-
Now on DVD and Blu-ray-Promised Land -
Reacher Coming to DVD and Blu-ray -
Coming to Blu-ray and DVD-Django Unchain ... -
John Ford's Favorite Film -
Coming to Blu-ray and DVD-The Impossible
Now on DVD and Blu-ray-Hyde Park on Huds ...
MAKING FILM SCHOLARSHIP FUN
Now on DVD/Blu-ray—This Is 40
Playing Nationwide: On the Road
Celeste and Jesse Forever on DVD and Blu ...
Photographic Memory—Now on DVD and Blu-R ...
HOORAY FOR 1933—EIGHTY YEARS LATERClassic Animation In Prime Time
Today, the only home for vintage animation is DVD, which offers film buffs a vast array of material. But no one is regularly programming these short subjects any more, and young people are coming of age without being exposed to Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny, and Popeye. To my mind this is a cultural crime.
That’s why I’m so glad my friend and colleague Jerry Beck is being featured with Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies this Sunday night, introducing archival prints of Max Fleischer’s Gulliver’s Travels and Mr. Bug Goes to Town, a selection of UPA cartoons, Lotte Reiniger’s extraordinary silhouette feature The Adventures of Prince Achmed, and a program of New York-produced cartoons from the silent and early-talkie era.
Jerry hosts the invaluable site Cartoon Brew (www.cartoonbrew.com) with his partner Amid Amidi, and has high hopes that this evening will not be a one-time event. It’s not a matter of ego for Jerry: he is a True Believer who cares deeply about the fate of these films. As he writes on his blog,
“The six hour spotlight on classic animation coming this weekend is a test. Will TCM’s traditional viewers respect and understand these are classic films? I’m betting they will. As far as I’m concerned, animated shorts and features – especially those produced for theatrical showing – from 1906 to umm, let’s say 1970 – are ‘classic film.’ They are not ‘old kids fodder’– which is how they are perceived by their parent companies. They do not get the proper respect they deserve. The TCM broadcast is a rare opportunity for the medium; a great place to expose more people to the art, entertainment and legacy of animation.
“I want to see TCM do this again. In fact, I’d like to see a regular place for vintage animation on the channel. Because TCM doesn’t read ratings, the only way they monitor feedback from their viewers is by response on their forum pages – or in written letters. I guess I’m urging you to send them a note, drop them a line; let TCM know you appreciate the telecast of these rare animation gems – and you’d like to see more.”
For a detailed look at the TCM schedule for Sunday, click HERE. There are first-rate program notes for each segment of the evening.
Email Updates
Latest Tweets
-
RT @MaltinonMovies: See what @LeonardMaltin says about Star Trek Into Darkness, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. http://t.co/h6NMuvNwcC
Posted 44 minutes ago -
RT @MaltinonMovies: See what @LeonardMaltin says about Star Trek Into Darkness, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. http://t.co/h6NMuvNwcC
Posted 2 hours ago -
A very happy birthday to my friend and fellow @LAFilmCritics member @ADuralde. Here's to another year of at least a few good movies
Posted 3 hours ago -
RT @MaltinonMovies: See what @LeonardMaltin says about Star Trek Into Darkness, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. http://t.co/h6NMuvNwcC
Posted 3 hours ago
Monthly Archives
Most "Liked"
-
The Incredible Shrinking 3-D Audien ...like0 -
Star Trek Into Darknesslike0 -
Greta's New Wave: Frances Halike0
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|  |
 |  |
6 Comments
alan aperlo | October 23, 2012 10:53 PM
Thinks to TCM. It was a great night for toon fans. alan aperlo
JLewis | October 18, 2012 8:01 PM
Knew we could count on you to give us our "reminder" for Sunday night. TCM even included my favorite UPA cartoon, the often overlooked FUDGET'S BUDGET, among the more famous titles. Also we are getting some real rarities among the silents. I didn't even know any Paul Terry cartoons survived from 1915.
John | October 18, 2012 5:42 PM
And by all means get a copy of Leonard's "Of Mice and Magic", a definitive history of the golden age of theatrical animation!!!
Norm | October 18, 2012 4:31 PM
As long as Robert Osborne is at the helm, TCM maintains a bold standard of being the forerunners of the film industry in introducing various types of mediums. The UPA cartoons are cutting edge of art creativity. Their introductions on TCM just exponentiate their exposure to the masses.
Much continued success. Looking forward with much interest to the event(s).
Disney continues to reinvent history with their shell mentality. Walt is turning over...
Richard | October 18, 2012 3:53 PM
Disney has ruined many of the old cartoons with Have a Laugh re-edited shorts and deleting Walt Disney from all intros and not releasing Wonderful World of Color on DVD.
Walt Mitchell | October 18, 2012 9:57 AM
I was thrilled when I learned of this project! Like you, I saw these gems myself on TV when I was a child! (I'm a few years older than you are.) I have some cartoon shorts in my (relatively small) 16mm film collection and I am delighted that this special entertainment format is to be spotlighted (spotlit???-LOL!) this Sunday night! May it be a mighty success, prompting slots of historic animation by TCM on a regular basis! :-D!