Some people consider “The Kid from Borneo” to be the most controversial short in the Our Gang series, but an argument can be made that it is the most misunderstood.
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Author Archives: Phil Hall
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
Ali Baba Bunny (1957)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Story by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn
Animation by Richard Thompson, Ken Harris, Abe Levitow, Ben Washam and Harry Love
The major problem with the Bugs Bunny-Daffy Duck frenemy cartoons is the surplus amount gags focused on Daffy, with Bugs serving mostly as a polite onlooker to the violent humiliation generated by his web-footed friend’s self-destructive greed, jealousy, and rudeness. “Ali Baba Bunny” is the best of these pairings because Bugs shares an equal load of generated laughs with Daffy, and the two work in unison in dealing with a memorable adversary. The result is one of the very best of the Bugs Bunny series, as well as one of the most comically satisfying cartoons ever made.
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10 More of the Best Musical Numbers You May Not Have Seen (But Need to See)
Last Friday’s feature on 10 great musical numbers from films that never quite achieved classic status but are too much fun was so well received that we’re serving up another 10 under-the radar numbers that deserve some extra attention.
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The 10 Best Musical Numbers You May Not Have Seen (But Need to See)
When it comes to the subject of movie musicals, it always seems like a handful of numbers from classic films are always presented as being the best of the genre. And, to be fair, they deserve that attention. Whether it involves Judy Garland pining to be “Over the Rainbow” or James Cagney giving a new meaning to patriotism with “Yankee Doodle Dandy” or Gene Kelly getting happily soaked while “Singin’ in the Rain,” everyone knows these numbers by heart.
Today, we’re going in the opposite direction with segments from 10 films that never quite achieved classic status but nonetheless feature larger than life musical sequences that are too much fun.
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: To Hare is Human (1956)
To Hare is Human (1956)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Story by Michael Maltese
Animation by Abe Levitow, Richard Thompson, Ken Harris, Ben Washam
Music by Milt Franklyn
Wile E. Coyote wants Bugs Bunny for breakfast – not as a guest, but as his meal – but the self-proclaimed genius quickly discovers capturing his prey is beyond his intellectual capacities. For this pursuit, the coyote installs a supersized Univac computer in his cave and consults the machine for strategies on catching Bugs. The computer offers several ideas, but all these seemingly ingenious efforts wildly backfire on the coyote.
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High Steaks (1962)
Between 1961 and 1962, MGM released 13 Tom and Jerry cartoons produced at a Czechoslovakian animation studio under the guidance of expatriate Americans Gene Deitch and William N. Synder. It is safe to say that very few people adore these films – with their cheapjack animation, irritating sound effects and stupid scripts, these Tom and Jerry endeavors represent some of the shoddiest animation ever put forth by a Hollywood studio.
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The Bootleg Files: Laugh-In
BOOTLEG FILES 918: “Laugh-In” (short-lived 1977 reboot of the classic comedy show).
LAST SEEN: On YouTube.
AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.
REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: Legal issues are keeping it out of commercial re-release.
CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely.
In 1977, NBC offered its audience “Laugh-In,” a reboot of the classic 1968-73 comedy series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” George Schlatter, the producer on the original series, was brought back to helm this new effort. However, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, the stars of the original production, were unaware this new series was being created – and considering that they owned a piece of that franchise, the lack of communication created more than just ill-will. Rowan & Martin sued Schlatter for using the original show’s format without their permission – the lawsuit was settled out of court in 1980.
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