29. Bosko's Party (1932)

Release date: April 2nd, 1932

Series: Looney Tunes

Director: Hugh Harman

Starring: Johnny Murray (Bosko)

Not to be confused with Porky’s Party (which ends up much more disastrously, though events ARE owed to a dog), Bosko’s Party has our hero surprising Honey for her birthday, a side plot of sorts including Wilbur, the cat from Bosko’s Soda Fountain, getting trapped beneath a ceramic flower pot. It seems Carman Maxwell provides the vocals for Bosko this time according to some sources. He does sound slightly different, so I wouldn’t entirely doubt that. [EDIT: Nearly 3 years later, I do indeed doubt that. Thanks to Keith Scott for confirmation on Johnny Murray's involvement.]

Rain can easily dampen any soul, but not Bosko’s. He strolls about his merry way while whistling “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’”. Evidently he’s in quite the squall! He uses his umbrella as a boat and paddles across the road, keeping a package safe in the umbrella. A gift for Honey.

Honey herself is getting all dolled up, gingerly putting on mascara. We see her about to get undressed, but not before she notices the audience, gasping and hiding behind the safety of her screen. Unbeknownst to her, her efforts are futile as we see her get undressed in the reflection of the mirror. I have a great appreciation for reflections in animation, they’re a nice little detail, especially when the mirror could have just as easily been painted into the background. Props for them going the extra mile and giving us this highly amusing gag.

Miraculously, the rain has stopped, just in time for Bosko to arrive to Honey’s house. He rings the door bell and is greeted by Honey’s yappy pooch and a hippo guest, who indicates Bosko to keep things quiet for the surprise party.

Bosko gets the memo, but honey’s dog sure doesn’t. It happily leaps up on Bosko, licking him and barking loudly, with all of the party guests shushing it in protest.

Honey’s voice becomes audible as we (along with the rest of the gang) hear her sing “London Bridge is Falling Down”. Everyone hides in a hurry, including a scene where Bosko pops an oversized pig like a balloon and deflated him so he can fit under a bed.

Honey’s cat Wilbur struggles to find a proper hiding place. Bosko helps the very cat who spit vanilla ice cream in his face by removing a flower from a flower pot and placing the pot upside down, over the kitten. In the middle of the floor. I love how impractical and glaringly obvious would be, but hey, it works! 

The fated moment comes where honey enters the living room, and immediately everyone springs into a lively chorus of “Happy Birthday”, frolicking around her. Well, everyone except Wilbur, who’s stuck under the flower pot. The way these two clips are spliced, the innocent joyous nature of honey’s celebration, and then a bratty cat whining “LEMME OUT! LEMME OUT!” while Happy Birthday plays in the background is FANTASTIC. IT’S SO FUNNY! The timing is solid and the sound effects of the pot hitting the floor are spot on. Brats are always funny.

Bosko indicates for Honey to come hither, and the two become bashful as Bosko explains he has a present for her. He displays the box, opening it up...

And out pops Honey’s overly affectionate dog! Bosko becomes enraged, chasing the pup around the house until it lands in a fish tank. The dog barks underwater, albeit silently. Bubbles rise to the surface, and a bark sounds each time they pop. The partygoers cheer in sadistic glee at the pooch’s situation—briefly interrupted by Wilbur, who’s still begging to be let out.

Bosko pulls the dog to safety. All feelings of affection are absent as the dog shakes water off its fur, marching away heatedly. I’d be pissed too if I tried to show someone some love and got cornered into a fish tank, where people cheered on my potential drowning.

Resuming things, Bosko shows Honey her REAL present, a ukulele. She’s overjoyed, and Bosko coyly asks for her to play a song. She plays “Sugar”, and the two lovebirds erupt in a musical sequence. As corny as the musical sequences are, I really enjoy them. Frank Marsales’ score is beautiful, and make the scene chipper and bright. A great mood booster, which was especially needed during the depression.

Back to Wilbur, who’s still struggling. He manages to knock the flower pot over... But he knocks it over next to a conveniently placed mousetrap, getting his tail caught in it. I guess that’s karma for his torture to Bosko in Bosko’s Soda Fountain! I’m almost sad he got freed. Occasionally cutting to him yelling “LET ME OUT” complete with all that thumping was hilarious.

Satisfied with their musical antics, Bosko runs to the kitchen and lights the candles on the cake. We switch between shots of Bosko bringing out the cake and Wilbur, who’s sticking his head out from the top of the stairs, screaming in pain (to everyone’s oblivion).

Everyone cheers as Bosko places the cake down, ready to be dissected. Wilbur’s tail gets freed from the mouse trap, and he tumbles down...

Landing squarely in the cake, icing (and candle) covering Bosko. Bosko, optimistic as ever, gingerly removes the candle, and the screen fades to black as he blows it out.

Particularly entertaining for a Bosko cartoon! I’ll say this with every cartoon, but the music was a delight to listen to. Bosko and Honey were very likable. There really weren’t any pacing issues I could identify off the top of my head. Same goes for reused animation: animation was reused as we cut between the partygoers singing Happy Birthday and Wilbur making a clamor, bur it worked really well and made the scene a lot funnier. As always, a lot of fun gags. I didn’t include it in a photo, but there’s a great gag of Bosko popping a hippo like a balloon and stuffing his deflated puddle self under the bed. I think it’s worth the watch! It’s certainly one of the better ones we’ve seen.