It’s be interesting to learn how much the decision by Warner Bros. in 1943 to re-release Leon Schlesinger’s cartoons (and thereby the cut the number of new ones purchased) affected Leon’s bottom line and whether that played a role in his selling of the studio to Warners in 1944. We may never know.
There are a number of other things unseen in the pages of the trade publication The Film Daily in the second half of ’43. For example, Boxoffice magazine reported on December 25th that year that Dave Fleischer had set up a company to produce animated inserts to live-action movies. Was Fleischer out at Columbia at that point? Could be. The final pictures with Fleischer’s name on it were released the following year. It’s a shame the archives of The Hollywood Reporter and other trades aren’t searchable on-line to fill in some blanks. According to The Film Daily, life at the studios was full of war work and that was about it. One has to cringe seeing that Bugs Hardaway was going to write a story instructing Navy surgeons.
The first Walter Lantz cartoons directed by Shamus Culhane appeared on screens and, though not reported here, Dick Lundy was hired to direct training films for the studio (Variety, Nov. 4, 1943). The studio evidently reacted to the popularity of MGM’s nightclub singer/dancer Red Riding Hood by coming up with its own girl character to be featured in “The Greatest Man in Siam.” And, not reported again, the studio announced a comic character, Wally Walrus (Variety, Nov. 16, 1943) to play off Woody Woodpecker. Disney, as expected, went the other direction, featuring cute little Figaro the cat and cute little Cleo the goldfish in a short (along with Mammy Two-Shoes, who seems to have commuted back and forth from the MGM cartoon studio).
Inki and the Minah Bird made their debuts. Superman left animation and so did Super Mouse. Well, his name was changed to Mighty Mouse, though The Film Daily never explained why (several legends are circulating on that one).
There are a couple of notes about voice actors, the most interesting one was announcing the hiring of Dave Barry at Columbia. I don’t know what cartoon was his first, but you can hear his Mr. Ripple voice from radio incongruously placed in the starring character in “Topsy Turkey” (released 1948).
Incidentally, Ted Watts mused about each of the cartoons of 1943 at HIS blog. He also included clippings from Boxoffice, some of which report stories that were skipped by The Film Daily. It’s well worth a visit. Not all cartoons were reviewed by Daily; I was hoping to read something on “The Herring Murder Mystery.”
July 1, 1943
M of T Radio Fanfare For Disney's “Air Power”
United Artists' Walt Disney production, "Victory Through' Air Power," will get a fanfare on the March of Time radio program tonight over the entire NBC network. Disney will be piped in from Hollywood for a discussion on the film.
July 6, 1943
RKO, Disney Add Year To Releasing Pact
Walt Disney short subjects and features will continue to be distributed by RKO for another season under the terms of an agreement signed Friday between Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO Radio, and Roy Disney representing Walt Disney Productions, it was announced by N. Peter Rathvon, RKO president.
New pact covers distribution of Disney's seventh group of shorts an carries an option for the distribution of the eighth group. Addionally, there will be the Disney feature previously announced as "Surprise Package" and currently titled tentatively as "Let's Go Latin," which will introduce a revolutionary technical process invented by the Disney studio. This feature, as well as the 18 shorts, will be in Technicolor.
RKO has distributed the Disney product for seven seasons, the first contract having been signed in March, 1936.
July 13, 1943
Coming and Going
NORMAN FERGUSON, director of Walt Disney's South American unit, is in Mexico City on a talent hunt. He is accompanied by HOMER BRIGHTMAN and DAN KEEFE.
Disney Shipping Record
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—An all-time high of 34,899 feet of film was shipped by the Dsiney studio during June. Figure is only 2,312 feet less than the entire 1932 output for the plant.
July 14, 1943
RKO 1943-44 Program to Stress Original Stories
...New Disney Camera Process
Schedules of independent producers whose product will be released by RKO includes Walt Disney's "Let's Go Latin," (tentative title), which will introduce a new camera process....
Of the 171 scheduled shorts, 142 are one-reelers and 29 two-reelers. Single reel series comprise RKO Pathe News, twice weekly; 18 Walt Disney Technicolor cartoons ...
July 15, 1943
"Air Power" Premiere At Globe on Saturday
Walt Disney's "Victory Through Air Power" will have its world premiere at the Globe Saturday,
July 19, 1943
Six Two-Reel Westerns On New Warner Program
Twenty-Six one-reel Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes, in Technicolor. Cartoons produced by Leon Schlesinger....
Thirteen one-reel Blue Ribbon Merrie Melodies, A 'Hall of Fame' group representing the best output of Schlesinger's cartoon subjects.
July 20, 1943
UA-Disney Feature Sets Off Big Blast
"How Victory Through Air Power Is Possible"—"Seversky Says Raid Can Blast Foes Out of War" were the eight-column heads which streamed across full pages of yesterday's New York Journal American devoted completely to illustrations, captions, and accompanying text descriptive of the UA-Disney opus current at the local Globe Theater. This editorial "blast" in behalf of "Victory Through Air Power" set promotional precedent for a full-length animated attraction. Prominently included in the full-page layout was a photograph of Major de Seversky whose theories on the war's winning were discussed.
