Favorite UPA short

[Jack]

I don't think this has ever been asked here, at least not directly. What was your favorite "UPA" cartoon, and Why? You can also count their pre-Columbia shorts (when they were called "Industrial Film and Poster Service").

Any you can't stand? Why?


Jack :D

[Matt Yorston]

I've never really seen the UPA shorts outside of EVERY theatrical Mr. Magoo cartoon (OK, that covers a lot but still...) as well as one Fox & Crow, "The Magic Fluke" (which I thought to be quite good incidentally but not up there with Tex Avery's "Magical Maestro").

As for my favorite... I'd say it's "Sloppy Jalopy". That's probably my favorite of all the Magoo cartoons with a memorable plotline (Magoo test drives a used car leading to his ending up on an amusement park ferris wheel) and a great score by David Raksin. Another I like is "Safety Spin" (Similar plot; Magoo ending up behind the wheel of a car) with some hilarious gags (the cartoon was co-written by a certain Tedd Pierce) including a risque ending in which Magoo, mistaken for a pregnant woman, is wheeled into a maternity hospital! Simply hilarious. Last but not least, I'm quite fond of the very first Magoo film, "Ragtime Bear". The bear himself in this short is every bit as endearing to audiences as Magoo with his dopey grin and surprisingly quick-learning music-playing abilities.

"And if you play one note, I'll BLAST YOU!!!!!!!"

[Larry T]

This is a tough one, I like so many of the UPA cartoons- but I'll have to zero in on my favourites:

Ragtime Bear - You can't beat this one for a downright great cartoon. As Matt said, Mr. Magoo's first film introduces him as a grouchy blathering old man who in effect, is actually pretty likable too (plus I enjoy Jim Backus very much as well :cool: ). That IS a great line: "Waldo, thank heavens- you're ALLLIIVVEE!!.... And if you play one more note I'LL BLAST YOU!!!"

Christopher Crumpet - A spoiled little kid turns himself into a chicken because his dad won't get him a rocket ship. At the same time his father is trying to show his boss that he can do this kind of trick. Very funny stuff- and imaginative. What makes it interesting is that when he actually is in his chicken form, he acts like one (remember he originally is a boy) by scratching the ground for seeds, pecking at people who try to grab him and roosting atop doors and clothesline poles.

The Tell-tale Heart - A downright creepy cartoon, and exactly the way I'd imagined Poe's story to look if illustrated. It's hard to imagine any other studio getting the same effect as UPA.

Gerald McBoing Boing - What's not to like about a story written by Dr. Seuss and animated by Bob Cannon? Sometimes I wish I could ellicit the same sounds as Gerald to get the similar effect of grabbing people's attention or just plain scaring the crap out of them ;) ! At the point in the cartoon where his father rejects him, the entire scene turns blue and Gerald runs away from home- you actually can't help but feel sympathy for the poor little guy.

Family Circus - A family brings home a new baby and the eldest child gets jealous. Another very thoughtful cartoon presented in the simplistic manner UPA is best known for.

Hell Bent For Election - I only saw this cartoon once in my life but I remember really liking it....

[Thad Komorowski]

I love UPA's Mr. Magoo series, especially "Ragtime Bear", for all the reasons mentioned.


The Fox & Crow in "The Magic Fluke" was very funny as well.


-Thad

[Gossamer]

As it's well nigh impossible to pick just one (that's like trying to eat one Dorito!) and since no one else is doing so, in addition to ones already mentioned (specifically The Tell-Tale Heart, my second-favorite), I like these:

The Unicorn in the Garden-this is just great, the perfect adaptation of James Thurber!

When Magoo Flew-my favorite Magoo cartoon out of the theatricals and just so funny I can't stop laughing just thinking about it now.

Trees and Jamaica Daddy-part of the Ham and Hattie series, it's two cartoons in one built around songs.

Robin Hoodlum-the first Fox and Crow UPA did at Columbia's insistence and the first release under their deal with Columbia to produce theatrical shorts. An excellent parody of Robin Hood.

[Crazy Tom]

Originally posted by Thad K
The Fox & Crow in "The Magic Fluke" was very funny as well.

I've never seen that film...is that a musical cartoon making fun of Mozart's "The Magic Flute?"

[Thad Komorowski]

I think that's what the title is supposed to be making fun of. My copy of "The Magic Fluke" is in Portuguese, but you can still hear the English track.


-Thad