Mr. Bug
Goes to Town
(aka HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN)
Voices: Kenny Gardner (Dick), Gwen Williams (Mary), Jack Mercer (Mr. Bumble / Swat the Fly), Tedd Pierce (C. Bagley Beetle)
Plot Outline: The Bug people have to move because their home is threatened.
***
A rich atmosphere enhances this crazy, misanthropic cartoon from the Fleischers, which boasts all the trappings of a gothic thriller.
Jack Mercer, the voice of Swat, is easily recognizable as the voice of Felix the Cat and Popeye the Sailor.
There's a funny, cynical "Katydid" dance number. The electrocution scene is pretty creepy, sort of a surreal jitterbug. There's schmaltzy songs here and lots of 'em. The gangster bugs appear to be gay.
This corny film captures well the all-too-human plight of always having to be on guard for intrusion and annihilation from without, like awaiting the sword of a vengeful god. The animation ranges from sublime to passable.
The Fleischer brothers were trying to out-do Disney with this one, but it has neither the gothic eroticism of early Fleischer product nor the sterile, streamlined look of Uncle Walt's mass-market project. Sort of a neither-nor picture, but always interesting from the Fleischers.
Video/DVD availability: VHS (Paramount Home Video, oop); DVD (Paramount Home Video)
(1941, U.S.) color 78 minutes
Fleischer Studios / Paramount Pictures
Story: Dave Fleischer, Dan Gordon, Tedd Pierce, Izzy Sparber
Screenplay: Dan Gordon, Cal Howard, Carl Meyer, Tedd Pierce, Graham Place, Izzy Sparber, Bill Turner, Bob Wickersham
Music: Hoagy Carmichael, Leigh Harline, Sammy Timberg
Cinematography: Charles Schettler
Produced by Max Fleischer
Directed by Dave Fleischer, Shamus Culhane
