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Cartoons As Great Movies
Topic Started: Jan 18 2006, 08:40 AM (559 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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Roger Ebert's "Great Movies" series is always a fun read, even if I sometimes disagree with him on what constitutes a "Great Movie". This week, he takes a look at three classic Warner Bros. cartoons, and they're possibly my three favorite Warners cartoons of all time: What's Opera Doc?, Duck Amuck, and One Froggy Evening. You'll find the essay at www.rogerebert.com
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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Paul
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I'm afraid I'm one of those for whom most of the charms (and the humor) of "What's Opera Doc?" prove elusive. The thing I like most are the Maurice Noble backgrounds. But it never made me laugh much, and now never does. Actually, some of it makes me cringe. On the other hand, there are scores of WB (and other) cartoons that can still get me busting a gut, even after over 50 years of watching them*. One of them is "Herr Meets Hare," a WWII-era title in which Bugs first did the Brunhilde on horseback entrance, and funnier IMHO.

I do like "Duck Amuck" and "One Froggy Evening," though.

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*Thanks to Captain Fortune, Deputy Dave and Fireman Frank on c.1953 San Francisco TV.
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The Batman
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Looney Tunes, I love 'em all!

Offhand, I can't think of one character or title that I dislike or would be happy to never see again. If one comes to mind, I'll let you know. (Silence permeates the air, as Balcony members collectively hold their breath)

What is it about "What's Opera Doc?" that makes you cringe so, Paul.

Just think of most of the animated shows out today and I am sure the humour of "What's Up Doc?" won't seem as elusive.
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Paul
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The Batman
Jan 18 2006, 05:22 PM
Just think of most of the animated shows out today and I am sure the humour of "What's Up Doc?" won't seem as elusive.

Well, it doesn't really have anything to do with what I think of today's animated TV shows, which, last time I checked, wasn't much. It's just that I don't think it's very funny. It's not the only cartoon that doesn't make me laugh, either, and I've seen plenty. In fact, the main reason I got my first VCR (a Betamax!) back in 1977 was so I could start collecting cartoons. Nearly 30 years later, from video cassettes to laserdiscs to DVD, I'm still at it. So with over 2200 cartoons on video sitting on my shelves, I'm not exactly unfamiliar with the genre.

It's not that I don't "get" it. I know what they were trying to do, can see that they accomplished what they were trying to do, but I just don't think it's particularly funny. "Affectedly arch" or "superciliously coy" are the best ways I can come up with at the moment to describe this kind of humor. It's the direction that Chuck Jones's work took more and more as the years went on, viz. the later Pepe LePew cartoons. Now for really funny Chuck Jones opera spoofs, see "Long-Haired Hare" (1949) or"Rabbit of Seville" (1950).

The biggest cringe-inducing moment now, and from the first time I ever saw the cartoon a gazillion years ago, is the Bugs/Elmer duet "Return My Love." God, it tries so hard to be funny, but to me it's like watching one of your favorite performers lay a giant egg in front of an audience.

I do have some "What's Opera Doc?" trivia, though:

Arthur Q. Bryan was by this time unable to produce the required vocal intensity when Elmer screams "SMOG!!!" so Mel Blanc subbed for that one line.

Though it's often referred to as a parody of the "Ring" cycle, practically all of the music is from other Wagner operas, most notably "The Flying Dutchman." "Kill the Wabbit" is about the only "Ring" tune used ("Ride of the Valkyries").
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rodney
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Chalk me up as another one who finds What's Opera Doc to be overrated (and like Paul, I'm sitting on about 2000 cartoons, so I've seen quite a few). It's a nice *looking* cartoon, and it's well made, but it's just not that funny. Herr Meets Hare takes some of the same gags, and does them in a way that literally always makes me laugh out loud.
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Laughing Gravy
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I think What's Opera, Doc is a scream and always assumed it is the Termite Terrace gang's response to Fantasia, which makes it even funnier.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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rodney
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Corny Concerto was the response to Fantasia.
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Laughing Gravy
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I like Opera much better.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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