Search - The Golden Age of Cartoons: Attack of the 30's Characters on DVD

Wonderful variety of classic cartoons - excellent quality DV

D. Walker | 12/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While there can be no denying that Mickey Mouse and Popeye The Sailor were probably the most prominent cartoon stars of the 1930's, there were many otherinteresting characters that also appeared during this decade. Some we still know well, such as Betty Boop and Porky Pig. Others though, have faded into
comparative obscurity. Krazy Kat, Flip the Frog, Bosko the Talk-ink Kid, Farmer Alfalfa, to name but a few, were all prominent characters who regularly appeared on the movie theater circuits during this decade.

This wonderful DVD can easily be considered a "sampler" for many of these characters. 16 cartoon films from 8 different studios are included, probably as wide and as varied a presentation of classic animation as has ever been attempted for a single disc DVD release.

With this release interested viewers will not only have the chance to see some very rare films featuring these largely forgotten characters, as well as some of their old favorites, they'll also be able to compare the various "styles" and techniques which set apart the production studios from one another. Also, a few of the films included have no "featured" star rather they are "one shot" titles intended to showcase the animators and artists skills most effectively.

Highlights include:

The very first Merrie Melodie cartoon "Lady Play Your Mandolin" from 1931, and what a wild little film it is! It stars "Foxy" a Mickey look a like with pointed ears and a bushy tail. Only thing is he's more than happy to go on a drinking binge, something Mickey was seldom allowed to do. It all takes place in a south of the border cantina, prohibition necessitating the locale! Wild visual gags and a hot jazz music score provided by Abe Lyman's Brunswick Recording Orchestra make for a first rate inclusion.

In "Wonderland" (1931) we meet another almost forgotten character "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit". Oswald was actually a Walt Disney creation, but the character was wrested from him in mid 1928, by Charles Mintz whom had married Margaret Winkler, the owner of the firm who marketed Disney's films. However, the Oswald character itself was actually "owned" by Universal Pictures. In 1930, Universal created its own cartoon studio, headed by Walter Lantz and Bill Nolan, and took over production of the Oswald cartoons, thus leaving Mintz and the Winkler's out in the cold! Oswald is seen here in great form, putting his own spin on the Jack and the Beanstalk tale. With surreal visual gags, and plenty of boisterous mayhem, it's very apparent that this fellow deserves far more exposure than Universal Studios feels inclined to give!

If you like classic cartoons from animation's "golden age", then I am confident you will not be disappointed with this beautifully mastered DVD, lots of rare gems are here to be found and they're all pretty sparkly! Once again superb quality, a plethora of extra features, and other fun surprises makes for a typically excellent DVD from Steve Stanchfield and Mackinac Media. Highly Recommended!!!!!

Del Walker
DVDToons.com
"

Interesting cartoons from the beginnings of animation.

coasteray | 04/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just wanted to add the fact that there is one cartoon that makes this version of "Attack of the 30's Characters" different from the Thunderbean version that I already own. Instead of the "banned" "Little Black Sambo" from Ub Iwerks, this set gives us "Jack Frost". Otherwise, all the cartoons listed for this DVD are the same, and in the exact same order. I give it four stars because of the less-than-stellar quality of the picture and sound on these cartoons. Disney's DVD version of "The Mad Doctor" (Mickey Mouse), for example, is light-years better. Of course, it may be difficult to ever find decent film prints to begin with (who knows for sure?), so we must take what we can get. Enjoy it for the fact that we can have these cartoons for our enjoyment and curiosity of the 1930's.

Here is a list of the cartoons and pertinent information:

1. Congo Jazz---Bosko/Harman-Ising/Looney Tunes (1930)
2. In Wonderland---Oswald the Lucky Rabbit/Walter Lantz/Universal (1931)
3. Bars and Stripes---Krazy Kat/Charles Mintz/Columbia (1931)
4. Lady, Play Your Mandolin---Foxy/Harman-Ising/Merrie Melodies (1931)
5. Noah's Outing---Farmer Al Falfa/Terrytoons/Educational Pictures/Fox (1932)
6. In the Bag---Tom and Jerry/Van Beuren/RKO (1932)
7. Is My Palm Red?---Betty Boop/Fleischer Studios/Paramount (1933)
8. Funny Face---Flip the Frog/Ub Iwerks/MGM (1933)
9. The Mad Doctor---Mickey Mouse/Walt Disney/United Artists(1933)
10. Jolly Good Felons---The Little King/Van Beuren Studios/RKO (1934)
11. Jack Frost (1934); replaces Little Black Sambo (from Ub Iwerks' Comicolor series/Celebrity Pictures; 1935; Thunderbean DVD)
12. Merry Kittens---Van Beuren Studios/Rainbow Parade/RKO (1935)
13. The Beachcombers---Oswald the Lucky Rabbit/Walter Lantz/Universal (1936)
14. To Spring---Harman-Ising/Happy Harmonies series/MGM (1936)
15. Porky's Railroad---Porky Pig/Warner Bros. (1937)
16. The Paneless Window Washer---Popeye/Fleischer/Paramount(1937)



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