Bats in the Belfry

Three bats who live in a belfry deal with the insanity when the bells ring out at midnight.

Rudy Ising has directed a very silly little cartoon here, with the three bats drunkenly wandering around the interior of the bell tower. There's still the exquisitely rendered background Technicolor work that was a hallmark of the Harman & Ising studio, which provides an amusing contrast to the simple color designs of the characters. Unlike earlier works by the two, this one has no plot to interfere with the hijinks.

"Bats In The Belfry" promises to be a kind of Gothic treat; but when the title trio appear on the scene, our hopes are deflated with another group of cutely drawn cartoon mice, straight out of its own time, the early 40s. The song of the same name—another sadly forgotten part of America's pop-song heritage--serves as the framework for the characters' antics.

The song's (and cartoon's) name derives from an old colloquialism, referring to someone mentally unbalanced.

The three bats are a tall one who talks in a dumb-Bronx accent; a considerably shorter middle one with a raspy, high-pitched voice; and a little shrimp named "Brickbat" who's totally pantomime (i.e., non-speaking) and who merely nods or shakes his head as a response. Oh, and he hiccups a lot, too.

The three characterizations are very, very well-defined—no mystery, as this was MGM, the no-expense-spared studio whose budgets were the envy of all other animation studios. There's one early cartoon attempt to "break the fourth wall," when the strapping one sees us, the audience, from a sleepy bat's perspective. In frustration, he commands that the theater be turned upside down! A moment of pathos, too, when he nearly falls to his death (false alarm, of course), and the midsized bat must console the mourning Brickbat.

(Worth noting is that the song "Bats In The Belfry" was later used as the theme music for the 1955 Bugs Bunny cartoon "Hare Brush"—or a simulation thereof, since the original tune was most likely copyrighted by another studio.)

Three bats try to prove that bats are not nutty as most people assume. They also argue about who's the biggest. This is a MGM cartoon from Rudolf Ising and Jerry Brewer. These are trying to be wacky characters which fit more as comic relief at best. There is no actual plot. The design of the bats looks like evil minions. This is rather forgettable.

'Bats in the Belfry' (1942)

Opening thoughts: For me, Rudolf Ising was a bit up and down as a director. There are cartoons of his that are good, sweet, charming and amusing (if seldom hilarious). Then there are others that are not so good, too cutesy and tired with bland characters and barely existent storytelling. 'Bats in the Belfry' sees a bit of both extremes, though thankfully with more the former than the latter. Which was surprising, seeing as it has a premise that could easily be entirely the latter and also one that is not that great.

Bad things: It isn't perfect. Like with all Ising cartoons, the story is best forgotten as there isn't really one, what little there is has too much of a recycled feel and the pacing is not always secure. Occasionally it goes a little too far on the silliness.

The ending also had a sense that the writers didn't know how to end the cartoon and instead took the easy, safe option out.

Good things: However, the animation is wonderful, very beautifully detailed and lush and never over-saturated in colours. The backgrounds particularly, which are exquisite. The music is every bit as great, very vibrant, sumptuously orchestrated and atmospheric, not just adding to what happens but enhancing it too.

'Bats in the Belfry' is cute, but never too much so. Did enjoy the almost surreal wackiness, as well as the clever and not over-used use of fourth wall breaking and an unexpected moment of poignancy. Ising's cartoons don't often succeed in giving characters distinct and well-defined personalities, but succeeds here with the bats. All with personalities of their own and ones that appeal.

Closing thoughts: All in all, pleasant enough if not exceptional.

7/10.