Kitty Caddy (which only survives in soundtrack form in the Columbia archives) is one of the last Screen Gems cartoons to be made, produced in the Harry Binder - Ray Katz era. It features a cat & dog's attempts to play a peaceful game of golf, but it turns out anything but peaceful, especially when Bob Hope and Bing Crosby keep stealing the scenes (and something else besides). One note: you see the cat & dog holding hands when they arrive in the park - are they more than just friends (tee-hee!)?
Out of all the lost toons, this is one of the better shorts, and I'm proud to present this in its entirety. Enjoy!
Kitty Caddy
Uploaded by ldglover
Available to view for 1 month.
And that's all, folks (I know. Wrong tagline for these cartoons)! It took a long time (for reasons I won't go into), but this series of lost Columbia cartoons has finally drawn to a close. I hope that you enjoyed viewing these clips, and I also hope that those of you who haven't or have little of these cartoons in your collection will seek out for more, and not just these lost toons. Many of these are by no means classics, but are certainly underappreciated.
Watch out for my new series of posts about the crappiest-looking redrawns ever, and I will be posting more Columbia cartoons in the future.
Thanks for reading the Lost Columbia Cartoons series!
Showing posts with label screen gems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label screen gems. Show all posts
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Major Google
Major Google was the last of the Barney Google cartoon quartet, and, like the previous three, this is a lacklustre effort. Even with the absence of sound on the surviving home movie prints, you can still visually see why the transfer from printed to animated cartoon was not successful.
The cartoon apparantly survives in the Columbia archives as a B&W print (don't know if it is with or without sound) and a redrawn (but silent) version. I've managed to obtain copies of two silent, truncated home movie versions. Sadly, there's not enough material to make a almost-complete reconstruction as each one is 2-and-a-half minutes long and only a few differences in each print. However, I've uploaded the best-looking of the two prints for your viewing pleasure.
As always, the video will be available to view for a month.
The cartoon apparantly survives in the Columbia archives as a B&W print (don't know if it is with or without sound) and a redrawn (but silent) version. I've managed to obtain copies of two silent, truncated home movie versions. Sadly, there's not enough material to make a almost-complete reconstruction as each one is 2-and-a-half minutes long and only a few differences in each print. However, I've uploaded the best-looking of the two prints for your viewing pleasure.
As always, the video will be available to view for a month.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Dreams on Ice
This 1939 cartoon, directed by Sid Marcus, is apparantly non-existant in the Columbia archives, but does survive in the collectors'/traders' circuits as a 16mm B&W print. This is one of a handful of "Sparky" cartoons, where he attempts to do ice-skating by flooding his bedroom with water and opening his window to let the freezing wind through.
IMHO it's a drab, Disney-esque cartoon, but nevertheless, here's the complete short for you to enjoy:
Available to view for 1 month.
IMHO it's a drab, Disney-esque cartoon, but nevertheless, here's the complete short for you to enjoy:
Available to view for 1 month.
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - The Herring Murder Mystery / Hollywood Sweepstales
A double-bill of short clips for you, today.
The Herring Murder Mystery (a 1943 cartoon which apparantly only exists in the Columbia archives as a segment of the first two minutes) features the story of a herring pickler, who, after being arrested - and thrown into the sea - by the fish police, is on trial for murder (well, he did pickle them to death!).
Presenting here is a short segment from a complete print. Personally, it's shad roe, shad roe, shad roe to me!
Another short clip below is taken from Hollywood Sweepstakes, a 1939 cartoon (directed by Ben Harrison) that is officially missing in the Columbia archives (but survives among us collectors as a 16mm colour print). It does feature a host of celebrity characitures, but they're mostly token - it's really about a pony's attempt to win a derby. Here's the second half of this cartoon for you to enjoy:
The Herring Murder Mystery (a 1943 cartoon which apparantly only exists in the Columbia archives as a segment of the first two minutes) features the story of a herring pickler, who, after being arrested - and thrown into the sea - by the fish police, is on trial for murder (well, he did pickle them to death!).
Presenting here is a short segment from a complete print. Personally, it's shad roe, shad roe, shad roe to me!