July 22, 1943
Metro Sets Up New Exhib. Aid Program
...The short subject program will consist of 16 one-reel cartoons...
Fourth Gold Star on Disney Service Flag
West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—A fourth gold star was added to the Walt Disney studio service flag when word was received that Tech. Sergt. Burdette Sykora, 29, a former Disneyite and son of Mr. and Mrs. John Sykora of Windom, Minn., was killed in action in the North Pacific area on Memorial Day. He was believed to have been in the battle of Attu Island.
Italians Hold Perry Ex-Disney Arranger
West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—First Lieut. Herbert Perry, a navigator in the U. S. Army Air Force, and a former Disney music arranger, parachuted from a disabled Flying Fortress but was captured by the Italians and removed to Venice during the invasion of Sicily on July 5. He is the husband of the former Nora Cocreham, secretary in the Disney Cutting Department.
July 27, 1943
STORY PURCHASES
DR. SEUSS' "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry St.," George Pal.
August 2, 1943
Phil M. Daly column
• • • POPEYE the Sailor Man is in the Army now .... Jack Mercer, who has been the screen voice -of the spinach-guzzling gob for the past 11 years, has been inducted and leaves for camp on Aug. 3, so clarions Sam Buchwald, gen. mgr. of Paramount Famous Studios .... Jack, story and gag man for the outfit, has a trick set of vocal pipes which permit him to talk way-down-in-the-cellar-like .... His voice is a versatile affair, furnishing speech and other sounds for Para. cartoon creations .... The voice of spindly-legged Olive Oyl [in Brooklyn the verse of Olive Earl), string-bean sweetheart of the movies' Popeye, is that of a bee-utiful young lady, who in real life is the wife of (you guessed it!)— Jack Mercer!
August 4, 1943
Phil M. Daly column
• Robert B. Martsch, former member of Walt Disney's org., has been added to staff of Paramount Famous Studios in New York, so clarions Sam (Gen. Mgr.) Buchwald.
August 6, 1943
Fourth for "Power"
Walt Disney's "Victory Through Air Power" begins the fourth week of its world premiere engagement at the Globe Theater, tomorrow.
August 11, 1943
Phil M. Daly column
On Current Operations:
• • • MIKE ROBACH calls to Phil M.'s attention a li'l item in last Saturday's New York Times, which, allowing for some rather mystifying inaccuracies, demonstrates a trend toward tabloid reporting on that esteemed newspaper .... We quote: "Max Fleischer of Miami, Fla., an erstwhile producer of the 'Terry Toon' movie cartoons and now with time on his hands, has patented a calculator obviously useful in horse races, though in the single sentence explaining the device in the Gazette, 375 words are used to tell how it operates. He received Patent No. 2,325,761" .... As far as Phil M.'s memory serves (which goes back to Max's days with Bray, and subsequently the "Out of the Inkwell" subjects) Mister Fleischer has never had anything to do with the fashioning or admininstration of "Terry Toons" .... Further, Br'r Max has powerful little "time on his hands" .... He has been working, and, we presume, still is, upon war effort pix .... That's pretty darn hard and exacting work, and not this corner's idea of leisure .... We wonder, not having read the patent-grant, if the calculator is the camera, or similar device, upon which Max was toiling to stop all arguments on photo-finishes at the so-called Sport of Kings.
August 13, 1943
20th-Fox Lineup Calls for 39, 10 in Technicolor
The 41 shorts will include ... 20 Terrytoons.
August 24, 1943
Pal Working Two Shifts
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—A rush of work has caused George Pal to put his Puppetoon Studio on two eight-hour shifts, with the studio now open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sub Four Disney Shorts For Second Feature Pix
Replacement of the second feature with four Walt Disney Technicolor shorts has been so satisfactory at the Poli Theater, Bridgeport, Conn., that the Loew circuit is adopting the policy in a large number of other theaters. Loew's tested the idea in Bridgeport, labeling the shorts unit the "Walt Disney Laff Revue." Other circuits also have taken up the plan.
Patrons' comment cards at the Poli indicated an overwhelming majority in favor of the short subjects, only 48 persons favoring a second feature out of several thousand replies, according to the Bridgeport Post which reported the results.
Harry Michalson, RKO short subjects sales manager, said that since the Bridgeport test, the following Loew theaters have repeated it: Poli, Hartford; Palace, Meriden; Poli, New Haven; Poli, Waterbury; Poli, Worcester; Valentine Toledo; Loew's, Indianapolis; Loew's, Louisville; Midland, Kansas City;, State, Providence; Palace, Springfield, and Broadway, Norwich. Among the other circuits which have tested the revue idea is Feiber & Shea with the Colonial, Akron, and the State, Manchester, N. Y.
Coming and Going
LOUIS B. MAYER and WALT DISNEY leave the Coast today for Mexico City to be decorated by the Mexican president for promoting harmony between this country and Mexico.
August 27, 1943
Gov't Securities to Pay For Studio Wage Tilts?
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — That film unions and guilds ask for substantial pay tilts to be paid in Government securities payable after the war was the recommendation made to the Conference of Studio unions by William Pomerance of the Screen Cartoonists Guild.
