Black Cat and Ghosts
“I See Dead People Week” lurches on with “Bold King Cole,” another Technicolor extravaganza from director Burt Gillette, and the last theatrically released Felix the Cat cartoon. This time out, the gang at RKO/Van Beuren redesigned Felix with a little body and a really big head, and then retrofitted him with a great singing voice. He’s kinda charming here, although I certainly miss the ‘Hey! Don’t screw around with me’ abrasive edge the little guy displays in his silent films.
This cartoon would have us believe that the undead have much more to fear from lightning strikes than we, the living. A well aimed zap of electricity and some very nasty (but very musical) ghosts disintegrate in a puff of smoke. A few jillion volts surge through Felix, and the only after effect seems to be the periodic transmogrification of his head into a light bulb (which wouldn’t even be that inconvenient if, say, you lost your car keys in the backyard one night. Not that that has ever happened to me personally… lately.)
More unruly spooks tomorrow. ReFrederator. Taming the spirit world. One cartoon at a time.
»
On May 24th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I really like the design of Felix in this cartoon. I can see why Japan latched on to Feliz like they did. He fits perfectly into that world of cute anime animals. It’s too bad that Van Beuren only did three cartoons. I would have liked to see more.
On May 24th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Funny….we never had any problems down at the castle with voices or ghosts until this cat with a glowing lightbulb head came a-knockin’ one stormy night….then all hell broke loose!
The Felix I knew had a shapeshifting bag-o-tricks that the evil professor was always trying to steal. And his freind named Va-VOOM could blast tunnels into solid rock with the sheer power of his voice. I think he might have been able to shoot bowling balls from his face, like cannon balls, too. But it IS also possible that age is taking it’s toll on the accuracy of my memeory. I loved Va-VOOM…..I miss Va-VOOM….I wish I WAS Va-VOOM!
On May 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am
(JAPAN)+(ANIME)=(BRAIN ROTT)
On May 30th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Which part happened to you not lately… that you lost your keys in the backyard, or that your cat became electrified? In either case, but mostly the latter, I wish I’d been there. Since you don’t actually PARK in your back yard. Lately. (hee hee) Your particular cat, electrified, would resemble something like those fiber optic thingies people used to keep on their TV sets, which induced seizures in certain very sensitive people. Not lately, though. AGHRRRRRR