Cartoon Discussion of the Week: Beau Ties

[Mr. Semaj]

Beau Ties (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3nivy_beau-ties_shortfilms)

This 1945 Little Lulu cartoon shows a tested relationship between she and Fatso (later Tubby, but both funny names nonetheless). When Fatso has to reaffirm his love for Lulu, he has a nightmare about the potentially dark side of matrimony. The ending clues us in on what was probably missing from their relationship early on when Fatso wouldn't keep their date.

A fairly simple tale, and some good layouts, music, and personality animation. I never figured Lulu and Tubby could be in a plausible relationship, but like many platonic friends, you never know for sure. ;)

[Leviathan]

You stole my Idea (which I had stolen from J.J. Hunsecker!) Bad form, Semaj.

I'm a big Little Lulu fan and all, but I feel as though Porky's Romance did the whole "Matromony is Hell" thing a whole lot better. Namely Porky's Romance has the better dream sequence.

[J. J. Hunsecker]

It's a charmer. (These early 40's Famous cartoons are a real shock to me, since I have such a low opinion of their 50's cartoons.) I agree about the layouts and animation. I love Fatso's "take" when Lulu asks him to carve their names at the top of the tree. His head disappears down into his collar for a few frames before popping back out in surprise. There is a little more punch to the animation here than in the later Famous cartoons.

What really surprises me is the good use of the camera to set up story points. Information is given visually -- Fatso sees the skinny legs under the table after his fall and he knows it's Lulu, as the camera pans up to her head; Fatso moves his head which reveals his name and Fifi's carved into a tree as the camera quickly zooms into the name, etc.

I agree that Porky's Romance is a better cartoon. But the Warner cartoons were usually always better than those of their competition. What makes the Lulu cartoons seem even better is that they are from Famous Studios, which has an iffy track record.

[Ray Pointer]

I agree that Porky's Romance is a better cartoon. But the Warner cartoons were usually always better than those of their competition. What makes the Lulu cartoons seem even better is that they are from Famous Studios, which has an iffy track record.

I haven't seen BEAU TIES in many years, so I cannot appraise in in these terms. I have a vague impression of it one of the best in the LULU series possibly for the reasons already mentioned.

As for the "iffy" track record of Famous Studios, perhaps you might want to expand on your remark in a more specific manner. While the story content and direction of Warner's cartoons of the 1940s was certainly well ahead of Famous, Warner's had a few "clunkers" as well. I am sure that we can agree that on the whole, the output of Warner's was a more consistent compared to that of Famous. Perhaps a comparison of weak catoons from the two studios might be worth considering to back up your appraisal.

[cpdavison]

BEAU TIES is maybe my favorite ofall the Lulus I've seen. (Let's not forget the parallels to WIMMEN IS A MYSKERY!)

Having grown up with the comic book Lulu personna, rather than the magainze gag-panel version, I don't much care for the Lulu-as-irritating-troublemaker cartoons.

Why "Fatso" instead of "Tubby" I wonder..?

Craig D.

[Marty26]

You stole my Idea (which I had stolen from J.J. Hunsecker!) Bad form, Semaj.

I'm a big Little Lulu fan and all, but I feel as though Porky's Romance did the whole "Matromony is Hell" thing a whole lot better. Namely Porky's Romance has the better dream sequence.

This cartoon's dream sequence seems to be a bit more surreal than the one in Porky's Romance, but I agree that it isn't nearly as effective. One must wonder why Lulu even stuck with Fatso after the way he cheated on her by dating Fifi.

Oh well, this is a cute cartoon nonetheless. Although these Little Lulu cartoons REALLY need some restoration done on them.

[J. J. Hunsecker]

I haven't seen BEAU TIES in many years, so I cannot appraise in in these terms. I have a vague impression of it one of the best in the LULU series possibly for the reasons already mentioned.

As for the "iffy" track record of Famous Studios, perhaps you might want to expand on your remark in a more specific manner. While the story content and direction of Warner's cartoons of the 1940s was certainly well ahead of Famous, Warner's had a few "clunkers" as well. I am sure that we can agree that on the whole, the output of Warner's was a more consistent compared to that of Famous. Perhaps a comparison of weak catoons from the two studios might be worth considering to back up your appraisal.
Every studio had its share of "clunkers". However, like you said, as a whole, the Warner's cartoons are consistent -- and to me consistently funnier and better than most of the cartoons from other studios.

As a child I never liked the Famous cartoons that were packaged as Harveytoons on television. I hated Casper, Baby Huey, Audrey, Herman the Mouse, etc. To me, the studio was the height of mediocrity. But it was mostly the Famous cartoons from the 50's and 60's that were aired on TV back then. For some reason the Famous cartoons from the 40's were not. I've recently seen their output of 40's cartoons in chronological order, and their early 40's efforts are quite charming and well done (like the Lulu series, Cilly Goose, the war Popeye cartoons, etc.).

I guess a good comparison would be between the Freleng WB cartoon Stooge For a Mouse (1950) with the earlier Famous cartoon Cheese Burglar (1946) since they both have similar plots. I like Jim Tyer's scenes in the latter cartoon, but I think the Warner cartoon has better writing and pacing. Cheese Burglar doesn't build up its gags like in Stooge For a Mouse. Herman is able to break apart the friendship of the cat and dog rather easily, after only framing the cat once. It takes several episodes of espionage for the mouse to stir suspicion in the bulldog about Sylvester in Stooge. Each scene gradually builds up the paranoia in the dog, so that his anger and betrayal of Sylvester seems natural and believable. While there is nothing wrong the the semi-happy ending of Cheese Burglar, I prefer the ironic and caustic ending of Freleng's cartoon.

[oceansoul]

Nice and charming cartoon, but I agree it's too much copy from Porky's romance in it, and the dream sequence is far less effective.