43. Bosko the Drawback (1932)

Release date: October 22nd, 1932

Series: Looney Tunes

Director: Hugh Harman

Starring: Johnny Murray (Bosko), Rudy Ising (Masseur, Ted Lewis, Mouse)

First Freddy the Freshman, and now Bosko the Drawback! Bosko takes on the football field, pinned against some fierce competition.

All good football bands open with a marching band. The drum leader pumps his baton, sporting a giant hat. The tuba behind the drum leader blows the feathers off the hat, revealing a bird in a bird cage, squawking in time to the music.

The crowd shots in this next sequence are amazing for 1932! A crowd fills into the stadium, a dog punching tickets with his tooth, and a donkey’s ears service as a revolving gate to get inside. There’s an aerial view of the stadium as the seats fill up. Again, it’s fascinating to watch for its time! Crowd shots are always a famous enemy for animators.

After some gags used to boast musical synchronization (such as a caterpillar playing snare drums and two dogs crashing cymbals together with their legs), we see our hero getting limbered up for the big game. A slightly painful massage turns into him protesting “be careful now!” as the brute loosening him up nearly cracks his neck in half.

Another Tony Wons reference (which was also used in another football picture, Freddy the Freshman) where an ostrich asks the audience “Are ya listenin’? Hmmmmmm?” Tony has faded to obscurity for me (and everyone else I imagine), he doesn’t stand out as much as the big movie stars that’d be parodied or the crooners or what have you. Nevertheless, the references are always fascinating to learn about, no matter how obscure they are, so I enjoy them regardless.

The whistle sounds and Bosko leaps from his torturous massage, right into his football gear. He motions for his fellow teammates (who are much bigger than him) to follow suit, and the ever optimistic Bosko hurries onto the field.

Signaling the start of the game, the referee fires his starting pistol. Out pops an egg that cracks, and the bird inside blows a whistle. You’ve seen this gag once, you’ve seen it a million times, but it was still a nice surprise with the egg cracking. I thought it’d just be another bird/mouse straight out of the pistol, so props to them for something new.

Bosko punts the ball towards the camera (borrowed from  Freddy the Freshman), and there are some cool shots of the ball flying through the air and the football players tearing up the field. Unfortunately, the scene drags on longer than it could have (though again, in the heart of the depression, so I give them the benefit of the doubt with all the retakes/extended scenes used) and lessens the impact of it. Intriguing cinematography nonetheless! 

Tiny little Bosko runs and catches the pigskin, but the force of the kick causes the ball to drag him around aimlessly. Thankfully, a wiener dog comes to his aid, forming a protective V shape (once more from  Freddy the Freshman) in front of him, sending any oncoming opponents flying and ricocheting off.

A journalist in the press box is hammering away at the keys of the typewriter, becoming more and more aggressive. In retaliation, the type writer punches HIM back, stamping “NERTS” on his forehead. I didn’t actually know that was a real word, I thought it was just something Samson from Camp Lazlo made up! For that reason alone, I appreciate the gag.

Time for the cheer section portion. A kangaroo exclaims “Rah, rah!” and three of its joeys pop up from its pouch and give the remaining “Rah rah rah!”s. Another gag includes an elderly mouse on crutches hobbling on the field. He gets hit with the football and spins between his crutches like a wheel. Reused from it’s got me again!, but still as amusing as ever, especially with the overall concept of an elderly, frail mouse (who is gigantic) just meandering around on the football field.

An eagle flies on top of an American flag and perches on the flag pole, in the pose of the eagle on top of the flag pole in many upstanding American flags.

Bosko kicks the ball, and a caterpillar catches it and runs for the touchdown. Bosko continues to tackle him, and one by one, with each tackle, the caterpillar loses a segment of its body, eventually decreasing to Bosko’s height. Love that gag! Very creative. There are a lot of reuses in this cartoon, and some scenes run a tad long, but the gags that are original (to this cartoon) really hit well. Another quick shot of the eagle on the flagpole, nestling down on top.

Look at that crowd shot! This is my favorite gag in the whole cartoon. A cheer section forms the face of a dog who shouts a cheer, and once the cheer is over, the dog blows a raspberry. The spit is actually real people diving from the stands and onto the field! I can’t get enough of it. Reminds me of something you’d see on SpongeBob.

More recycled shots of the football players tearing up the field and the eagle on the flagpole. We pan to Bosko, who’s running down the field, when he suddenly halts. He turns towards the audience and says in distress “The hunchback of Notre Dame!” 

Sure enough, a ferocious looking brute (who seems to be frothing at the mouth? Can cartoon characters go rabid?) barrels towards the screen. Bosko, terrified, runs away to save his skin.

Unfortunately for him, there’s a “title” card that declares “The four horsemen!” and sure enough, four horses are on Bosko’s tail. The use of the card really makes this gag for me. I love my puns! The animation is great, too.

Bosko runs back the other way, but the wiener dog from before blocks his path. He bounces off of the dog like a slingshot, and soars over the field, getting closer and closer to touchdown range.

A rock stops him in his path, and he hits his head. In a daze, our hero, clutching onto the ball, staggers over towards the goal line, just making the score. The rather predominant eagle flies up, and the top of the flagpole it had been perched on turns out to be an egg that cracks, revealing three little eaglets waving American flags. Iris out as Bosko bathes in his glory.

Not the most riveting Bosko cartoon, especially compared to the last few, but not the worst. The gags that are original really hit hard (that raspberry gag is sublime), there are some interesting camera angles and shots, and as always the music is a hit. There have been much better Bosko cartoons, but much worse, too. I’d recommend for some of the gags (and to ogle at the crowd shots, whew!), but it’s mainly that: a gag showcase. Nothing wrong with that at all, though!

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