Gulliver's Travels
(1939, U.S.) color animated 77 minutes
Voices: Jessica Dragonette (Princess Glory), Lanny Ross (Prince David), Pinto Colvig (Gabby), Jack Mercer (King Little), Sam Parker (Gulliver)
Plot Outline (IMDb): Gulliver washes ashore on Lilliput and attempts to prevent war between that tiny kingdom and its equally-miniscule rival, Blefiscu, as well as smooth the way for the romance between the Princess and Prince of the opposing lands. In this he is alternately aided and hampered by the Lilliputian town crier and general fussbudget, Gabby. A life-threatening situation develops when the bumbling trio of Blefiscu spies, Sneak, Snoop, and Snitch, manage to steal Gulliver's pistol.
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Seeing this public domain holiday chestnut afresh after decades of
murky memory is quite an eye-opener. It isn't a great film by any
means, with protracted bits of comedy and romance marring the
proceedings, but it nonetheless emerges as an engaging animated romp, a strange mix of myth and silliness.
The Fleischer brothers' attempt to compete with Disney in animated
features didn't work out so well from a historical point of view, but the results are terribly dear and interesting.
The thing we love most about Fleischer animation is its literal and symbolic darkness, and even in this most upbeat attempt to outdo Disney's huge feature-toon hit SNOW WHITE, the trademark Fleischer nihilism is evident. At least half of the film takes place at night, a beautiful, spooky, hide-in-the-bushes nocturne that Disney would never dare render, let alone envision.
The opening scenes, in which torch-wielding citizens discover and capture the sleeping giant on the beach, are alternately whimsical and breathtaking. (I recall when first viewing this as a child, I, having identified with the Liliputians for the first half of the film, was shocked and scared when Gulliver breaks free of his chains and picks up a wee man. To me, it was a terrifying moment, a beast breaking free, akin to a similar scene in KING KONG.)
The "human" characters, though nicely rotoscoped, still come across as a bit generic and WASPy, even moreso than the Disney equivalent, which can't have been easy. Gulliver, for instance, has weirdly over-manicured fingernails, and too-red lips. (His lip-sync isn't so hot either.)
Likewise, the Prince and Princess are fairly insufferable. On the other hand, the Lilliputians (including familiar town crier-as-alky Gabby, star of a series of Fleischer 'toons), are odd, lovable grotesques that the studio was so fond of and good at, in series like Betty Boop, Koko, etc.
The songs are unmemorable, with the exception of familiar tunes "All's Well" and "It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day".
The general production suffers from a saccharine quality which infected the studio towards the end, esp. in a woeful series called "Color Classics." ("Somewhere in Dreamland" is an exception, whose syrupy nature actually enhances, making the whole adventure spiritual and surreal.)
There are, however, some gorgeous landscapes and background paintings, and the opening credits are great, as a beautiful model ship floats through a cartoon heaven. Likewise, the general animation is uncanny in spots.
Various recent video releases of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS have great punched-up color, and are a joy to watch, a highly desirable collectable for animation fans everywhere. We liked the Fleischers' disastrous follow-up feature, MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN, even better. Talk about dark!
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS was shown on broadcast TV frequently during the 1960's, and holds a place in the hearts of Baby Boomers almost as dear as that reserved for THE WIZARD OF OZ.
The Internet Movie Database lists 12 animation directors for this film!
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the following additional information about GULLIVER'S TRAVELS is supplied by Kevin S. Butler:
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Jack Mercer, the prolific writer and voice artist who supplied the voice of King Little, also did the voices of King Bombo Of Blefescue's three bumbling spies (Sneak, Snoop & Snitch). Mercer may be best known for being the voice of Popeye (and Poopdeck Pappy) in the Paramount/Fleischer and Paramount/Famous Studios versions of the POPEYE THE SAILOR cartoons.
