#Abe Levitow

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Wicked “Off To See The Wizard” (1967)

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Gay Purr-ee animation cels (1962)

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Martian Through Georgia

(1962, Chuck Jones, Maurice Noble and Abe Levitow)

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Halloween Short film of the Day: Claws for Alarm (1954)

Ah, the Looney Tunes franchise: an absolute goldmine of character interaction material. Between Bugs and Daffy, Sylvester and Tweety, or the Roadrunner and Wile .E Coyote, there's pretty much a guaranteed laugh going in. So what happens when the less iconic but still enjoyable duo of Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat decide to spend the night during a trip? Unfortunately for poor Sylvester, the place of choosing is ghost town; the delapidated hotel called the Dry Gulch being hardly an inviting place with it's rundown appearance and creepy decor. But worse of all, for some reason, everything seems to want to kill them.

And of course Porky is oblivious to it all to his feline companion's chagrin.

Directed by Chuck Jones, this classic Merry Melodies short is the second entry in the "horror vacation" trilogy (the others being Scaredy Cat and Jumping Jupiter). And what an enjoyable spoof of the haunted hause archetype this is, with fairly imaginative imagery for the time that I have no doubt inspired some actual horror and horror comedies down the line because of how frightening it may be in a context where it's not played to make a nervous wreck out of poor Sylvester. Seriously, those mice behind the attacks look downright demonic in some shots.

There is some language from Porky that has aged like absolute milk regarding mental conditions, and typical for the shorts of this time some gags are a little too morbid for some modern audiences if thought as a children's cartoon. But man, the balance act between the strangely creepy imagery and Sylvester's failures in trying to convince the VERY foolish Porky about it makes it ideal for the season. Then again, the past short had basically the same premise. So...

Halloween Short film of the Day, part 2: Scaredy Cat (1948)

Yep, let's cover the two of them. I went for Claws for alarm first because it's a vivid memory of mine, but it's hard to not compare the two and even agree with many that find this to be the superior one. So let's get into it.

Sylvester and Porky end up in a creepy locale to spend the night. Though in this case, it's their new home: a creepy old mansion, where strange things start to happen when Sylvester spots what looks to be a cult of murderous mice. And as expected, Porky is none the wiser, treating the poor cat as if he was imagining things. At least until he's the one on the chopping block and it's the feline's turn to save the day.

Like I've mentioned already, it's not remotely hard to see how this is often the favorite among the two. Not only is it the original story of Sylvester being, well, a scaredy cat in a dangerous Halloween context, but less of the short has aged poorly and the comedic aspect is front and center (even if some gags once again venture into a truly morbid level of dark comedy). The production values are also higher, with more detailed backgrounds and complex animation, as the UPA inspired artwork of Claws for Alarm, while driving a more intensely creepy atmosphere, also looks quite flat by comparison. And while one has a rather creepy ending, the other is just a funny slapstick punchilne.

Honestly, it's easy to argue rereleases patching the two shorts together into a longer whole had something going, but both are quite an enjoyable ride if a short one.

[fancyhats-and-fennelsbuds]

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GAY PURR-EE Dir. Abe Levitow (1962)

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Gay Purr-ee (1962)

Directed by Abe Levitow Produced by United Productions of America

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Termite Terrace Club - October 31st

Happy Halloween.

1930 - The Booze Hangs High - Dir. Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising

1942 - The Hare-Brained Hypnotist - Dir. Friz Freleng

1953 - Catty Cornered - Dir. Friz Freleng

1959 - A Witch’s Tangled Hare - Dir. Abe Levitow

TV

1992 - Taz-Mania: “Boys Just Wanna Have Fun” / “Unhappy Together”

2022 - Bugs Bunny Builders Season 1: “Big Feet”

[hekate1308]

25 Days Of A Christmas Carol December 11: Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)

directed by Abe Levitow, written by Barbara Chain, starring Jim Backus

Only thing to be said for the season. People feel obligated to pay their debts.

[vbartilucci]

From Tom Ruegger, creator of Animaniacs:

My holiday tribute to what many believe to be the best animated adaptation of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" -- "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol," starring the voice of Jim Backus, with songs by Jules Styne and Bob Merrill, written by Barbara Chain, and directed by the brilliant Abe Levitow. Judy Levitow. 

