In Thunderbean news:
As you’re reading this, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be either driving or scanning films– I’m taking a quick jaunt out east with a carload of 35mm films to deliver as well as a bunch of things to scan. I’m hoping to be back in Michigan on the weekend, so it’s a whirlwind trip. Sort of usual here. I’m excited because I’m scanning a lot of things I haven’t seen at all yet as well as some things I’m looking forward to finishing for various Thunderbean sets.
The Van Beuren Tom and Jerry Blu-ray set is nearly done, with the last film finishing cleanup today. Menus and extras are all set, and I’m hoping it will be headed to replication in another week or two at most. Even though the set was a big project, it was small compared to the challenges of the Flip the Frog collection.
The Rainbow Parades, Volume 2 set is now on the plate, and starting to get fast tracked towards the finish line along with several other titles. Working with all Technicolor prints for the set is a joy. As we get things further we’ll be posting some stills— so more in the coming weeks!
Now — this week’s cartoon!
The Bully’s End (1933) directed by Harry Bailey, is near the tail end of the series of Van Beuren Aesop’s Fables, a series that Cubby Bear takes over entirely not long after this entry. The studio’s animation, layout and inking are showing great improvements by this point in the series.
It’s established at the beginning of the cartoon (with a real rooster crow) that the rooster is a bully, first, busting one of his hens and punishing a peacock, then stealing Runty Ducky’s girlfriend. In a Fleischer-esque sequence, a street-wise dog convinces Runty to fight the rooster. The expected ensues with our hero of course coming out on top.
With a cast of hundreds of staring straight forward animals, it’s a fun one reel of entertainment. I especially like the unusual inking and painting use in this film, with characters in lighter inked linework at times and streamlined backgrounds. I think I might like the 1933 Fables the most of any.
This nice old 16mm printdown was cleaned up for the Aesop’s Fables, Volume 1 Blu-ray.
Have a great rest of the week everyone!