He contended that such a move would overcome the objection by the Government to pay increase on grounds that it would upset stabilization of wages and that such increases would help block inflation and would aid the Bond-Selling drives.
August 31, 1943
Phil M. Daly column
• Into Mexico's educational system are being incorporated the cartoons of Walt Disney .... The latter was received on thhe week-end by President Avila Camacho to whom he declared that he will bring members of his staff from Hollywood to make pictures in collaboration with Mexican artists .... With Walt were Louis B. Mayer, Hedy Lamarr, John Loder and Walter Pidgeon.
September 17, 1943
And Is It Red!
A print of Walt Disney's satirical short subject "Der Fuehrer's Face" is now en route to Russia.
September 28, 1943
Phil M. Daly column
Candles and Cake:
• • • TO one of filmdom's ace international stars a glamorous birthday party was tendered last night in the Museum of Modern Art .... It was the 15th natal day of Mickey Mouse, and Walt Disney and RKO Radio collaborated in celebrating the event .... There was a birthday cake.—and no cheese cake, either—, of dazzling dimensions and tantalizing taste, symbolic of Mickey's great fame and appeal .... Thereon flamed a dozen-and-a-quarter festive candles, themselves visible signs of the diversified "flickers" in which the mighty mouse has strutted his histrionics .... And a block of eight of these flickers, selected to demonstrate as well as to commemorate Mickey's evolutionary march up the ladder of renown as a screen personality, was shown to the several hundred guests.
• • • FIRST of the block was "Steamboat Willie," wherein Mickey, under the Columbia banner, made his debut .... The world premiere was in the local Colony Theater, on Sept. 27, 1928 .... A couple of years earlier, B. S. Moss had built the stand as an indie house, and, when Walt Disney created Mickey on his genius-infested drawing board and transferred the rodent into celluloid, the Colony was under Universal operation .... At least this was the situation at the time "Steamboat Willie" broke release-ice .... Actually, Walt began making "Mickey Mouse" cartoons in sound during May of 1928 .... There were destined to be marketed, following conclusion of the Columbia days, by United Artists and then by RKO Radio .... By an odd circumstance, an RKO Radio-ite now serving on the publicity staff of S. Barret McCormick and who aided in the promotion of Mickey's birthday party last night, Arthur Brillant, was the Colony's managing director for "U." and, gnawed by the mouse's magnetic humor and potentialities, brought Mickey formally to the screen ..... Few entertainment world luminaries can boast of a Broadway bow as initial fling in show biz .... But that's what Mickey did, and literally "right off the reel" ..... In the wake of "Steamboat Willie" yester night were projected for his invited celebrity friends, and press and radio solons, "Mickey's Choo-Choo," Columbia, '29 (this should not confuse Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler); "Mickey's Grand Opera," UA '36; "Brave Little Tailor," RKO-Radio, '38; "Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip," RKO-Radio, '40; "Symphony Hour" and "Mickey's Birthday Party," RKO-Radio, '42; plus the brand-new unreleased "Figaro and Cleo," soon to grace film outlets of the free world.
September 30, 1943
Lantz to Make Navy Training Film Series
Walter Lantz, Universal cartoon producer, has closed a deal with the J. S. Navy whereby Lantz will produce a series of training films. Lantz, who has been in New York for several days, leaves for Washington today to confer with Naval officials before returning to the Coast.
October 15, 1943
Lantz to Produce Cartoon Series for Use By Navy
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Walter Lantz will produce a series of cartoons for use by the Navy, including a three-reel subject, "Practical Surgery." Ben Hardaway has been assigned to write the script which will instruct doctors in accordance with Navy requirements.
Due to his increased program, Lantz has engaged 10 additional artists and animators for his staff, and has placed his studio on a 48-hour working week, thus increasing his operating plan from 40 hours per week.
October 19, 1943
Phil M. Daly column, New York
Scanning the Film Scene:
• • • FROM the Coast cartoon foundry of Walter Lanz [sic] wafts word that he's adding something new to tab reels,—glamour .... Walter, after studying the mart on own behalf and his Universal distrib solons. feels that cartoons have been too limited in subject matter, and has decided to broaden scope of his material .... Inaugurating this policy will be "The Greatest Man in Siam," wherein glamour will appear in the Petty manner .... Incidentally, Br'r Lantz is producing eight cartoons for the Navy, at rate of one a month.
October 25, 1943
To Re-issue "Snow White" Under RKO-Disney Deal
Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" will be re-issued this season by RKO Radio under the terms of a new five-year deal which has been completed between the distributor and the producer. Distribution of the Technicolor production will be on a world-wide basis, with release in the conquered territories to be made as rapidly as conditions permit. An entire new line of posters and advertising accessories will be prepared.
No definite release date has been set, but it is likely that the picture may be re-issued during the Christmas holidays. First released in the Fall of 1937, "Snow White" was offered in 10 languages and was one of the top grossers of all time.
Did You Say Disney? . . . Or Is It Dizzy?
West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Having reached a zenith of hilarity, in the opinion of sports fans, via his "How To Play Baseball," Walt Disney has ordered full speed ahead on "How To Play Football,"—and it'll star not one Goofy but two teams of them,—22 in all! Release date will be around New Year's, probably in time for the bowl games.
