It’s the last week of classes here at the art college I teach, so things are a little short this week!

In quick Thunderbean news:

VERY briefly: Dave and Becky are continuing to work on getting the batch of special discs shipped, and I’m putting the finishing touches on Mid Century Modern 3. Luke is working on Felix and the Goose that Layed the Golden Egg on Friday and Devon is about to start on Bold King Cole. I’m incredibly excited to get Rainbow Parades 2 all the way though — and love the beautiful material.

I think the thing I like best about Lantz cartoons in the 50s is that people have often categorized them as one thing, and, in reality, if you really watch a bunch of them (and you really love cartoons), they are another – they are really pretty good.

I feel that Alex Lovy, as director of this film, is influenced by Tex Avery’s tenure at the studio, and it’s for the better in this entry, especially the timing near the end. The story and direction work never really reaches the level it needs to in order to make it a great cartoon, but you can see the attempt. It’s helped along nicely by animation by Verne Harding, Don Patterson and Ray Abrams.

Homer the Pigeon goes Mr. Magoo in this cartoon while looking for an eye doctor, leading him by accident to joining up for the air corps, with the expected series of gags to follow. Sadly, the gag timing and humor never really reach Avery levels, but the film’s overall direction and feel really attempt to go that direction. One especially gross gag involves Homer thinking the surgery doors at the hospital are a pair of glasses. He’s hauled back out, green, with a sign on him that says ‘Opened By Mistake’. The ending of the film is less developed, but you can see what Avery would have done with the same gag since some of his films have a similar sort of ending.

Here’s a scan of the film from a nice old 35mm IB Technicolor print. I’ve kept the soundtrack showing for your technical enjoyment :).

Have a great week everyone!