Russian Rhapsody

This cartoon is a real classic. Hitler is made into a literal jack-ass in the film. For those who don't know, Hitler isn't an Oriental in the end..."Nutzis are da cwaziest peoples" is a Lew Lhler impression. Watch for this gag in countless other cartoons like Porky's Snooze Reel (1942) and Scaredy Cat (1948).

A very funny, energetic cartoon (but what do you expect coming from Clampett?). It starts out with a devastating caricature of Hitler ranting and raving. The level of exageration is amazing. Hitler sprays spit as he talks and has a truly manaical look in his eyes. He decides he is the only man to carry out a bombing mission to Moscow, but en route his plane is attacked by gremlins from the Kremlin. The Kremlins are mostly caricatures of the Warners staff. Leon Schlesinger is seen hitting Brother-in-law Ray Katz with a mallet in one scene. There is also a great scene of Hitler being electrocuted by the gremlins to an amazing drum solo. He twists and writhes into different shapes that show his true colors, such as a jackass. The cartoon ends with Hitler doing a Lew Lehr imitation, a reference that is lost on modern audiences. The only thing that mars this cartoon is a glaringly bad cut that was probably due to a censorship problem with the studio or the Hays office. Schlesinger would not have paid for a retake if something was cut.

Hitler is furious with the Soviet Union that he wants to bomb Moscow all by himself.

So he flies from Berlin to Moscow by airplane. But little does he know is that little invaders are taring his plane apart. And those invaders are Gremlins from the Kremlin!.

These little guys sing and tor mechanical stuff apart with pleasure.

And they even pull a few pranks on Hitler himself.

Will these Gremlins be able to prevent Hitler from bombing Moscow? Well you try to guess that when you see this cartoon.

This cartoon was originally titled "Gremlins from the Kremlim" but due to Disney and Warner Bros both wanting to do their own cartoon about Gremlins. They had to change the title that doesn't have the word Gremlin in it.

It's a good WW2 short. Also be on the look out for 9 Gremlins that resemble the producers, writers, and creators behind the Looney Tunes.

Good luck in finding this short by internet search cause it's hard to tell when it'll ever be released on DVD.

That's one of the shtick jokes from this wartime jewel. I gave it an 8 out of ten for its one flaw, a screw-up in continuity.

Basically, it's a vehicle for silly slapstick at Hitler's physical expense. Some of the gremlins bear striking resemblances to the gang at Termite Terrace. And where else would you hear "Volga Boatmen" at 8-to-the-bar?

I said there was one flaw, in continuity. There was another flaw - a social one. See, there was one bit at the end I found eye-brow-raising by 1999 standards where Hitler, dazed from his plane crashing on top of him, looks Oriental - read Japanese. You can say, "yeah, it was racist, but it was the 1940s, it was WWII, everyone was like that, &c." But the casual, remorseless, didn't-think-twice-about-it attitude of the joke struck me from beyond the film-frames of this cartoon.

This cartoon answers the question of what Hitler would order at a deli. In fact, Hitler's entire speech centers on the subject! Very funny! What an outstanding cartoon, with many references which people of my age won't understand. (I need to ask my dad about these things). Highly recommended.