Farm Frolics

Have always had high appreciation for Bob Clampett. He had a wonderfully wacky and imaginative, at times bold, visual style. Not as much as Tex Avery, but those qualities were there with him. His cartoons more often than not are very humorous and even hilarious, he didn't play it safe and his takes on some of animation's most iconic characters when they were starting out or evolving (Bugs Bunny being a prime example) were historically significant for the medium.

'Farm Frolics' is not one of his best. It is very well made and surprisingly more entertaining than one would think looking at the premise, which did sound very cute but not much else. If you like cartoons with narration that entertains and teaches, there will be a lot to be impressed by. For Clampett though, 'Farm Frolics' is fairly tame, lacking his usual bold approach or having enough that was bold or inspired. It is certainly not cutesy, but not enough of Clampett and the lack of a compelling enough lead character brings it down a little.

It is very slight narratively. Not much story at all in fact, was expecting that in a way as there are many cartoons out there where the stories are nothing special but are fine elsewhere, but all it is a series of spot gags. What there is is not very distinct or fresh.

A more compelling lead character in a cartoon where there isn't really one may have helped as would some consistently livelier pacing.

There is still a lot to like in 'Farm Frolics' though, just wanted to say that just in case people were starting to think that to me that it was a bad cartoon. Which it isn't, but it won't be for all tastes. The animation is great, the rural background art is very richly detailed and eye catching. The colour is very vibrant and beautifully varied. Every bit as good is the music, Carl Stalling was an amazing composer whose scores added so much to every cartoon he scored for and 'Farm Frolics' is no exception, the perfect sense of mood, the clever and lush instrumentation and energetic character are all here.

Whether one likes 'Farm Frolics' is whether you like narration-form cartoons and spot gag ones. Have never had any problem with either and this does nothing to change my mind. The narration is sonorously delivered by Robert C Bruce, the best of this type of narration in cartoons at the time, and the kind that entertains and educates. Reminding me fondly of the Goofy How to series, which will be great if that series does anything for you (have always been fond of it). The gags are plenty and while not hilarious or inventive they amuse at least and don't get repetitive. The voice acting is on point.

To conclude, good fun if not great. 7/10

Usually, when you see the date of a Looney Tune as being very early 1940s and you immediately hear the voice of narrator (usually Robert Bruce) you almost can be assured it won't be the normal wild, wacky and humorous cartoon you're expecting. They were very corny in the early '40s and most of the humor just isn't there as it was by the mid '40s and the end of World War II.

There is no central character, such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck or Porky Pig in these above- mentioned type of 'toons. They are usually are just a series of quick gags on a subject: fairy tales, different places in the world or - such as in this one - life on a farm. I would this one, however, better than the others I've seen. At least the gags had some humor, enough to at least produce a few smiles.

The rural scenes are beautifully drawn and look great on this "restored" Golden Collection Volume Five DVD set. Also, some of the gags - if you know classic-era performers - aren't bad, such as a horse imitating Eddie Cantor or a dog reading Dick Tracy in the Sunday newspaper comic strips or the birds building a FHA-approved house.

One of the many early Merrie Melodies cartoons existing pretty much as an excuse for a series of narrated sight gags, Bob Clampett's "Farm Frolics" is noticeably tamer than "The Isle of Pingo Pongo" or "A Day at the Zoo", but still provides its fair share of laughs. It's pretty much the same kinds of jokes as Clampett's "Crazy Cruise" the following year. Granted, the jokes are fairly hokey. In my opinion, Tex Avery was the master of spot gags, and Bob Clampett reached his all-time apex with "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery".

Still, you gotta imagine how this stuff must have seemed the first time that moviegoers ever watched it. I figure that they very likely cracked up (or at least guffawed). And you'll probably at least chuckle at the gags. Worth seeing. Just came out on DVD on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5.

Farm Frolics (1941)

*** (out of 4)

Robert Clampett directed this narrative short, which takes us to the farm where we learn about the various animals and going-ons.

There were quite a few of these types of shorts that were released during this period. Tex Avery was a master at them but other director's also did well within the sub-genre. This short benefits from the excellent animation that you've come to expect but there are also a few funny stories along the way. One prime example is the trusted old farmer's dog who gets the newspaper everyday but not for the reason you might expect. There's also a funny bit dealing with some baby pigs gathered around a clock as well as the "quiet" sounds of a mother ant. If you're a fan of these narrative shorts then this here is certainly one of the better ones.

an old fashion animation. that could define it . only at first sigh. because, more than story, for me, three characters are memorable. first - the horse and its fascinating run. the ant. and the gray pig. and, sure, the clock who is the heart of this short animation with its little pigs fans. a film about farm who seduces not exactly for gags but for real good animation. and this is a real good point. and useful. for the child us.