Another short clip below is taken from Hollywood Sweepstakes, a 1939 cartoon (directed by Ben Harrison) that is officially missing in the Columbia archives (but survives among us collectors as a 16mm colour print). It does feature a host of celebrity characitures, but they're mostly token - it's really about a pony's attempt to win a derby. Here's the second half of this cartoon for you to enjoy:
Clips are available to view for a month.
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Spark Plug
It's been a very busy couple of months for yours truly, hence the irregular posting, for which I apologise. But over here in Blighty, we had a bank holiday weekend, which allowed me the time to do something special - another cartoon reconstruction!
This "lost" Columbia cartoon (released 12th April 1936) features Barney Google's attempt to win a derby with his horse, Spark Plug (ain't that a great name?). It is the third of the four Barney Google cartoons that Charles Mintz produced, and is IMHO the best one the Screen Gems studio did.
This apparantly survives in the Columbia archives as a 16mm B&W print, but I was able to do a virtual reconstruction using three silent home-movie prints, using the redrawn version as a template. A few brief missing scenes here and there, but nothing greatly vital to the story. In fact, the redrawn version also has a few missing scenes that are present in my version.
This version will be available on this blog for two months. Yep, you read that right (lol!). Enjoy!
This "lost" Columbia cartoon (released 12th April 1936) features Barney Google's attempt to win a derby with his horse, Spark Plug (ain't that a great name?). It is the third of the four Barney Google cartoons that Charles Mintz produced, and is IMHO the best one the Screen Gems studio did.
This apparantly survives in the Columbia archives as a 16mm B&W print, but I was able to do a virtual reconstruction using three silent home-movie prints, using the redrawn version as a template. A few brief missing scenes here and there, but nothing greatly vital to the story. In fact, the redrawn version also has a few missing scenes that are present in my version.
This version will be available on this blog for two months. Yep, you read that right (lol!). Enjoy!
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Mysto Fox
Apologies for the long delay in posting.
Mysto Fox (released 29th August 1947) is the only Fox & Crow cartoon not currently existing in its original form. The soundtrack of this cartoon is what apparantly survives in the Columbia archives, but it does exist among collectors as a 16mm B&W television print without any opening & closing titles.
I'm proud to present the complete surviving print, available to view on this blog for four weeks:
Mysto Fox
Uploaded by ldglover
Mysto Fox (released 29th August 1947) is the only Fox & Crow cartoon not currently existing in its original form. The soundtrack of this cartoon is what apparantly survives in the Columbia archives, but it does exist among collectors as a 16mm B&W television print without any opening & closing titles.
I'm proud to present the complete surviving print, available to view on this blog for four weeks:
Mysto Fox
Uploaded by ldglover
Sunday, July 08, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Patch Mah Britches
Patch Mah Britches (released 19th December 1935) is the second of the four Barney Google cartoons made by Screen Gems, and was directed by Sid Marcus.
This apparantly survives in the Columbia archive as a 16mm B&W print (whether this is a sound or silent print I'm unable to find out), but during my years of trading and collecting, I can only obtain a copy of a shortened home-movie silent print. A redrawn, colourised silent version (full-length) is also available in the collectors'/traders' circuit, which I also have in my collection.
It is from this sole home-movie print that I've made available to view on my blog. Like the first short, it's not particurly funny, but due to its rarity (King Features, at the time, insisted to movie studios that all films starring their characters - with the exception of the Popeye, Blondie, and Flash Gordon films - be destroyed after ten years), it's still an essential watch. Hope you enjoy this as much as the first one:
The cartoon will be available for four weeks only.
This apparantly survives in the Columbia archive as a 16mm B&W print (whether this is a sound or silent print I'm unable to find out), but during my years of trading and collecting, I can only obtain a copy of a shortened home-movie silent print. A redrawn, colourised silent version (full-length) is also available in the collectors'/traders' circuit, which I also have in my collection.
