I'm a Big Shot Now

Boy, does this action-paced animated short go by fast. Of course, it's not long to begin with, but at seems like it's over in a couple of minutes.

At least half of this involves shootouts as the crooks, led by the lookout crook who sings the title song, fire away in a Bonnie & Clyde-type chase scene and then go after him when they discover in what birdhouse he resides.

It all takes place in"Birdville," and we see someone enter the Birdville Bank where there is "2 1/2 worms interest on all deposits." Across the street, on the poor side of the tracks, resides the bad guys are dancing away in the saloon. They spot the bank (they've never seen it before??) and decide to rob it.

I laughed hardest at the saloon dancing, the Tarzan-imitating cop and the lyrics to the song.

An early, and therefore minor, Looney Tunes cartoon which plays as a spoof on the pacy crime melodramas (pioneered by the same studio, Warner Bros.) then in their heyday. This, too, can be found among the extras on the BULLETS OR BALLOTS (1936) DVD. Basically, it shows the rise and fall of a small-time hood in just 7 minutes – with the anti-hero himself changing lines from his signature tune (the title number) to accommodate his current demeanor. The Looney Tunes are among the most inventive and zany cartoons ever made, but this was still some years ahead of their golden era (in fact, none of the famous characters had been created by this point).

With gangster movies becoming a staple of 1930s cinema, it's no surprise that the Termite Terrace crowd quickly moved to spoof the genre. "I'm a Big Shot Now" portrays Birdville, where the avian citizens deposit worms into the bank. But over in the saloon, a lowlife bird sings a song to remind the audience what sort of person - er, bird - he is. He quickly gets the other ornithological boozers to help him rob the bank. Of course, he then has to escape the cops, who eventually find out where he lives.

I wondered why he had to summon a makeshift group to help him rob the bank. It seems like a big shot would have a whole gang accompanying him everywhere. Then again, they may have been his gang (it's never identified), and maybe a big shot would be so cool that he could easily whip up a gang.

Overall, it's a pretty interesting cartoon, both a spoof of and tribute to the gangster movies of the era. They move it along so that you barely know what hit you.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more through young adults eyes, due to having more knowledge of it, various animation styles, studios, directors and how it all works.

Granted, 'I'm a Big Shot Now' is not one of Friz Freleng's, a director who did many great cartoons and a director held in high admiration by me, best, not being one of his funniest, wittiest or freshest. For relatively early Freleng, 'I'm a Big Shot Now' is worth watching though he would do much better later. It is never what one would call properly hilarious (but is never unfunny), Freleng's later efforts show more evenness and confidence in directing and the story.

It is quite thin in terms of story, with not much new done, and the structure is basically an excuse to string the events along. It is not terribly imaginative and occasionally momentum is not always there.

However, enough of the characters and their chemistry carry 'I'm a Big Shot Now' very well. The most entertaining character being the cop who imitates Tarzan which makes for one of the funniest assets of the cartoon (the saloon dancing is another standout).

'I'm a Big Shot Now' has enough very amusing moments (like some suitably wild action), some variety and there is a good deal of liveliness in the second half. The conflict is nicely done, with a great crime drama feel, and there is a good deal of cuteness and charm. The sentimentality is kept at minimum thankfully.

Animation is very good, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading, vibrant and very meticulous in detail. The music is outstanding, it is lovely on the ears, lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.

Overall, worthwhile and interesting cartoon. 7/10 Bethany Cox