In 1968 United Artists decided to pull 11 classic Warner Brothers cartoons from distribution to both TV and Home Video. These 11 cartoons were pulled because they were deemed too racially offensive to a modern audience. However these cartoons are an important part of film history and therefore world history. Therefore this author feels these films should not be banned, because our history should not be banned from us.
Our first film is the only one, on the list, released during the Harmon and Ising era of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. As I have mentioned in previous posts at this time Hugh Harmon was directing the Looney Tunes, and Rudolph Ising was directing the Merrie Melodies. This is one of Rudolph Ising's Merrie Melodies. This was the fifth Merrie Melody, and at this time Ising was trying to come up with staring characters for his Merrie Melodies. This idea though he soon abandoned and for a little while Merrie Melodies featured no starring characters. The character who stars in this cartoon is Piggy. Piggy had no personality to speak of, but in spite of that this cartoon remains quite entertaining. This film is also the only black and white cartoon from the censored 11. Those familiar with Disney cartoons will automatically notice similarities between this cartoon and the Silly Symphony, The Skelton Dance. However don't be too harsh on Rudolph Ising, at this time everyone in the animation business was coping Disney in at least some way. So from 1931 and directed by Rudolph Ising, here is Hittin' the Trail for Hallelujah Land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8IvVXCSZng
Next comes a great musical cartoon from animation legend Friz Freling. The 1930's Merrie Melodies usually featured a musical number. At this time as well The Merrie Melodies were in color while Looney Tunes were in black and white. Later the musical numbers would be dropped for the most part, Looney Tunes would be in color, recurring characters would appear in Merrie Melodies (the same ones that appeared in Looney Tunes), and there would no longer be a difference between Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. However this is a great peak at what Merrie Melodies were like at this time. So from 1936 and directed by Friz Freling, here is Sunday Go to' Meeting Time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-qUqK5LovQ
-Michael J. Ruhland
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