In addition, Mercer was ALL of the voices in Joe Oriolo's 1960 syndicated cartoon series FELIX THE CAT, including Felix, the Professor, Rock Bottom, the Master Cylinder, Vavoom, General Klang, and Poindexter.
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Gabby, the Town Crier (voice performed by Pinto Colvig, the Real "Bozo The Clown" of Kid-TV fame, not Larry Harmon), was also the star of his own series of movie cartoons, created and produced by the Fleischers and released by Paramount Pictures in the 1940's.
Popular actress and producer Whoppi Goldberg (GHOST, SISTER ACT) worked with Pinto Colvig's son Vance (the voice of Chopper the Bulldog in Hanna/Barbera's YAKKIE DOIODLE DUCK TV cartoons) in a film. Vance told me before he died ten years ago that Goldberg stated that she loved watching GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, and also loved watching "The Gabby Movie Cartoon Show" weekday afternoons on "Cartoon Playtime" on WNEW TV, Channel 5 in New York City, circa 1959 to 1965. Fred Scott, Ed Ladd and Tom Gregory were the show hosts.
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GULLIVER'S TRAVELS was also shown frequently on "Family Film Classics", Sunday afternoons on WABC TV, Channel 7 in New York City during the early 1960's. The film was hosted by a local TV personality (whose name I have since forgotten).
Mark Hill submits this diary on various releases of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS on DVD:
"It seems there are several different prints of GULLIVERS TRAVELS floating
around
in the Dollar DVD market.
CATCOM (74:28)(75m on cover) This was the first one out there in the PD
market. On a CATCOM double DVD with the ultra rare, GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
BEYOND THE MOON. This one has scratches throughout the titles, but
AMAZING, rich color. Best of all the GULLIVER DVD prints I've seen. But
the running time is 2m shorter than the TREASURE BOX print. I've timed
them both to the 2nd scene of Gulliver on the beach. It's not missing the
scene mentioned in the MOVIE CLASSICS dvd. So I wonder what's gone?
MOVIE CLASSICS (72:38)(74m on cover) Among the first batch or so of
the DVDs for a dollar. A friend picked this one up and noted to me that
it's missing a scene. In the very beginning, about 3m in, Gabby
encounters Gulliver on the beach and soon is running about saying,
"There's a giant on the beach!." My friend reported the scene of Gabby
seeing Gulliver was cut- jumping directly to a castle scene. I had to get
a copy myself to confirm this. Sure enough, there's a jump cut at 3:34.
And then looking at the CATCOM print- the whole scene is there- BUT-
there is a JUMP/splice in the print at THAT SAME POINT. As if they had to
splice in that scene. Contrast varies so wildley- it almost appears made
up of different prints. Heck, if they were piecing together prints- at
least give us a WHOLE ONE!
TREASURE BOX (76:30) A totally different print. Has faded, pastel color,
but is very sharp. Note the crisp water scenes. The DVD cover LIES. Title
cover is "Gulliver's Travels and Other Cartoon Treasures." There are no
"AND OTHER CARTOON TREASURES" on the disc. If this is 2 minutes longer
than the others, what are the extra 2 minutes?
OVATION (1:16:25) Home Video Charlotte NC. (I'm guessing it's a spin-off
of UAV?) This is the GULLIVER that my same friend bought. It's a $5.00
disc in a regular dvd keepcase and included *8* Gabby toons. My friend
says this is complete and that the color leans more towards the pastel
hues I describe in the TREASURE BOX."
Video/DVD availability: VHS, DVD (various)
Fleischer Studios / Paramount Pictures
Story: Jonathan Swift (from his novel)
Screenplay: Dan Gordon, Cal Howard, Tedd Pierce, Edmond Seward, Izzy Sparber
Music: Al Neiburg, Ralph Rainger, Winston Sharples, Sammy Timberg, Victor Young
Cinematography: Charles Schettler
Produced by Max Fleischer
Directed by Dave Fleischer
(01-01-05)
