun. 

092 Moans and Groans

 

Title: Moans and Groans
Studio: Terry
Date: 06/28/35
Credits: -
Series: -
Running time (of viewed version): 5:18
Commercial DVD Availability: -

Synopsis: Farmer Alfalfa learns he likes to get high. Now with dentistry.

Comments: "Dr Groan, Painless Dentist." Strapped dow to the dentist chair. Active life of Al's mouth. Tooth demons. The dentist has a fez. Al gets high on gas. Big moon nose. Somehow I think whoever storyboarded this had had these experiences... The June Moon is a big headed bride. Farmer harvest moon. Blue moon as a caricature of that big boned singer lady (Kate Smith)? Venus is a 6 pointed star dressed as Cleopatra? A speedy dancing scene (repeated); unusual to see it with humans instead of mice or cats. Why did cartoonists think old farmers were a good idea? I always remembered hating the idea. Change in zeitgeist, and I'm more removed from the culture where rural farmers were a known but laughable relic in people's lives instead of simply alien? 

091 For Better or Worser

 

Title: For Better or Worser

Studio: Fleischer
Date: 06/28/35
Credits:
Directed by
Dave Fleischer
Animated by
Seymour Kneitel and Roland Crandall
Series: Popeye
Running time (of viewed version): 7:46
Commercial DVD Availability: Popeye v1

Synopsis: Popeye would rather get married than cook.

Comments: Pan up on a bachelor apartment building exterior. Popeye is a troubling cook. Can't tell if the list of phone numbers are jokes. Kind of a mail order bride type situation; were there matchmaker places like this? Stereoptical background. "C'mon baby"; I didn't realize that was a saying at the time. "We're gonna get married" sounds a bit like Rodney Dangerfield saying "we're all gonna get laid". Olive has no  preference. As always. Beard extending over portrait. Olive turns out to be too ugly for Popeye. So he beat up Bluto and abandoned Olive to her fate. Not the nicest guy. Spinach spittoon. Jaunty brass music. Greg Ford's commentary mentions the '75 issue of Film Comment discusses this (Mark Langer?) mentioning its "grotesquerie and pessimism". There was a PDF of that issue online, but I believe it was only supposed to be up for a short period. Greg Ford brings up the brothel similarities; I had decided to go for the mail order bride angle instead, but it's on the official DVD, so there you go. 

090 Little Rover

 

Title: Little Rover

Studio: Columbia
Date: 06/28/35
Credits: -
Series: Color Rhapsody
Running time (of viewed version): 7:25
Commercial DVD Availability: -

Synopsis: WIth a bad home life, a dog tries the world, which is even worse.

Comments: Open on a down pan of a cityscape. Looks advanced for the time, really. Then the primitive round headed dogs. I wonder what the dog did to get exiled; it seems like trying to be at the bottom of the pile is just an excuse. Strange sound fade to and from the city sounds. Active camera work in the street crossing. The dog does try to take advantage of a guy in a cast... Horrible modern raspberry sound effect. Green faced cat again. Big drippy snot. This reminds me strangely of Crayon Shin Chan. Something about the design and the giant snot. It really feels like it's just going to end with life sucking for the dog. And then it starts to rain on him. Animating a rain water reflection of the dog. But bad rain effect. The moral is that even though your family hates you and kicks you in the face, eventually they'll be too tired to hit you so you should stay at home. Cool end title. The Columbia Pictures logo looks related to the Starbucks logo.