The Talking Dog

This 'Maggie and Sam' cartoon violates two rules for making a funny cartoon -- three if you include the fact that the gags are not funny.

First, it is pointless to make a cartoon about ordinary people. Oh, you might wish to except people living in a different environment, like cave men or space men, but if you can film it using live actors in the real world or on an ordinary sound stage, then it doesn't need to be a cartoon.

The other is a rule that either Friz Freleng or possibly Chuck Jones laid down: if you can make much the same points without any sound, then it is a good cartoon. With this one you can close your eyes and not miss much of this poor variation of Chuck Jones' classic ONE FROGGY EVENING in which Sam passes up the chance to pay off the mortgage in order to buy a talking dog.

And, since you won't miss much if you close your eyes, I suggest you don't look at it at all.

'The Talking Dog' (1956)

Opening thoughts: Alex Lovy's work as director and associate producer varied a lot as well, but when he was on form the cartoons had a lot of good things. When he was not, which was primarily in his later career where tighter deadlines and lower budgets affected the quality, the cartoons in question were average or less.

The Maggie and Sam series was a very short lived cartoon series, with only three cartoons. For me, none of the three cartoons were any good, with all three having the same many flaws to each other (as well as the same good aspects) and it is very easy to see why the series never got off the ground. Still saw them out of curiosity and as part of my quest to see as many lesser known cartoons as possible. They were many decent and above cartoons seen as part of that quest, but 'The Talking Dog' is among the worst.

Good things: By all means it is not irredeemable. The animation is lush and colourful, with no signs of being rushed or static. Quite amazing considering how much the animation and writing qualities had declined a lot for the studio. Even better is the music, which is beautifully orchestrated and characterful.

Despite not caring for their characters, Daws Butler and Grace Stafford voice with enthusiasm.

Bad things: It is a shame that their material does not serve them well. The gags are far too few and what there is are not that funny, or even amusing, at all and instead rather tired and lacking in variety. It does border a little too much on being too cute.

Furthermore, the story is paper thin, barely existent really, feels over stretched and the pacing is dull and lacks energy. What there is of the story does nothing new with a concept that is less than novel, actually rather derivative of the brilliant 'One Froggy Evening', and is predictable and bland. Neither Maggie or Sam engage that much or have very interesting or appealing personalities, he bland and she somewhat annoying. The dog is the best character, but everything he does, says etc has been done before and better so not an awful unique there.

Concluding thoughts: Concluding, weak and uninspired at best.

3/10.