Anyway, on to another lost masterpiece! This 1944 Warner Brothers short directed by Bob Clampett has the best cartoon depiction of Adolf Hitler. Rod Scribner does an amazing job as usual with the animation. Below you can see some frames that really capture what a nut job Hitler was while giving his speeches. The poses, expressions, movement and voice characterization are all hilarious.
Check out this series of close up frames. WHAM!
I love this sequence of Hitler crawling along the floor with a dagger, chasing the Russian gremlins. Hitler's reaction to the Stalin mask is great too.
I pray WB will release this on DVD soon. Until then you'll have to make do with the version I uploaded to YouTube.
25 comments:
in the warner bros cartoon "scrap happy daffy" they have Hitler crawling across the floor and chewing thru the rug.
this wasn't just some activity they dreamed up - there were many reports out of Germany that one of Hitler's odd behaviors was chewing on the curtains of his window when he was anxious.
those fine folks at Warner leaped at the opportunity to put that little tidbit in their cartoon.
so funny
Thanks Brian! Like everyone else I love Rod Scribner and can never get enough. I was disappointed that Warners didn't put Booby Traps on the last dvd set with the Snafu shorts. That has some great Scribner scenes in it as well. Hope this one makes it on the next set or maybe it will be in that collection of war time cartoons coming out next month? Great blog and thanks again!
Thanks alot,
that was a very cool cartoon.
Brian,
Thank you for posting this! I nearly paid $25 to see this cartoon again!
I pray WB will release this on DVD soon. Until then you'll have to make do with the version I uploaded to YouTube.
I have it on cassette. :D
Yes, Russian Rhapsody is a great cartoon. Actually, any cartoon with Rod Scribner on bord at least has great animation in it.
Hey Brian, awesome stuff! I never saw that one before, so thank you very much!
Thank you sooo much for posting these, Brian.
Scribner and Mckimson made it look sooo easy.
Cheers Brian,
Great Cartoon -
Its sad that something as direct and to the point as this nowadays would never make it past censors.
Would love to find out who the gremlin characters were parodies of (like the one hammering the rivets out of the vertical bulkhead) - anybody know?
I really enjoyed that Merry melody. Especially Adolf saying "Stop Friz Freleng ...und der "whats cooking, duck?"..."
Excellent caricature!!
It's my favorite Bob Clampett Cartoon EVER!
check out the gremlins!
they're all caricatures of the termite terrace staff!
i haven't watched this again yet, but i remember it and there's definitely a tex avery one and quite a few more, look close!
AMAZING!
What's the German phrase that seems to pop up in a lot of WB shorts. Sounds like guzzen-tite or something?
SHEER POWER!
The only way to describe those drawings. Almost no one draws like that in animation anymore. We get fired if we do.
ROCKIN' POST, BRIAN!
First time at your your blog and i get treated to a great cartoon i hadn't seen since i was a kid!!! see.. nothing can outlast those amazing early warner brothers cartoons. outstanding man.
yeah Russian Rhapsody rules, it's my fav clampett toon!
Thank you for posting that, Brian! I saw that cartoon when I was about 7 years old, and it was one of my favorites.
I don't understand why they don't show this cartoon anymore - it is a good example of how the entertainment industry supported the war effort during that time.
I've never even heard of that cartoon...!
I love it, right up there with "A Gruesome Twosome" (arguably the best cartoon EVER)
Can you take a look at my blog too?
www.holyshirttails.blogspot.com
"Would love to find out who the gremlin characters were parodies of (like the one hammering the rivets out of the vertical bulkhead) - anybody know?"
Radimus - That's Mel Blanc.
Brian - You're doing a really GREAT service here on your blog. "Russian Rhapsody" is one of my all-time favorites!
Keep up the good work & THANK YOU!
To all,
Thanks for checking out my blog! I'm glad so many people enjoyed this one. If you've never seen it before or haven't seen it in a long time please feel free to share your impressions.
I'll keep trying to find inspirational cartoons and other art to post here as much as possible.
Hey, Brian! Thanks for the Youtube Russian Rhapsody cartoon. I really like your cartoon art. You rule at what you do! post more stuff! I'm a fan!
Pedro
Russian Rhapsody is officially the greatest cartoon I've ever seen. I wish Clampett had done longer stuff!
Great cartoon. Thanks a lot
Chris Wyatt; I guess that is "gezundheit" you are referring to, - which is a toast for good health. Google or wiki it for more
I have this one - and quite a few others of that vintage - on videocassette. I can't wait 'til they released some clean copies on DVD, if ever!
Bob Clampett was a genius, possibly the best director WB ever had. Chuck Jones had some stroke, but I personally think he was overrated. Clampett rules!
Great site. I'll be back...
Oh, yeah - the gremlin hammering rivets is NOT Mel Blanc - it's Leon Schlesinger. When he gets to the top, there's Friz Freleng.
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