Art Davis directed Columbia cartoons:your thoughts?

[kaseykockroach]

I've heard that Arthur Davis once directed some Columbia cartoons. But the only one I've heard of is "Little Match Girl". So, are any of his other cartoons directed at Columbia any good compared to his WB shorts? Do they show any of his style like his cartoons at WB? What are your thoughts on them? Are they worth finding?

[frootloops]

He directed a couple of cartoons starring Scrappy. You know, the cartoon boy of about eight who hits the other kids. I know of one he directed for certain but I forget the name. It's about a puppet show that Scrappy puts on for the other kids. I have it on a PD tape. It's just your basic 1930s b&w cartoon with kids. His WB cartoons are FAR superior but its interesting to see Art Davis' earlier directorial work.

[Thad]

They're OK but I don't notice anything that makes them stand out from the other Columbia cartoons.

[Sogturtle]

Artie actually directed a LOT (about 90) cartoons while at Mintz/Columbia/Screen Gems. Buuuuut almost all of them were made in conjunction with Sid Marcus (and the early Scrappys were with Marcus and Dick Heumer). Davis and Marcus made a BUNCH of Scrappys and they are good, amusing cartoons.
If you cut the company credits off of most of their Color Rhapsodies you'd honestly mistake them for Merrie Melodies... And in fact SOME of Art's and Sid's Color Rhapsodies are actually outstanding cartoons when compared to the output from Manny Gould/Ben Harrison (and most especially those of Al Rose/Harry Love/Lou Lilly which are just plain bad when it comes to direction, humor and story). Take a gander at one that is credited to Marcus (with Artie only credited as lead animator) called "Little Moth's Big Flame" from late 1938, obviously the pair were paying attention to what Avery was doing over at Schlesinger's;) (and possibly to the days of old at Fleischer).


One of my favorites is a precursor to a couple of Warner toons ("Gay Anties" and "Ant Pasted") and it happens to star a human character who is without a doubt a caricature of... Art Davis!:p !

[Bartman]

One of my favorites is a precursor to a couple of Warner toons ("Gay Anties" and "Ant Pasted") and it happens to star a human character who is without a doubt a caricature of... Art Davis!:p !

I take it you are talking about "The Way of All Pests", Soggy? I like that one too!!

[Jack G.]

I liked the early Scrappys - The Little Pest, Minding the Baby, and Railroad Wretch being favorites.
I really get a kick out of Ooppie (Vontzie).
Apparently, Heumor, Davis, and Marcus directed a third of each cartoon themselves.

I found The Great Cheese Mystery an interesting cartoon.
It's directed by Davis and written by Tashlin.
The camera angles, movement resemble Tashlin's kind of directing as opposed to Davis'.

[Sogturtle]

Bartman and Masked Stinker~

Yeah it was indeed "The Way Of All Pests" I was referencing!;) It is truly a very, very good toon and boasts good gags, some wonderful character design (of both Artie and the various vermin), and ton of fine voicing my Mel Blanc. Sub the Merrie Melodies openings and closing and you'd hardly know the difference between it and 1940-or-so Warner toon. And "The Great Cheese Mystery" is a fun cartoon too (besides for the angles and all). Despite its monochromatic shades it ALMOST is a forerunner of the 'Babbit and Catsello" toons of Clampett, Tashlin and McKimson. It stars a thin and fat mouse but with the roly-poly one being the brains.

The jointly directed (Davis and Marcus) all-musical cartoon "There's Music In Your Hair" is unique, not wildly funny but interesting just the same. And watch out for the nine-man string section because the back row of it looks to be (ahem) "composed":p of Sid Marcus, Art Davis and I believe layout artist Clark Watson (partly obscured).

There are many, many more Columbia cartoons either co-directed by Art Davis or supposedly solo-directed by him that are very fine little pieces of cartooning.

The supposedly solo-directed Marcus toon "The Land Of Fun" is funny and it sports a VERY sexy gag when a seagull decides to play paddle-ball:eek: against the "hiney";) cheeks of a shapely sunbather!!! [There's a gag you're NOT expecting]. In return the guy next to her gets walloped good for it!:D . Davis is credited as the lone animator though...