October 28, 1943
17th "Canteen" Week Sets Canadian Mark
Montreal—"Stage Door Canteen," whose 16th final week at the Orpheum, was announced last week will be held a 17th week commencing today thereby almost doubling the longest previous Montreal run and the Dominion record for length of run in a cinema made 23 years ago in Toronto by "Mickey." Set to follow is Walt Disney's "Victory Through Air Power."
Phil M. Daly column, New York
Some Cuff Notes:
November 5, 1943
More Theaters Playing Walter Lantz Subjects
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Theaters playing Walter Lantz Cartunes, released by Universal, have increased from 7,500 to 8,200 during the past year, according to a checkup just completed by the producer.
First-run playing time has risen about 50 per cent during the period, Lantz states.
In New Posts
GRIM NATWICK, animator, Walter Lantz.
DON WILLIAMS, animator, Walter Lantz.
November 10, 1943
Donald Won't Duck Captive U. S. Lads
West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Walt Disney's latest international good deed is his design of insignia for American captives in a Nazi prison camp, "Stalag Luft III." It was done at the instigation of Capt. Robert H. Bishop, one of the captives, whose home town is Knoxville. Walt's design shows Donald Duck behind bars, beneath which is the legend, "I Wanted Wings." Disney to date has designed some 600 emblems for the armed forces.
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• Henry R. Arias, veteran pic gent, has acquired from P. A. Powers and Celebrity Productions the exclusive world distribution rights for the 35 mm. cartoon reissues,—38 "Flip the Frog," 12 "Willie Whoppers" (black and white cartoons), and 25 Comicolors.
November 23, 1943
14 New Films Start On Coast
At Republic: “Trocadero.” musical, with Rosemary Lane and Bob Rochester and his orchestra, Eddie LeBaron, Gus Arnheim and Matty Malneck and their Orchestras, columnist Erskine Johnson playing himself, Cliff Nazarro, in a comedy part, and cartoonist Dave Fleischer will have a trick role in the film.
December 1, 1943
HOLLYWOOD DIGEST
SIGNED
DAVE BARRY, voice impressionist, Columbia cartoon studio.
Pal's Puppetoon Studio Now in Full Production
Hollywood—George Pal's Puppetoon Studio is now in full production with all stages occupied with Paramount Puppetoons and training films which Pal is producing for the Army and Navy.
Re-recording is new being done on "Package for Jasper" winch is the next Puppetoon scheduled for Paramount release. “Say Ah, Jasper,” is now in the cutting room. "Mulberry Street" is now shooting and the musical score is being composed for "Jasper Goes Hunting," with shooting scheduled to get under way today.
Pal's second training film for the Army titled "The Tank Platoon Fundamentals of Attack" is now shooting and is scheduled for completion about the first of the year. His next training film for the United States Navy on P-T Boats is now in preparation and will start shooting in a few weeks.
December 2, 1943
Walt Disney to Enter Industrial Film Field
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Walt Disney has started a preliminary survey to determine the place of animated industrial motion pictures in the post-war world, it is revealed in the announcement of the formation of an industrial film division in the Disney organization, coincident with word that Disney has been in Toledo on the survey.
Toledo conferences, with officials of Owens-Illinois Glass Co., are to establish a basis for the contemplated series of worker indoctrination, training and entertainment subjects. Announcements started speculation as to the extent of the Disney post-war industrial plans. His studio and staff have been greatly extended in the past years as the organization concentrated on training subjects for both the U. S. and Canadian Governments. It is believed that, at the end of the war, the company will be in a position to maintain its theatrical program and, drawing on its Government experience, will be able to supply top flight subjects for the industrial field.
December 7, 1943
Disney Sees Radar As Television Boon
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Radar may furnish the solution of some of the problems which have kept television from keeping step with radio as an entertainment medium, in the opinion of Walt Disney.
The cartoon producer, discussing today's trends, urged a union of educators and producers in the making of educational films, and said that such a union was imperative if educational films' real worth is to be established.
In gazing into the crystal ball, Disney sees no specific technical development in the pictures ahead, although there will be gradual improvements.
"Third dimension will be too expensive a proposition, particularly in view of the fact that with present equipment we can obtain all the illusion of third dimension on the screen.
"In color we can look forward to great strides. The day will come when all pictures will be made in color. This will come about when a single film is developed that will record natural color, and steps are now being taken in this direction.
"Television has been held back only by the war, but behind the curtain of current events developments in this field are taking place which are certain to bring motion pictures, up-to-the-minute events, stage shows and sports colossals right into the home."
December 16, 1943
75% Color, 50% Cartoons In WB Shorts Release to May
Warners will release 32 short subjects from January to mid-May, half of the number being cartoon comedies and about 75 per cent of the total in Technicolor, it is announced by Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager. Three two-reel Westerns also are on the schedule, one for January, another for March and the third in April.
