Rookie Revue

Looney Tunes in service of war effort. That is all. Old gags, old irony, crazy/ absurd situations and the great end. Nothing new but seductive. And, in essence, this is the fair purpose.

Friz Freleng's "Rookie Revue" is one of the many Warner Bros. one-shot cartoons based on spot gags (Tex Avery had become famous for this, but he moved to MGM after a falling out with Leon Schlesinger). In this case, the setting is a military base. It's probably worth noting a cultural reference: the general at the end parodies Abbott & Costello's radio show, on which Lou would say "I'm a ba-a-a-a-ad boy." Also, I believe that one of the groups in the mess hall features caricatures of Termite Terrace employees: the curly-haired one looks like Leon Schlesinger's assistant Henry Binder.

But of course that isn't really as important as the cartoon itself. I get the feeling that the cartoon may have been a preview of our impending entry into WWII. Whatever the main gist was, it's worth seeing.

Cleverly, the bugler has had the sense to install a juke box in his tent so it plays the ear-splitting reveille that rouses his colleagues from their slumbers in the morning while he grabs an extra forty winks. The ensuing parade rather oddly illustrates that some of these soldiers aren't exactly the brightest star in then sky and from here on in we seem to want to rather send-up the squaddies! Stick your tongue out and make some silly noises seems to be a template for the training regime and the parachute practice is not likely to encourage folks to want to join up! Ariel noughts and crosses, anyone? It's watchable enough, but I'm not sure the message is that well delivered - except, perhaps, for the fact that army HQ is many, many, many miles behind the lines!

This is another take on the military by the animation industry. It's 1941 and the U.S. is just in the war. It is deadly serious, so parody is a way to take the edge off. Here we see all aspects of fighting men (no women that I noticed) doing their day to day things, facing the demons of war (like not enough sleep). It works OK but certainly nothing very original about it.

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.

'Rookie Revue' 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, 'Rookie Revue' is well above average 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 is flimsy.

It is quite thin in terms of story and the structure is basically an excuse to string them along.

However, the characters are all fun and with enough distinct personality, if lacking a discernible lead character.

The cartoon has a number of very amusing moments, there are frequent signs of variety, wit and invention and there is a good deal of liveliness.

Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, crisp in shading and very meticulous in detail. The music 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.

Voice acting is terrific, with Robert C Bruce providing snappy narration and Mel Blanc again showing a remarkable and unmatched ability to give individuality to multiple characters.

In conclusion, decent. 7/10 Bethany Cox