The Cinemated Man presents
a break from WAR BONDS!! MOVIE MARATHON!! ALL MONTH LONG!!!
a break from WAR BONDS!! MOVIE MARATHON!! ALL MONTH LONG!!!
SLICK HARE (1947)
Directed by I. Freling
Story by Michael Maltese, Tedd Pierce
Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Virgil Ross, Gerry Chiniquy, Manuel Perez, Ken Champin
Layouts/Backgrounds by Hawley Pratt, Paul Julian
Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc
What's a war without a wiseguy? And who's the best wise guy of 'em all? Bugs Bunny, that's who! Take a break from the war and laugh it up with Bugs!
Never fear. The Cinemated Man is here!
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The Cinemated Man
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The Cinemated Man
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9 comments:
Thank you so much for hosting "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer". I think FT's (shall we call him that?)great and have searched high and low for the region2 dvd. I'm guessing you bought it in Asia from the subtitles?
Anyway, as you seem to admire him, check out my youtube vids (he's reading):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbmnuwJo68
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHPVYaId70U
Yup, the abandoned movie theater is on the outskirts of Tokyo in Asia! ;)
Yes, Franchot was one of a kind. You probably know he starred in a very well done Twilight Zone in his later years.
Good stuff w/ Fitzgerald.
I've just read your neo noir profile, pretty cool. Thanks for your comps on mine and the Fitzgerald videos.
I don't know if my blog is that "popular" but I do appreciate the people who visit.
I did see that later years episode and his Alfred Hitchcock Hour (NBC.com) - he just got better. More 30's Tone uploads please :) How about ... Five Graves to Cairo? Do they have that in "Tokyo"?
Thank you for the Bugs cartoon. Although I visit regularly, war films are not my cup 'o tea, so to speak - I was born shortly after the second World War and watched all of John Wayne's films - my dad though he was a hero, despite the fact that he never served. I watched as similar misconceptions about various actors (Reagan anyone) were peddled to the people while more committed actors (Stewart, Gable, Lombard et al) were ignored.
Later, I paid admission to view the Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket etc etc. Perhaps it's because of my age, although I doubt that, cause after Catch 22, I was never able to watch and enjoy another war film. Not that I don't appreciate the production values or script - I just find the subject matter distasteful. And no, I'm not a hippie.
However, I do appreciate that you offer something for everyone so I'll bypass the war schtick and wait for your next madness event.
Loved your Monster madness month - watched every video!
Do you need supplies in that abandoned theatre?
HT, thanks for the thoughts. I was waiting, hoping (dreading?) a comment like yours. It's only natural and appropriate to expect all kinds of views when it comes to war.
But without going into a film forum debate, let me just say, we're not political here at The Cinemated Man... not at all. The films are war pictures, but if you note, the marathon is not about war's destruction or action, really. It's about bonding (hence the lame marathon title - well I thought it was cute, others said, "What are you nuts?")
War is a part of life. It will always be so, sadly. It's no fun, and in fact, it's downright hell. There's really nothing worse than war except losing your loved ones in the worse possible way, and war has that, too. So, yes, War is Hell. But men did go to fight. For whatever reasons, they did so, whether they were drafted or signed up. This is the marathon to highlight what those men were like, what they said, what they did and what they thought. It's about how they bonded to each other in that living hell. It's not about the reasons for war or the politics behind war. It's about the men.
I specifically chose films that dealt in the theater of battle. It would have been easy to pick Best Years of Our Lives, or other great films like that that dealt with coming home. But, no. This is not about the after effects of war. This is about buddies, about the guy next to you, about the fella who pulled mud off of you, or shared letters from home with you. It's about humanity in war. I see today, young men and women going off to war. I see ipods and PSPs. I see a lot of sacrifice and death. But I don't see the same literary depth from those in the jaws of death that I've seen in the WWII generation. That makes me sad. Because, rather than dissecting the politics of war, which is done ad infinitum daily, hourly, minute by minute, it's far more important I feel to express the humanity within war and to do so with words (and then images as is seen in these films). Otherwise, what do you have? Action flicks, blood, guts, and no thinking. All of these films have death in them, but they have much, much more. Each of these scripts is about twice as thick as any modern film today. What does that say? That a medium budget war picture is more talky than a modern day 'intellectual' film.
So, yes, you can take the position that you are against war, but realize, so are we, and so are the men in these films. But I'm not against humanity, and I don't think you are either. If you've seen films like Battleground, or Enemy Below, you'll note the tone and the talk of the soldiers in those films is not that of gung ho, brainwashed killing machines. Are they just pawns hoodwinked into fighting? Well, you be the judge, but I'd heartily say, absolutely not.
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Catch 22 is one of my favorite films. But it didn't show me anything I didn't already know, it just did it in a very clever, entertaining way. It also broke down convention, which is a lot easier to do than create it. What it also did was show in exaggerated, cartoonish way, the ludicrousness of what happens in war. It was a black comedy. Satire. But judging diplomacy and war by Catch 22 (or MASH) is like saying Wag the Dog is a perfect illustration of what happens in Washington. Sure, it may happen. But is it the whole picture? Is it policy? Is it the way we strive for it to be? Is it why men and women become politicians and public servants? Of course not. Catch 22 or MASH etc. could have been made about any subject or field from civil service to laying bricks to academia (we're seeing evidence of this now with the UEA data scandal). But as a war theme, it had teeth to bite into us with. Plus, the timing was excellent for it.
