If RHI wasn’t putting out a box set of the Hal Roach Laurel & Hardy sound films, I would say that the collection of Famous Studios Noveltoons Steve Stanchfield is releasing this October would be the DVD I’m looking forward to most this year. Remastered from the best accessible 35mm material, this collection will finally make some of the most unique examples of 1940s animated cartooning available in the best quality possible.
The DVD will feature twenty cartoons from 1943-50, stopping around the time things started to go south for awhile at Famous. What happened there, with its once well-polished and funny product quickly becoming a repetitive mess, is a sobering reminder of how easily the Warner studio could have suffered the same fate had the management structure been different, and how thankful we should be that those shorts were as great for as long as they were.
Steve told me he’s gotten requests to do a Famous release more than any other, so I urge you: if you’ve only read about or seen the work of artists like John Gentilella, Marty Taras, Dave Tendlar, Steve Muffati, and even Jim Tyer through this blog or others, buy this DVD to see their cartoons in the best way possible. It’s just another in the long line of immaculate collections Steve has put out and will continue to put out in the future.
I second everything you have written, Thad!
My hope is that Steve will be able to find good copies of all the Blackie and Wolfie cartoons as well as of the Herman entries.
Steve is my hero no doubt!
I’m also looking forward to the chase-and-violence Noveltoons more than the cutesy ones, but Shane Miller’s backgrounds from “The Enchanted Square” are going to look amazing in Technicolor.
Don’t worry, will definitely purchase this (along with L&H). My most anticipated Thunderbean release, barring Snafu. Their recent restorative efforts have been astounding.
This looks incredible. So great to see those backgrounds in colors ranging outside olive drab and clay mud. Personally I’d love to see the three Caspers like this. I know I know. Hard to beat the happy genocidal dreams of Herman (tombstones labeled by species) but the Caspers do have a certain ancillary appeal particularly in their strong atmosphere and even a few pretty dark moments such as Casper’s futile suicide attempt and Ferdie Fox’s death and ultimate condemnation to the world of ghosts (the happy ending!). I suppose this being a Noveltoons series would only qualify one Casper. At any rate I’d take any of the three (all the Casper any sane person would ever need) over ‘The Wee Men’.
“repetitive mess, is a sobering reminder of how easily the Warner studio could have suffered the same fate”
It didn’t? I can’t really place Jones’ and Freleng’s 1950- cartoons on the same plane as their, Clampett’s and Tashlin’s cartoons from before.
Steve is the man. Being able to see cartoons like the Blackies without censorship of French TV bugs is a treat.
As soon as this becomes available, I’m buying this! Now I really wish the Famous Studio Popeye shorts would get the same treatment.
“I suppose this being a Noveltoons series would only qualify one Casper.”
The three Casper shorts you’re referring to are all Noveltoons.
What, no mention of the brilliant Tom Johnson!
Right you are, Michael. But as I recall, Johnson’s work isn’t heavily featured on the set given he was primarily responsible for the Popeye series, and only occasionally dabbled in the one-shot arena.
Tom Johnson was absent from the studio during the war years – he was in the service during WW2. He returned to work at Famous in October of 1945. Johnson’s credited cartoons start to show up in the theaters in 1947 – the first in August, a Screen Song titled ‘The Mild West’. (One I believe that was laid out by Jim Tyer, then finished by Johnson) That was followed up by a Popeye cartoon, The Royal Four-Flusher’. Had he not joined the service, there may have been a possibility that he would have de facto directed a couple of the Noveltoons.
“Spree For All” starring Snuffy Smith?
Paul, Spree for All is a lost film. It was definitely made, as a synopsis exists at the Library of Congress. Cat O’Nine Ails, with Buzzy the Crow, is also lost, though a print exists at UCLA.
Would the UCLA also have the negs and master materials for Cat O’ Nine Ails as well?
Is this DVD out now? If so, can I order it from http://www.amazon.com or which video stores have it?