Bacall to Arms

Great classic looney tunes parody. yes it's funny

This is definitely not an animation for children, but I think its definitely a marvel to watch from an entertainment and animation standpoint. The blend of clever lines and witty gags are quite good here, it's clear bob knew what he was doing while creating this cartoon. Unfortunately theres a bit of racism near the end, but that can hopefully be edited out. Great from a historical standpoint, and I'm a bit mixed on this one, but I'll think I'll give it a flat 7/10, Super Interesting.

A first-class, extremely well done spoof cartoon, its high quality being very typical of the time. Audiences back then were more sophisticated than the audiences today, fed as they are on the rubbish that Hollywood flings out with abandon. They were more appreciative of charm and wit and recognized it when they saw it. BACALL TO ARMS has charm and wit and is deliciously funny from start to finish.

Animation fans will particularly enjoy the superb work of the Warner artists and the breakneck speed of the pacing. Writing, directing, music and editing are all as good as can be.

One of the great cartoons, definitely not to be missed.

"Bacall to Arms" is a true relic of cinema-going in the 1940s. It portrays a movie theater where several things happen. After the audience plays an over-the-top version of musical chairs, a wolf ogles a sexy usherette (is it PC to use that word?), and a big fat guy can't sit down.

Then, the "Warmer News" reel tells of how radars are helping ordinary Americans...by alerting when mothers-in-law are coming. And finally, the feature: "To Have, To Have, To Have, To Have, To Have" starring Bogey Gocart and Laurie Bee Cool. Bogey tells the big fat guy in the audience to sit, and then his female co-star enters. As the two stars carry out their routine, the wolf's hormones go through the roof (you gotta admit, with how she talks and acts, it's hard not to get sexually aroused). It all builds up, resulting in a rather cringe-inducing finale.

Above all, I think that it's good that I first saw this cartoon now, when I'm old enough to understand what it portrays. Had I watched this when I was a little kid, I probably wouldn't have gotten any of it (seriously, how many six-year-old children can identify Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall?). Especially neat is to think about how cool it was that they managed to portray such sexuality in the 1940s. But hey, the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons were always pushing the limits (and the ones directed by Bob Clampett took contortionist phantasmagoria/wackiness to the extreme).

So anyway, you're sure to like this one, despite a rather non-PC ending. I suspect that Humphrey and Lauren were probably flattered.

We are taken back to the movie theater in the '40s where people are playing musical chairs, wolves are making passes at beautiful usherettes, and the "warmer news" movie short is showing, explaining how "American industry cleverly adapts the implements of war to peace time use." We then see clever and funny ways radar is now being used in post-war 1946.

Then, the feature movie begins with "Bogey Gocart and Laurie Bee Cool in Too-Have, Too- Have, Too-Have and Too-Have." In between this animated take-off of the famous film, "To Have And Have Not," we see what's happening in the theater such as a Hippo barging his way in front of people and "Bogey" telling him, "Hey, Fat Boy. If you want to see how this picture ends, sit down!" We see the wolf going nuts whenever "Laurie" is on screen, etc.

Man, the humor was corny back then (but fun to watch in these old cartoons).