REVIEWS
July 1, 1943
M-G-M 8 Mins. Mildly Entertaining
Every now and then the cartoon fashioners are tempted into making a travesty of the blood-and-thunder crime theme. Herewith is the latest. For the most part it is amusing, and should be satisfactorily received by the fans. Essentially its appeal springs from rapid action and tricky animation. Such as the latter is, it delineates the efforts of an exaggerated detective to find out who killed the aged occupant of a mansion. Ghosts and all manner of eerie ectoplasmic forms bob out of closets, cellar, et al, to furnish suspense and humor. Mark it down as mildly entertaining
M-G-M 8 mins. Fair
A Technicolor cartoon with a limited number of laughs. It is likely to appeal primarily to the kids. The characters are a mouse and a cat. The mouse rejoices when the cat is put out of the house. Loneliness puts a quick end to his rejoicing. Most of the footage has to do with his efforts to get the cat back into the house. Once the cat is back both start fighting all over again.
July 8, 1943
"Victory Through Air Power"
UA-Disney 65 Mins.
DISNEY DOES SUPERB JOB WITH FILM VERSION OF SEVERSKY BOOK; TIMELY PIC DESERVES WIDE AUDIENCE.
Despite the fine job Disney has done in transferring Seversky's ideas to celluloid one cannot get away from the question of whether the film represents entertainment in the sense that picture fans have come to accept it. Humor is at a minimum and is confined to that portion of the film dealing with the history of aviation. "Victory Through Air Power" is Disney in a more serious mood—which is understandable considering the vital significance of the subject. The timeliness of the film and the publicity that has accrued to the Seversky book provide exploitable points in selling the picture to the public.
"Victory Through Air Power" is a picture that calls for the abandonment of old-time notions of entertainment in its evaluation. It must be weighed by maturer standards for the sake of its message—in this instance a message of supreme importance —a message that touches the welfare of every individual arrayed against the Axis powers. Every person seriously interested in victory against the Axis owes it to himself to see the film. This is a point the exhibitor can stress with profit to himself in selling the picture to his patrons.
Despite its seriousness the film manages to be absorbing at all times. It puts over its message with remarkable clarity and commendable simplicity. Diagrams have never been used with more striking effect, nor with greater cleverness. Disney uses them dramatically to illustrate Seversky's concepts of air force as a weapon of victory.
After the film has sketched the development of the airplane the screen is given over to Seversky himself. The heir to General Billy Mitchell's theories on the value of air power expounds his ideas with an incisiveness and an authority that make it easy to see why through the air lies the United Nations' path to victory. Seversky shows in detail how long-range bombing by land-based aviation will blast the Axis out of the war. He presents his case impressively and eloquently, driving home his argument with devastating logic. Seversky explains at length why trying to lick the Axis by any other means than air power properly applied will be a long and arduous task calling for a heavy cost in lives and gold. He points out the need for a united American air force under separate command.
The film, in which Technicolor has been used to fine advantage, represents a grand job of animation.
Hats are off to all who had a finger in the making of the picture.
CREDITS: Producer, Walt Disney, Production Manager, Dan Keefe; Scenes with Major Seversky directed by H. C. Potter; Animation Supervisor, David Hand; Story Direction, Perce Pearce; Story Adaptation, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, Jim Bodrero, George Stallings, Jose Rodriquez; Sequence Directors, Clyde Geronomi, Jack Kinney, James Algar; Cameraman, Ray Hennehan; Art Director, Richard Irvine; Sound Recorders, C. O. Sly field, Lodge Cunningham; Film Editor, Jack Dennis; Interior Decoration, William Kiernan; Narrator, Art Baker; Musical Score, Edward Plumb, Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace.
DIRECTION, Fine. PHOTOGRAPHY, Fine.
July 21, 1943
Columbia 7 Mins. Inconsequential
Mildly diverting fare, recounting the tiff between a tough-guy fly, who finds himself caught in a fierce spider's web, and the occupant thereof. Something of an O. Henry twist is injected at the finale when the fly is all set to devour the spider. Set it down as a run-of-the-mine cartoon without much specific interest. Occasionally the dialogue and some of the animation are above the dull level.
July 22, 1943
"The Uninvited Pest" (M-G-M Cartoon)
M-G-M 8 mins. Amusing Stuff
Because it depicts how one's sleep can be disturbed by minor annoyances which assume major importance, this reel will amuse all adults, and its simple, direct, and humorous story will likewise please the younger generation. Mr. Bear is settling down for a good snooze when a little squirrel enters his cabin to raid a bowl of nuts therein. Vast confusion follows, with the bear getting the worst of it, and finally turning over the edible booty to the invader.
Warner 7 Mins. Funny
Leon Schlesinger has united Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in a Technicolor cartoon that is productive of a fair number of laughs. The action revolves around the efforts of the two characters to slip out of a hotel where they owe a fat bill. They try devious means of escape with humorous results. Speed has been stressed in the animation.
Paramount 9 mins. Like All the Others
This is Superman's fadeout. It cannot be trutfully said that our mighty man winds up his screen life in a blaze of glory. The last of the series of Technicolor cartoons is just as fantastic as its predecessors, with the appeal strictly to the kids. This time Superman smashes a gang of saboteurs after a femme agent who has gotten the dope on the lice and is about to spill it to the authorities. It is denied that Superman has left the screen to go into the Army, where the likes of him would indeed be welcome.
