ReFrederator Blog

We have this Crazy Cop theme going, but today it’s more like Cops and Robbers as we present the first of two prison pictures we’ve scheduled for the week. “Jolly Good Felons” finds that funny paper favorite, the Little King taking a tour of the Royal Prison, where everything starts out orderly, but ends up as a knock down riot (not necessarily a laugh riot, mind you, but a riot none the less.)

I’ve always been bowled over by how hard RKO/Van Beuren worked to simulate the original style and humor in the Little King films. By 1934, a whole heap of comic strip creations had found their way into the movies, but the studios usually took drastic liberties with these pre-sold properties. And, let’s face it, the pudgy potentate sure didn’t look or act like a typical animated star of the era — he always seemed like something you could get away with doodling during geometry class. But RKO not only successfully imitated cartoonist Otto Soglow’s elegant, minimalist look, they came up with an odd but appropriate feel to the actual animation. Capturing the Soglow’s off handed wit was a lot trickier, but at least they cooked up something that was pleasingly peculiar if not flat out funny.

I hope you’re enjoying our Crazy Cop Week… more is on the way.

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Dave Kirwan