It is from this sole home-movie print that I've made available to view on my blog. Like the first short, it's not particurly funny, but due to its rarity (King Features, at the time, insisted to movie studios that all films starring their characters - with the exception of the Popeye, Blondie, and Flash Gordon films - be destroyed after ten years), it's still an essential watch. Hope you enjoy this as much as the first one:
The cartoon will be available for four weeks only.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - River Ribber
This cartoon (released 4th October 1945) is a sequel to an earlier cartoon Professor Small & Mister Tall (26th March 1943), which does survive in its original (albeit re-released) condition. For those of you who haven't seen the first film, here's a very funny exerpt:
This sequel, however, is missing from the Columbia archives, but it does survive in the collectors'/traders' circuits as a 16mm B&W version, without any front and end titles.
Unlike the first film (which sport angular designs and stylistic backgrounds that would later be associated with Screen Gems's successor, UPA), this cartoon features more conventional animation and design, with the two principal characters being redesigned quite significantly (Prof. Small is now almost-bald and clean shaven). The cartoon was directed by Paul Sommer, who also co-directed the original with John Hubley.
The films features the main characters in charge of a steamboat on the Mississippi river, and is challenged by a familiar face to a boat race. This film is not as good as the original, but it does have some amusing moments.
This exerpt is taken from the start of the film.
River Ribber exerpt
Uploaded by ldglover
This sequel, however, is missing from the Columbia archives, but it does survive in the collectors'/traders' circuits as a 16mm B&W version, without any front and end titles.
Unlike the first film (which sport angular designs and stylistic backgrounds that would later be associated with Screen Gems's successor, UPA), this cartoon features more conventional animation and design, with the two principal characters being redesigned quite significantly (Prof. Small is now almost-bald and clean shaven). The cartoon was directed by Paul Sommer, who also co-directed the original with John Hubley.
The films features the main characters in charge of a steamboat on the Mississippi river, and is challenged by a familiar face to a boat race. This film is not as good as the original, but it does have some amusing moments.
This exerpt is taken from the start of the film.
River Ribber exerpt
Uploaded by ldglover
This video will be available for four weeks only.
Watch out for my next post, which will feature more Barney Google!
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - Tetched In The Head
Tetched in the Head (released October 24th 1935) marked the debut of comic-strip character Barney Google, created by Billy DeBeck. Charles Mintz had high hopes that his transfer to the animated screen would be a big success, but that did not happen. The character did not have the qualities to be an animated cartoon star, and was quickly retired after just four cartoons. Watching this and his later cartoons, it's not hard to see why. They're just not funny.
This cartoon apparantly only survives in the Columbia archives as a 16mm B&W copy, but it also exists in the collectors'/traders' circuits as an experimental redrawn colourised short (without any sound) and several truncated B&W silent prints.
Using the redrawn version as a template, I've managed to reconstruct the cartoon using three different silent prints. It's almost complete (at least one very-brief scene is missing, during the introduction of Barney). I've decided not to add a music sound track, as I don't think it's really necessary.
Hope you like this version. Enjoy!
Barney Google - Tetched in the Head
Uploaded by ldglover
This video will be available for the next four weeks.
I'll be making posts of the other three Barney cartoons in the near future.
This cartoon apparantly only survives in the Columbia archives as a 16mm B&W copy, but it also exists in the collectors'/traders' circuits as an experimental redrawn colourised short (without any sound) and several truncated B&W silent prints.
Using the redrawn version as a template, I've managed to reconstruct the cartoon using three different silent prints. It's almost complete (at least one very-brief scene is missing, during the introduction of Barney). I've decided not to add a music sound track, as I don't think it's really necessary.
Hope you like this version. Enjoy!
Barney Google - Tetched in the Head
Uploaded by ldglover
This video will be available for the next four weeks.
I'll be making posts of the other three Barney cartoons in the near future.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - King Midas Jr.
Firstly, apologies for the recent lack of posts. Been a busy few weeks for yours truly.
And secondly, for this series, I decided not to make screenshots of whole cartoons, and instead I will post short video extracts of the remaining Columbia cartoons (but watch out for the occasional complete cartoon). The reason for this is because my computer just can not cope with DVD playback (I mainly get frozen pictures), which results in making the process of obtaining screenshots time-consuming, tedious, and just damn annoying! Nevertheless, I do hope that these video extracts will prove fascinating to you good folks.