"The Truck That Flew" (Madcap Models)
Paramount 8 mins. Good
George Pal's new offering is a very amusing little item artistically created. It's a fantasy based on story by Dudley Morris. It tells of a little chap whose thoughts turn to a flying truck at bedtime. Presto, he dreams of being wafted skyward, with his bed transformed into a big truck. The lad's dream journey is marked by excitement and human incidents. The short, which is in fine Technicolor, makes a classy booking.
"The Hungry Goat" (Popeye)
Paramount 7 mins. Mild
In his newest animated cartoon appearance Popeye tangles with a billy goat with a voracious appetite. The goat comes aboard Popeye's ship and proceeds to eat everything of metal in sight, including the battle wagon itself. Popeye and the admiral, whose ship it is, have a hopeless time besting the goat, which winds up having the last laugh on them. The number of laughs is limited.
August 4, 1943
Warner 7 mins. Good
Again Leon Schlesinger has teamed Porky Pig and Daffy Duck with humorous results. The first enacts a theatrical agent to whom the latter tries to sell his little nephew as a stage attraction. Daffy's endeavors to gain an audition for the kid are quite funny. Porky Pig is finally forced to give in and listen to the kid, who proves a total flop. The animation is excellent in this cartoon, which is in Technicolor.
"A Hunting We Won't Go"
Columbia 7 Mins. Good
A situation ripe for humor arises when the crow goes on a fox hunt while the fox goes on a crow hunt. Hell breaks loose when the two meet and disclose each other's identity. When the Fox has the crow where he wants him he can't go through with the job of shooting him. At last, however, the Fox let's go at the crow. There are quite a few laughs in the Technicolor footage. This is a Dave Fleischer production.
August 5, 1943
RKO 8 Mins. Very Funny
Possible means of meeting the gas and rubber shortage are shown in this Walt Disney Technicolor cartoon. Various ideas are demonstrated by the Goof with fine humorous results. Finally the Goof demonstrates an idea of his own—the pogo stick. The fellow does wonders with the device. This is a very amusing item.
August 20, 1943
"Dizzy Newsreel"
Columbia 7 1/2 Mins. Passable
This cartoon is a burlesque on some of the favorite subjects of the newsreels. All the characters are animals. The short moves snappily and has quite a few laughs. Dave Fleischer produced the item, which has snatches of humor that will appeal to grown-ups.
September 1, 1943
"Super Mouse Rides Again" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Fair
Again Supermouse comes to the rescue of a colony of mice being being devilled by cats. The mice live in mortal terror until our rodent hero projects himself upon the scene and routs the villains. The kids will find the cartoon entertaining, although it is no better than fair. The short is in Technicolor.
September 3, 1943
"Jasper Goes Fishing" (Madcap Models)
Paramount 8 1/2 mins Excellent
George Pal has worked his magic again. For his latest creation he has reunited Jasper, the Scarecrow and the latter's blackbird with hilarious results. Jasper undergoes some hair-raising experiences with a school of irate fish when he plays hookey from Sunday school to go fishing with the Scarecrow and the blackbird. A world of imagination has gone into the short, which is in superb Technicolor.
September 7, 1943
Universal 7 Mins. Fair
This Technicolor cartoon has Woody Woodpecker as its chief character. This time Woody is concerned with getting gas to run his jalopy. In siphoning gas from other cars he makes the mistake of tangling with a police car. Woody and the cop chase each other all over the place. The film has a bang-up finish. The kids will get a few laughs out of this one.
"Down With Cats" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Good
Here's another of the Technicolor cartoons featuring Supermouse. This one seems to be the best of the series so far. It has some clever touches and many laugh-getting situations. Again Supermouse saves a bunch of mice from the depredations of their cat enemies. The cats attempt to trap the mice while the latter are skating on a pond. Put this down as an A-1 booking for the kids.
September 8, 1943
"Somewhere in Egypt" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Quite Funny
The further adventures of Sergeant Cat and Private Gandy Goose. This time the two find themselves in the desert in Egypt. Gandy's playing of a plaintive oriental tune sends the sarge into a dream in which he meets some feline stunners. The cartoon, which is in Technicolor, is good for innumerable laughs.
M-G-M 8 mins. Quite Funny
Plenty of laughs here. The action takes place on Christmas Eve and the principal characters are a kid pig and the big bad wolf. The wolf tries every trick, including disguising himself as Santa Clause [sic], to lure the piggy into his clutches, but the porker gets the better of the villain at every turn. At the windup of this Technicolor cartoon the wolf is a mess.
September 15, 1943
"Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy"
Universal 7 Mins. So-So
The verdict here is fair. This cartoon in Technicolor deals with a feud between two hillbilly factions fought with biscuits baked by Mirandy. The biscuits are so hard they're as good as bullets. The feudists get into the army and fight the Axis with biscuits made by Mirandy.
September 27, 1943
Universal 7 mins. Okay for Jive Lovers
Boogie-woogie gets a good going-over in this Technicolor cartoon. The action revolves around a convention of ghosts that is thrown into high by the jive antics of a delegation from Harlem. The subject has been well executed. The young folk should find this a booking to their taste.
September 27, 1943
"Cartoons Ain't Human" (Popeye)
Paramount 7 mins. Mild
Popeye turns animated cartoonist in his latest adventure. He makes himself the hero of his creation, rescuing Olive from the villain, who has the gal tied to the railroad tracks at the end. The laughs are few. Even the kids will have a tough time being entertained by this one.