Also, enjoy this article by Greg Ehrbar, including an interview with Roberta Levitow

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The 1962 animated musical Gay Purr-ee stands out in animation history for its anthropomorphic cats, Parisian flair, and boundary-pushing narrative elements. Directed by Abe Levitow and produced by UPA studios, this feline fantasia featured the vocal talents of Judy Garland in her penultimate film role. Let's talk the kitty cat movie from the 1960sUPA Animation kept it mature for Gay Purr-eeIt wasn't the biggest film in 1962Warner Archive raids the back shelvesSome final thoughts on the Gay Purr-ee Warner Archive Blu-rayGay Purr-ee is now available from the Warner Archive Collection. Purchase your own copy at MovieZyng! Let's talk the kitty cat movie from the 1960s Set in 1895 France, Gay Purr-ee follows a naive cat named Mewsette who is lured from her rural hometown to Paris by the sophisticated yet manipulative Jaune Tom. He promises to make her a glamorous star, but has ulterior motives. The story provided a female empowerment message as Mewsette realizes inner strength and returns home on her own terms. Supporting cats voiced by Robert Goulet, Red Buttons, and Morey Amsterdam provide humor and misadventures along the way. The UPA animation studio had been known for stylized design in films like Mr. Magoo, applied vividly to Gay Purr-ee's Parisian environments and anthropomorphic cats. Musical numbers also broke animation ground, led by the virtuoso singing of Judy Garland as Mewsette. UPA Animation kept it mature for Gay Purr-ee Despite its G rating, Gay Purr-ee contained narrative elements quite mature for early 1960s animation. Mewsette is essentially coerced by the manipulation of Jaune Tom, who looks to exploit her talents for profit in Paris. This story angle of a naive girl misled by false promises had edge for the era. Perhaps elevating cats as the characters provided some necessary distance from such weighty themes. But Gay Purr-ee proved animation could tell stories beyond fairy tales. Mewsette reclaiming agency and returning home under her own power sent a message of feminine strength. The film never found a major audience during initial release due to minimal marketing support. But its bold narrative left a mark on those who discovered Gay Purr-ee, foreshadowing more boundary-pushing animated films to come. It wasn't the biggest film in 1962 While underseen in its day, Gay Purr-ee's qualities gradually earned it a following in syndication and home video. Animation fans and musical enthusiasts gained new admiration for its sumptuous designs and lively songs. Judy Garland's starring role provides strong appeal for fans of her talents. This was her penultimate performance before being dismissed from MGM, adding poignance. Yet her vocal brilliance remains untouched, especially on highlights like "Little Drops of Rain." Gay Purr-ee's empowering story has also earned modern regard for its progressive female themes. Mewsette evolves from doe-eyed innocence to a courageous and determined heroine over the course of her journey. Warner Archive raids the back shelves Warner Archive's new Blu-ray release of Gay Purr-ee brings UPA's stylized animation to brilliant HD life. The digital restoration pops colors vividly while preserving a subtle grain structure. The DTS-HD 2.0 channel mono track has excellent fidelity for the musical numbers and dialogue. The only special feature is the theatrical trailer, but the vibrant presentation is a treat for this overlooked animated gem. Sixty years later, Gay Purr-ee stands as a groundbreaking and mature animated fable. Warner Archive's Blu-ray provides the best way for modern viewers to fall under its feline fantasia spell. A new appreciation continues to grow for this unique entry in animation's musical and feminist evolution. Some final thoughts on the Gay Purr-ee Warner Archive Blu-ray Gay Purr-ee comes to Blu-ray from Warner Archive with a series of classic Warner Brothers cartoons from the era. You get the audio only portion of five songwriter demos and the original theatrical trailer. For a movie that I would only see shown at odd hours on HBO as a kid, there is certainly a lot of supplemental material floating out there in the ether. I love it when Warner Archive digs this sort of stuff up to the Blu-ray generation. Share it with your kids and make the one who likes it into your favorite. Gay Purr-ee is now available from the Warner Archive Collection. Purchase your own copy at MovieZyng!

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“A Christmas Carol” animated 1971.

I saw this when it first aired and it blew me away.  It was the first time I ever saw Ignorance and Want depicted as they are in the novel -- typically they were removed because they were too “dark.”  I’m so glad to find it again!

From Youtube:

The World's greatest animator has passed away (August 15, 2019).   Rest In Peace Richard Williams.  The excellent 1971 animated version of the Charles Dickens classic. Animated in the style of 1800s engravings by the great Richard Williams Studio. Featuring the voices of Alistair Sim Michael Redgrave and Michael Hordern reprising  his 1951 performance as Marley's Ghost . Animation by Ken Harris, Abe Levitow, among others. Produced by Chuck Jones. This film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for 1972.

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I Could Be Rinsing Out A Few Things But - “A Witch's Tangled Hare” (1959)

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Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol - Animation cels (1962)

[dailylooneys]

Really Scent

(1959, Abe Levitow)

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The Phantom Tollbooth (1970)