Ok, I'll stop moaning about my computer now!
Today's post will be...
This cartoon, King Midas Jr., was directed by John Hubley and Paul Sommer, and was released on 18th December 1942. This apparantly no longer exists in the Columbia archive, but does survive in the collectors'/traders' circuits as a complete 16mm colour print.
The short focuses on King Midas Jr, who is given the power of touch by his infamous father. Unfortunately, a mix-up by the angels/telegram boys results in him turning everything he touches into...rubber!
This 1m 30s extract is taken from the ending where, after his futile attempt to eat a banquet without turning everything rubbery, he attempts suicide, but it's not that easy! However, there is some hope for the little king (which relates to a conservation effort during WW2)...
King Midas Jr exerpt
Uploaded by ldglover
This video will be available for the next four weeks.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - The Greyhound & The Rabbit
This lost cartoon (released 19th April 1940), which exists in the collectors'/traders' circuit as a 16mm B&W print, focuses on the wacky goings-on during a greyhound race.
The Columbia cartoons during the end of the 30's (and the beginning of the 40's) were becoming routine and uninspired, but there were a few good gems, especially this one directed by Sid Marcus. When viewing this cartoon, it does indicate that he was becoming influenced by the Warner Bros. cartoons around that time (he later wrote some darn good stories during his two brief spells with the WB cartoon studio). When he returned to Screen Gems during its final few years, he directed some classic cartoons with full-blown LT humour, such as "Up & Atom" and "Boston Beanie". IMHO he was certainly the best Screen Gems director during the late 30's-early 40's, and would have been adaptable to the Tashlin cartoons had the producer not let him go.
This cartoon is so full of wacky moments, I felt it is best to present it for your viewing pleasure rather than make screenshots from it. Anyway, enough of the lecture. Enjoy this cartoon:
The Greyhound & The Rabbit
Uploaded by ldglover
More lost Columbia cartoons shortly. Stay tooned!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Lost Columbia Cartoons - He Can't Make It Stick
He Can't Make It Stick, a cracking anti-Hitler cartoon, currently survives with a complete soundtrack, but the first-half of the picture is missing (the picture eventually starts after 3 min 40 sec). It was released on 11th June 1943, and was directed by Paul Sommer and John Hubley. But it was the brainchild of storywriter Milt Gross, the cartoonist who directed the zany Count Screwloose cartoons during his brief stay with MGM.
The cartoon starts off with two women talking about a mysterious paperhanger (voiced by John McGleish) who is about to court a largely-built widow (representing Germany). The widow has three children, two follow the crazed stranger's every word, while the other is very suspicious (and gets treated badly whenever he speaks up against him). The widow and the paperhanger instantly fall in love (this is where the surviving picture starts)...
And soon, they were married.
Later, we return to the widow's home.
The paperhanger shows off his new wallpaper design.
The whole family applauds...
Except for one person...
He claims his wallpaper is so "wunderbar", soon the whole world will be using it.
"And now, we mix the paste."
He seems to be in trouble...
And no matter how much he tries...
He can't make it stick!
"It won't stick!"
And sure enough...
There's no paste left.
But he comes up with an idea: He'll get some from his neighbours, in exchange for his wallpaper.
But no matter where he goes...
He can't make it stick!
The cartoon starts off with two women talking about a mysterious paperhanger (voiced by John McGleish) who is about to court a largely-built widow (representing Germany). The widow has three children, two follow the crazed stranger's every word, while the other is very suspicious (and gets treated badly whenever he speaks up against him). The widow and the paperhanger instantly fall in love (this is where the surviving picture starts)...
And soon, they were married.
Later, we return to the widow's home.
The paperhanger shows off his new wallpaper design.
The whole family applauds...
Except for one person...
He claims his wallpaper is so "wunderbar", soon the whole world will be using it.
"And now, we mix the paste."
He seems to be in trouble...
And no matter how much he tries...
He can't make it stick!
"It won't stick!"
And sure enough...
There's no paste left.
But he comes up with an idea: He'll get some from his neighbours, in exchange for his wallpaper.
But no matter where he goes...
He can't make it stick!
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