"Room and Bored"
Columbia 7 1/2 mins. Okay
This Technicolor short offers another battle between the Crow and the Fox. The fuss starts when the former, a jive nut, rents an apartment from the latter and proceeds to make a nuisance of himself. The Crow's behavior finally forces the Fox to order him out, but the villain manages to stay on by trickery. The Dave Fleischer cartoon has a number ,of rather funny moments.
October 1, 1943
Warners 7 mins. Lots of Laughs
Literally and figuratively, Bugs Bunny, already a prime favorite among current cartoon characters, gets off to a flying start in the distribution season just started. The buck-toothed, long-eared clown meets up with a gremlin, and both find themselves aloft in an airplane, with Bugs, or what's left of him, being darn glad to get back to earth. There are plenty of laughs throughout. The tough Bunny, if this initial '43-'44 offering of his producer, Leon Schlesinger, is any criteron, is in for a further rise in popularity among fans who like humor. Of course, the reel is in Technicolor. It was supervised by Robert Clampett and animated by Roderick Scribner. Warren Foster wrote the story, and Carl W. Stalling handled the musical direction.
October 8, 1943
RKO 8 Mins. Topnotch
With the help of fine Technicolor, Walt Disney has created a cartoon that is as appealing as it is amusing. The chief characters are a kitten named Figaro and a gold fish called Cleo. The kitten perpetually keeps trying to get at the fish but suffers a change of heart at the end. It takes plenty of upbraiding by a colored maid to teach Figaro love for Cleo. The cartoon has been fashioned with a delicate touch that adds immensely to its fascination.
"War Dogs"
M-G-M 7 Mins. Funny
There are loads of laughs in this Technicolor cartoon about an army hound who has a genius for doing everything wrong. The dog gets himself in and out of difficulties with the greatest of ease and with results that make the short a first-rate bookings of its kind. A lot of cleverness has gone into the film's making.
"The Stork's Holiday"
M-G-M 8 Mins. Not Bad
How the stork reacts to the war has been treated with a good dose of humor in this Technicolor cartoon. The stork, afraid of negotiating the skyways in wartime, rebels against further activity until the ghosts of its ancestors arise to plague him and remind him of his duty. Thereupon the old bird encases himself in armor and resumes his job of delivering the young. He has an encounter with enemy planes but comes through triumphantly. The kids will find plenty to laugh at.
November 12, 1943
"Hiss and Make Up" (Merrie Melodies)
Warner 7 mins. Okay
This Leon Schlesinger cartoon in Technicolor is about a cat and a dog that are at each other's throat every time their mistress, an old maid, turns her back. A pet canary has an important place in the plot. Some of the situations in this one are very funny.
RKO 10 mins. Swell
Donald Duck has a run-in with his sergeant, a hard-as-nails fellow, in his latest army experience. Donald's flouting of army regulations leads to some extremely hilarious moments. Clever incidents develop as he and the sarge have it out. At the wind-up the sarge is pursuing our feathered hero with a bayonet. Of course, the cartoon is in Technicolor.
"Inki and the Minah Bird" (Merrie Melodies)
Warner 7 mins. Excellent
Leon Schlesinger has done a swell job with the story of a lion's encounter with a little jungle native (Inki) and a minah bird, a mysterious sort who remains silent through-out. Inki runs into the lion while out hunting. He is almost done for when the bird comes to the rescue. The Technicolor is superb.
"A Feud There Was" (Merrie Melodies)
Warner 7 mins. All Right
A hill-billy feud is the subject of this extremely funny cartoon in Technicolor. A peace-preaching character named Elmer keeps butting in. He makes himself so obnoxious that the two factions unite to drive him off. In a surprise ending the meek fellow is transformed into a fighting fool. He beats up the feudists and brings about peace.
"Nursery Crimes"
Columbia 7 mins. Okay
By giving what he refers to the "inside story" on the Mother Goose rhymes, the narrator offers modern version of some of the childhood favorites. The treatment is consistently amusing. There is much satirical material in the Technicolor cartoon, which is a Dave Fleischer offering.
"Meatless Tuesday"
Universal 9 mins. Funny
The Walter Lantz cartoon in Technicolor is an amusing bit. The star is Andy Panda. The fellow, hungry for chicken, spends his time trying to capture a rooster for dinner. The action is hectic, winding up with the rooster triumphant. The kids in particular will get a kick out of the cartoon.
November 17, 1943
Warner 7 mins. Corking
This teaming of those hilarious Leon Schlesinger characters, Bugs Bunny and Porky, in this Technicolor cartoon means a high old time for those who like animated entertainment. The two do their stuff to the accompaniment of those enchanting tunes, "Tales from the Vienna Woods" and "The Blue Danube." Here is an ace booking that will especially please music lovers.
November 19, 1943
"Fin ‘n’ Catty" (Merrie Melodies)
Warner 7 mins. Amusing
Done in Technicolor by Leon Schlesinger, this animated cartoon deals with a cat that schemes to get its paws on a goldfish. The cat tries every trick to gain its end but without success. The fish triumphs by capitalizing on the discovery that cats dislike water. The end finds the cat thoroughly immersed. The laughs are numerous.
