Take a Peek
Just when you thought it was safe for the kids to watch old cartoons, that nice young fella, Flip the Frog, starts dashing around hotel corridors, looking at naked women through keyholes!
Even by the relatively lenient standards of pre-code 1932 Hollywood, today’s item, “Room Runners” is surprisingly racy stuff. There are about seven or eight scenes involving sexy women in various stages of undress, a couple of characters cursing (none of that #!@* stuff either — Flip just ups and says ‘damn!’) and even one clunky bosom and bottom joke involving a poor homely old thing. Of course, keep in mind this is an Ub Iwerks cartoon, and the entire cast, including the nude girlies, have that bulbous character design that vaguely reminds you of the animals circus clowns construct out of balloons.
Since this is Crazy Cop Week, there is a policeman on hand, but he’s as bad a peeper as Flip! All in all, a pretty lively installment — and I love those twisted doorways and moldings! They’re almost as curvy as the ubiquitous nudes!
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On August 31st, 2006 at 12:00 am
A dollar a day for rent? I’M THERE!! — that is, as soon as I can figure out why “Grand Slam Hotel” isn’t coming up on Google Maps…
On August 31st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Is there a record of who drew the young women in these Iwerks cartoons? I think they rank up there with Preston Blair’s red Riding Hoods for MGM.
On September 4th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Not sure who animated the girls in “Room Runners” — Grim Natwick was the go-to guy for graceful females at about this time, and he was at the Iwerks studio during this period, but I can’t find this title listed in his credits. Anyone a lot smarter than us out there have some answers?
On September 6th, 2006 at 12:00 am
These are the kinds of cartoons I remember from childhood. I’m glad I grew up when I did. I don’t remember ever hearing “damn,” but I do remember some were rather racy, at least for this 10 year old!