Release date: December 17th, 1932
Series: Looney Tunes
Director: Hugh Harman
Starring: Johnny Murray (Bosko), Rudy Ising (Giant, Ted Lewis), The Rhythmettes (Chorus)
Already the last cartoon of 1932, and what a year it’s been! The quality of these cartoons has improved drastically over the year. 1933 is going to be a VERY exciting year. Bosko makes his exit as Harman and Ising depart for MGM, and Buddy enters: the very definition of a blessing and a curse. Without him, who knows if Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Elmer, you name it, would even exist? For now, while Bosko is still with us, Bosko's Woodland Daze details Bosko and Bruno’s hijinks in the woods that takes a very surreal turn.
Our musical maestro is playing the harmonica in the woods, faithful companion Bruno bounding along at his side. This scene goes on for awhile, but with the pacing of this entire cartoon, it works. The end of the cartoon is relatively fast paced, so it’s as if they’re tricking the audience into a calm and serene setting. Or, you know, needed to fill up time.
Bosko decides to trick Bruno and tells him to run after some unseen object. Bosko takes this opportunity to hide in a pile of leaves. Bruno doesn’t spot whatever it was that Bosko was pointing to, and becomes depressed.
A big gust of wind blows the pile of leaves away, exposing Bosko, who’s oblivious. Bruno spots his buddy and happily runs to him. Unexpectedly, he begins to creep up to Bosko. There’s a single vine that Bosko’s lying on top of. Bruno grabs it with his teeth and drags it between Bosko’s crotch (it’s not Harman and Ising without a painful crotch gag!), who laughs.
Suggesting that they play hide and seek, Bosko darts to a nearby tree and initiates the count. Bruno seeks refuge in a tree with a hole in it, but quickly changes his mind after a woodpecker pecks at his head. He dives into a pond, and Bosko spots him immediately.
Now it’s Bruno’s time to seek. Bruno begins counting in barks, breaking character to say “Are ya listenin’?” Man, they loved their Tony Wons references, didn't they? Bosko seeks refuge behind a tree, which turns out to be a ton of birds perched on the limbs instead of feathers. I love that!
Nevertheless, Bosko charges forth. He slides down a tree, shaving it of its leaves (like in Bosko’s Fox Hunt) and hides behind a sturdy tree. Bruno begins his search, but stops in his tracks when he spots a turtle. As dogs will do, Bruno stalks the turtle, leaving Bosko to himself.
Bosko gets so bored that he decides to pass the time by taking a nap. We cut back to Bruno sniffing out the turtle, who turns around and bites him on the nose à la Daffy Duck (same sound effect and everything!).
Here’s where the cartoon takes a perplexingly amusing turn. Back to Bosko, who’s still asleep. A gang of gnomes approach him, and decide he would be perfect for whatever shenanigans may ensue. They blow a giant bubble in an oversized pipe, trapping Bosko in it as he rises.
There’s a very beautiful chorus of flower singers (that look possibly rotoscoped? Or at least drawn very well) that sing, prompting Bosko to finally come to. He doesn’t seem terrified at all by his situation. That is, until he sneezes, prompting the bubble to burst.
It seems the gnomes had no malicious intent towards Bosko, for they come to his aid with a spiderweb serving as a trampoline. In a breach of cartoon physics (which is great), Bosko snaps right through the web and plummets through a cliff, asking “IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE AUDIENCE??”. Gotta love those, a staple!
Thankfully, Bosko lands smack dab on a giant piano. His ecological niche! A swarm of gnomes applaud his lack of performance as his body ricochets off the keys, making some notes. Bosko really impresses them by playing a whole number on the piano with his body, doing handstands and sliding on the keys, which makes for beautiful visuals.
After his performance, Bosko strikes a pose as he revels in the applause. Unfortunately, this kid can never catch a break for too long! A silhouette sneaks into frame above and laughs, scaring the daylights out of Bosko. It’s a hungry caveman who has his sights on Bosko.
Bosko makes a break for it, the caveman hot on his trail. There’s a beautiful jazzy chase scene score that underlies this whole scene, and really makes it moody and urgent! Bosko climbs onto a table with the aid of some drawers, but is cornered.
The caveman slices open a bun and grabs Bosko, slathering him in mustard.
The mustard being brushed on him wasn’t mustard at all, but Bruno, licking his face after finally finding Bosko. Bosko wakes up and joyously reunites with Bruno. Iris out.
This was certainly a strange cartoon! The opening was a bit slow but amusing nonetheless, and things slowly started to pick up to speed as the dream sequence ensued. The entire scene with the caveman, from introduction to waking up from the dream, is under a minute! I love surreal cartoons, so I can certainly appreciate this one. Granted, there will be much better surreal cartoons (Porky in Wackyland for one) as things get more polished out, but this isn’t bad by any means. It wasn’t fantastic, just your average Bosko cartoon, but “average” at this point in time carries much more praise than “average” in 1931 and especially 1930. I’d watch it if you’re curious! And next up is our first entry in 1933, the year that would define Looney Tunes in the worst way possible.
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