November 24, 1943
"The Lion and the Mouse" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Okay
The fable of the lion and the mouse has been treated amusingly in this animated cartoon in Technicolor. The lion finds his generosity in sparing the mouse's life well repaid when he falls into a trap. The rodent, transforming himself into Super-mouse, rout the hounds menacing the lion and gains the king of beast's release. The kids especially will find something to laugh about in this short.
Warner 7 mins. Daffy and Funny
Daffy Duck tangles with a German called Von Vulture in his latest adventure. The fellow launches a one-man blitz against the officer and his aide that is flood for a load of laughs. Daffy winds up on top after an exciting set-to with the villains. He then sets out to give Hitler a dose of trouble. The Technicolor treatment is extra good in this cartoon which is an ace filler. Leon Schlesinger produced capitally.
"The Cocky Bantam"
Columbia 6 1/2 mins. Funny
Here is a Dave Fleischer animated cartoon in Technicolor that is good for a few laughs. The short has the added advantage of dealing with a timely subject that conveys a moral. A starving falcon buys a chicken on the black market and immediately gets into a mess of trouble. The chicken is revealed as an FBI agent. At the end it's the clink for the falcon and the Jap who sold him the chicken.
"Aladdin's Lamp" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Good
Sergeant Cat and Private Gandy Goose are the characters. Gandy falls asleep and dreams that he and the sergeant are in China where they meet Aladdin. Wondrous things happen to our heroes, thanks to the magic wrought by Aladdin's lamp. The two make the most of their dream. The animated cartoon has plenty of laughs. This one is in Technicolor.
20th-Fox 7 mins. Highly Amusing
The central character is a yokel duck selling brushes. His efforts to interest a family of ducks and a couple of swans in his wares are cruelly rebuffed. He is a pitiful figure until a sinister bird of prey appears on the scene and attempts to seize a duckling. The yokel rises to the occasion, puts the invader to flight and is honored as a hero by those who spurned him. The Technicolor cartoon is good fun.
"The Hopeful Donkey" (Terrytoon)
20th-Fox 7 mins. Fair
The footage deals with a donkey who flees fiom his master to save himself from being disposed of because of old age. The animal decides to go to town in hope of becoming a great musician. On his way he picks up a dog, a cat and a rooster who are in the same fix as himself. The four make heroes of themselves by putting a villain to flight. The appeal here is more to children than to grown-ups. The cartoon is in Technicolor.
December 9, 1943
M-G-M 8 mins. Gruesome Twosome
Although quite humorous, the sight of two buzzards with cannibalistic intentions toward each other scarcely makes for pleasant contemplation. The buzzards are depicted as a couple of extremely brutal fellows. The fact that they're dying of starvation may be offered in mitigation of their actions. The two go after each other until a rabbit pops on the scene. The cartoon is in Technicolor and has been well done.
December 16, 1943
"Her Honor the Mare"
Paramount 7 mins. Better Than Usual
At last Popeye has succumbed to the lure of color. And what an improvement! This cartoon is far and away the best of the series to be turned out in a long, long time. This time Popeye is involved with a broken-down mare which his nephews bring home. He tries every trick to get rid of the mare but changes his mind when the stork calls on the animal. Technicolor should give new life to the series.
"Goodnight Rusty" (Madcap Models)
Paramount 7 1/2 mins. Good
Rusty, the boy character in "The Truck That Flew," does an encore in the latest of the George Pal series of Technicolor shorts. This, too, is a fantasy, and a fascinating one. This time Rusty has all sorts of strange experiences as result of his insistence on smoking a cigar. Pal has obtained some most unusual effects in this film, in which color has been used to striking advantage.
Columbia 8 mins. All Right for Kids
The kids, especially those of feminine gender, will take readily to [] entertainment in this Dave Fleischer cartoon in Technicolor. The footage is a bit of fantasy about a tattered doll. The child who owns the doll lets her imagination wander in finding an explanation for the doll's condition. The short is bolstered by some delightful music by Paul Worth.
"No Mutton Fer Nuttin'" (Noveltoons)
Paramount 7 mins. Amusing
Initial subject in Paramount's new Noveltoons series, this Technicolor cartoon from Famous Studios is in the current style of other animated reels. Featuring a tough black sheep who outwits the wolf looking for a lamb chop dinner, subject is a fast, funny wise crack-filled program filler.
December 20, 1943
"Baby Puss"
M-G-M 8 mins. Kiddie Delight
Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse cavort again in a Technicolor cartoon to the delight of the kids. This time Tom makes a laughing stock of himself when he acts like a baby at his young mistress' request that he behave himself. His efforts to defend himself get him in trouble with his mistress. The youngsters will get plenty of laughs out of this one.
“Home Defense” (Walt Disney)
RKO 8 mins. Swell
The wrong way to be an airplane spotter is demonstrated amusingly by Donald Duck in this Walt Disney cartoon in Technicolor. Using home-made apparatus, Donald gets himself involved in one embarrassing situation after another in his attempt to do his patriotic duty. His nephews complicate matters by playing tricks on him. The short is filled with laugh-provoking incidents.
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