One Good Turn

I am a big fan of the early Felix the Cat cartoons. From 1919 to about 1926, they were the funniest and best made cartoons available. However, as the years passed, Felix Mesmer and his production staff did nothing to improve the cartoons and by the time Disney and the Fleischers came along, the Felix cartoons began to look more and more primitive. This is the problem with "One Good Turn". While it might have been okay for 1920, for a 1929 cartoon it looks amazingly old fashioned and represents a period in which the Felix cartoons badly slipped in quality.

One things you may notice is the sound. However, this and most Felix cartoons were silents and the sounds were added much later in an attempt to match what Disney was doing with Mickey Mouse. However, since sound was created at the time to accompany the Disney shorts, these sounds were better integrated.

The plot for this Felix cartoon is a bit less defined than usual. Mostly Felix just walks about getting into trouble and having adventures. In the beginning he's got a dim owner who winds Felix and puts out the clock but eventually Felix heads into the forest and makes friends with a fox. The fox helps Felix deal with a bear and later Felix returns the favor.

All in all, this cartoon has its moments and is cute...but dated.