Some have called it, like MASH, an 'anti-war' movie. This is wrong. All war movies are anti-war movies. Well, all classic Hollywood ones are, that is. None of those classics glorify war or death in any way. Most show the enemy as an competent and skilled equal (not a monkey, as is often claimed) Most show how our soldiers are ill-equipped (you'd think from our news reports today that soldiers in Iraq were the first to be ill-equipped in war). Most have far less on-screen violence and death than your average holiday rental flick, game, or Saturday morning kids show. I think the public has been brainwashed, not into 'going off to war' but in regarding war pictures as nothing more than propaganda when in fact they are much, much more. The real propaganda is happening right now in a theater or store near you.
By the way, just a heads-up, we’re big fans of Ronald Reagan’s films here as we are of his service in U.S. Armed Forces Motion Picture Unit. I hope you are able to research the history behind his extensive work for the military and not just merely accept the oft-repeated misconceptions. Same with John Wayne. As for Stewart, Gable, Montgomery, Grant, Curtiss, etc. They were not ignored at all. They are ignored NOW, but not then. Again, take a look at the press from that period, you’ll see reports and stories on them almost daily. Time (and publishing) have a funny way of distilling out much of the meat of historical fact whether intentional or not. I think above all else, the most honest way to approach any historical period is to NOT judge it. Because in the future, you and I will be judged by what we leave behind. And from that remainder what will be chosen for us - not by us - will be how we are known to future generations. Something to think about.
So, with that out of the way, I can hear folks screaming, “KLINGER!! Start the picture!!” That’s right, that’s why we’re here.
We appreciate your candid comments.
Enjoy.
Michael, thank you for your indepth response - I truly appreciate it. Do you honestly believe what you typed?
"War is a part of life. It will always be so, sadly. It's no fun, and in fact, it's downright hell. There's really nothing worse than war except losing your loved ones in the worse possible way, and war has that, too."
Do you believe that there is not any other way?
M'dear, I'm old enough to be your grandmum, and (brace yourself, cause I'm putting my gloves on) slap to the right cheek, slap to the left.
Partisan politics should be consigned to the 7th circle of hell - life is too short and it should always be a about people, not power.
I don't agree with what appears to be your politics, however, your site is not about that.
So what are you planning for your next "Madness" month?
P.S. I don't want to devolve into a partisan embroglio, and I'm not even American! I just enjoy what you do (with the exception of the war movies, but I'm sure many people appreciate them)
BTW, as a child of the first wave of baby boomers, the latest version of Wolfman is really lame. It sucks. Give me Lone Chaney any day!
Really appreciate what you and the Brain do. Thanks. Back to lurking, but I'm publishing your URL wherever I post (mind you I don't post too many sites, but one never knows)
Michael, thank you for your indepth response - I truly appreciate it. Do you honestly believe what you typed?
I generally do, but it depends on how drunk I am.
"War is a part of life. It will always be so, sadly. It's no fun, and in fact, it's downright hell. There's really nothing worse than war except losing your loved ones in the worse possible way, and war has that, too."
Do you believe that there is not any other way?
I believe what Aristotle said and I believe what I see human beings doing every day, not just nations and governments, but people, to each other every day. Yes, there is another way. But we won't choose it. Look here, right now. A simple selection of films has caused a rift between two strangers on different sides of the planet. Based on what? Based on assumptions and experiences. That's the human animal for ya. And loving and fighting is what the animal does best.
M'dear, I'm old enough to be your grandmum, and (brace yourself, cause I'm putting my gloves on) slap to the right cheek, slap to the left.
Don't be too sure about our age difference, there!
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Partisan politics should be consigned to the 7th circle of hell - life is too short and it should always be a about people, not power.
Right. So, then why exactly have you brought it up with the next sentence? By making assumptions you fail in the way Felix Unger so aptly pointed out in that great episode of The Odd Couple.
I don't agree with what appears to be your politics, however, your site is not about that. So what are you planning for your next "Madness" month?
Perhaps CM isn't for you, then. I never wanted this site to be about politics and it still isn't, in spite of this discussion, (which may have to be moderated by Miles and/or the Ladies Flower Arrangement Society depending on who gets back to work faster) but you've begun the first inclusion of it here, I'm afraid. Like I said, I anticipated that possibility but figured most would either enjoy or not watch. We are presently deep in the red and all of this is out of pocket, time and money. Both mine! So, the last thing I want or need is digs on John Wayne and Ronald Reagan, et al. I can get that anywhere. So, I don't put with it here. And frankly, why should I? Take a beloved musician of yours. An artist, writer, actor whatever and imagine someone coming along and knocking them on your site in your presence. Imagine. Would you welcome it? Would you ignore it?
P.S. I don't want to devolve into a partisan embroglio, and I'm not even American!
I wasn't aware Americans were the only partisan (a French term) people on the planet. That statement of yours speaks volumes, I'm afraid.
I just enjoy what you do (with the exception of the war movies, but I'm sure many people appreciate them) BTW, as a child of the first wave of baby boomers, the latest version of Wolfman is really lame. It sucks.
I appreciate that but..see, here's a good example of people's differences. You're offended by Wayne, et al, I'm offended by your use of the word 'sucks'. I know it's used everyday, but I don't care for it, especially not in mixed company. There are so many other better words to use than one which has to have a sexual connotation to mean 'bad'. As a grandmother, you should know better, shouldn't you?
Give me Lone Chaney any day!
No argument there.
Really appreciate what you and the Brain do.
Thanks. Back to lurking, but I'm publishing your URL wherever I post (mind you I don't post too many sites, but one never knows)
Well, I'm afraid if the sites you publish it on have the same argument with the films, I'd prefer you didn't. I don't need the hate mail. Life is, indeed, too short.
We can continue this discussion in email, because I generally don't reply at length to anonymous posts, because their authors have no restriction of accountability which has a remarkable effect on manners and civility. Imagine! Sort of like war, when both sides have the same to lose, they suddenly wage peace. Imagine.
Regards.
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