sjcobert

"The Funny Company" was a series of short (5 or 6 minute) films about a bunch of enterprising kids doing chores and deeds for local businesses. A distinguishing thing about this series is that each film contained a short film-within-a-film, which might be an educational piece, a story, a song, a how-to segment, or other item of interest to kids. In a sense, this show could take a place next to "Captain Kangaroo" in showing that a show could be entertaining and educational at the same time.

In a sense, it's a shame this little gem didn't continue longer than it did. The educational segments (most of which were introduced by a gizmo called the Weisenheimer) taught without hitting the viewer over the head, and anyway, why does the value of a cartoon have to depend on how empty-headed it is? It is on record that a six-year-old child saved the life of a 2-year-old by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which he learned from this show. Know of any other cartoon that can make that claim?

Trivia bit: This show's "educational" segment - later used on shows like "The Big World of Little Adam" and "Tennessee Tuxedo" - was spoofed in the early years of "Saturday Night Live" in a segment called "The Mr Bill Show". Every episode had poor Mr. Bill getting the what-for beaten out of him by Mr. Sluggo and Mr. Hand... and every episode had some "lesson" that usually lasted one line. Example (from the first "Show"):

MR HAND: Look, Mr. Bill, here comes Mr. Sluggo! (Mr. Sluggo, in his car, runs over Mr. Bill) MR BILL: Ooooohh!! MR HAND: You should always look both ways before you cross the street, Mr. Bill.

Trust me, it loses something in the spoofing.

This retelling of the classic story of the simple juggler varies from the original in certain ways, but it is still very well told and the message shines through. The Juggler (played by Carl Carlsson, a professional juggler whose stage name actually is Barnaby) is presented as a tragic figure, trying to get past a terrible loss in his life. His juggling is still top-notch, but he is just too sad a figure to make it as a street performer. Along comes "Sparrow" (Patrick Collins in a superb performance), who has little juggling talent but whose outlook on life helps Barnaby rediscover some of the joy he lost. Alas, tragedy is to touch the Juggler's life once again, and this time he finds himself at a Catholic retreat... after renouncing his juggling for good. In this retelling, Providence intervenes and Barnaby takes up his craft once again, juggling (a performance you have to see to believe) for the statue of the Blessed Virgin.

Very highly recommended. You don't have to like juggling to enjoy this movie!