Bosko's Picture Show

The Bosko cartoons may not be animation masterpieces, but they are fascinating as examples of Looney Tunes in their early days before the creation of more compelling characters and funnier and more creative cartoons. There are some good cartoons, as well as some average or less ones.

As far as Bosko cartoons go, 'Bosko's Picture Show' is one of the better ones, even though it is more a pretty good cartoon rather than great. Sure, as usual, the story is thin and more of an excuse to string along the gags. The archetypal villain character is a little melodramatic, while Bosko is too much of a supporting character in his own cartoon (only really shining in his song and dance routine), charming Honey and the caricatures make far more of an impression.

With all that being said, as always for a Bosko cartoon the animation is good. Not exactly refined but fluid and crisp enough with some nice detail, it is especially good in the meticulous backgrounds and some remarkably flexible yet natural movements for Bosko. The music doesn't disappoint either, its infectious energy, rousing merriment, lush orchestration and how well it fits with the animation is just a joy.

Sound quality has clarity and the synchronisation isn't sloppy and has imagination. The way Bosko is animated is well done and remarkably natural.

'Bosko's Picture Show's' gags mostly do work and the caricatures mostly work too. Loved the Laurel and Hardy and Marx Brothers. The newsreel gag was very dull though and the Hitler and Jimmy Durante one was a little too strange for my tastes.

In conclusion, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I'm rating this so high because it's an oddity. Adolf Hitler is in this American cartoon made in 1933! Made by the same team but a different studio, he is also in Cubby's World Flight, also made in 1933. In this one, Hitler is a mean guy chasing Jimmy Durante (with a caricature nose) with an axe, in the Cubby cartoon he is shown smiling and waving at Cubby as he flies over Germany. There are many references to films in this one, like with the opening titles being like Golddiggers of 1933 and the song We're In The Money being in both films (both from Warner Brothers Studio too). The ending scene is based on the 1924 Buster Keaton film, Sherlock Jr.. For extra old cartoon trivia, "When the villain first appears onscreen, Bosko shouts what sounds like "The dirty (F word)." Unless I watched a remastered version that was enhanced, it definitely sounds like it. "Fans have theorized that the inclusion of a really nasty curse word was most likely a parting farewell shot by Harman and Ising to Warner Bros. Animation head Leon Schlesinger with whom they disputed over various matters." 10 of 10 for it's oddities!

In what appears to be the first instance of Warner Bros. cartoons spoofing the cinema, Bosko plays the piano at the debut of Honey's movie. The Out-of-Tone News, and then the Haurel and Lardy movie, inadvertently predict cartoons like "She Was an Acrobat's Daughter", "The Film Fan" and "Bacall to Arms". Bosko's trick at the climax of Honey's movie resembles the scenes in later cartoons where a silhouette appears - presumably an audience member - and interacts with the characters.

Anyway, the Termite Terrace crowd (is it too early to call them that?) was just getting started, so we can forgive them if the material doesn't recall wabbit hunts or things like that. Still worth seeing.