Release Date:

June 25, 1938

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

At midnight in a book store, the characters come to life and perform songs.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. The title song played over the opening credits which were:

Supervision: Frank Tashlin

Story: Jack Miller

Animation: Ken Harris

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

When the cartoon was reissued, the opening and ending scenes involving Alexander Woolcott as the “Town Crier” were cut as was the hilarious end gag. Fortunately, when the cartoon was restored for the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2 DVD set in 2004, all of these scenes were put back in to the cartoon, despite still keeping the Blue Ribbon titles and having the incorrect end music.

The cartoon is in the public domain and is the only color Tashlin cartoon to be in the public domain.

In the scene with the “Good Earth” praying, he says “Bless Papa Leon and Uncle Ray”. This is a reference to Leon Schlesinger and his assistant Ray Katz (who was also Schlesinger’s brother-in-law).

Throughout the cartoon, names of some of the Warner cartoon staff can be seen on the books. These include storyman Tedd Pierce, Henry Binder (Leon Schlesinger’s other assistant), Ray Katz, background artist Art Loomer, Frank Tashlin, layout artist John McGrew, storyman Ralph Wolfe, storyman Cal Howard, animator Keith Darling and his wife Charlotte, Friz Freleng, Carl Stalling, Norman Spencer, Ben Hardaway, animator Robert Bentley, Melvin Millar, and Tex Avery.

Caricatures include Alexander Woolcott (as the Town Crier), Bill Robinson (on the cover of the “Thirty-Nine Steps”), Greta Garbo (on the cover of “So Big”), Cab Calloway (reusing the “Swing for Sale” segment from “Clean Pastures”), the Mills Brothers, William Powell (as the Thin Man), Whistler’s Mother (literally whistling), Jane Withers (as three “Little Women”), Freddie Bartholomew (as three “Little Men”), Clark Gable (the residents of “The House of Seven Gables” are all caricatures of him), Louis Pasteur, Charles Laughton, Ned Sparks (as Rip Van Winkle), Emily Post, Henry VIII, Jim Brady (as “Diamond Jim”), and WC Fields (on the cover of “So Red the Nose”).

What I Like About This One:

Mr. Hyde, Fu Man Chu, the Phantom of the Opera, and Frankenstein’s monster roaring at the camera and then doing a pattycake dance (the cartoon’s reissue print originally had it abruptly start here after the opening with the cuckoo clock).

The Invisible Man’s dance being repeated by a lookalike on the cover of “Topper”.

The “Swing for Sale” song being used better here than it was in “Clean Pastures” (the book is even called “Green Pastures”), complete with one angel scatting in a really deep voice.

A girl imitating Cab Calloway’s “he-di-hi” on the cover of “Heidi”.

The Thin Man walking into the White House Cookbook. When he comes out of the book, we see that he has put on a lot of weight.

The entire “Old King Cole” segment with Whistler’s Mother, the Little Women, the Little Men, Old King Cole singing in a very deep voice, the House of Seven (Clark) Gables, “Bulldog Drummin” (a bulldog literally playing the drums), Louis Pasteur blowing up from one of his experiments on the cover of “The Life of Louis Pasteur”, before becoming an angel on “Seventh Heaven”, and Charles Laughton on “Mutiny on the Bounty”.

Ned Sparks being caricatured as a grouchy Rip Van Winkle, who complains, “Old King Cole is a noisy old soul!” as he uses the Valiant Little Tailor’s scissors to cut some of Uncle Tom’s hair and use it as cotton for earplugs.

The Three Musketeers singing the title song as a musical trio.

Emily Post (as “Emily Host”) criticizing Henry VIII’s eating habits, but later joining him in eating with no manners.

The next time Rip Van Winkle tries to snip some of Uncle Tom’s hair (saying “I’ll get out my scissors that cut” to the tune of the title song), Uncle Tom punches him in the face and then uses the scissors to cut off some of his beard.

When the Three Musketeers finish the song, they sneak off to become “Three Men on a Horse”, grab the “Seven Keys to Baldpate”, and free “The Prisoner of Zenda”. Seeing them pass by, “The Informer” whistles to “Little Boy Blew” (who turns blue in the face upon blowing his trumpet) to call a cavalry to stage a shootout between the Musketeers and all the other characters.

Having had enough of all the noise, Rip Van Winkle opens up “Hurricane” to blow all the characters away. After the hurricane clears them away, “Gone with the Wind” lands in their place (the cartoon’s reissue print originally had the cartoon abruptly end here, but with the no longer lost scenes forever reinstated, it doesn’t end here).

After the Town Crier bids us farewell, we pan back to the cuckoo clock. The cuckoo comes out with its beak tied up as Rip Van Winkle is seen sleeping in the clock!

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