Begone Dull Care (1950) User Reviews

Abstract Artists Would Love This

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 12 July 2007]

Well, this certainly was different. I doubt most people would like this, but being a fan of abstract art as well as someone who has dabbled in the genre, I thought this was pretty interesting.

It's almost three animated shorts in one, each played to a short piano piece by jazz great Oscar Peterson. The first and third numbers are upbeat and so are the graphics: one colorful image after after nothing bombarded at you as if you were looking through a kaleidoscope.

The middle segment gives us a breather with more just black-and-white and lines moving to the music. It gives the whole animated piece a welcome respite for a couple of minutes.

This is just pure abstract images drawn directly onto the film. This was done long before computers and I can't imagine the number of hours it took Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambert to produce this.

This short was part of the DVD "Leonard Maltin's Animation Favorites From The National Film Board Of Canada.

Oscar's the Boss

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 27 April 2019]

These abstractions are tuned to the piano work of Oscar Peterson. While they really have no intrinsic connection, they jump and jive with the music. The colors are vivid and enticing. One should not be too critical of this work because efforts to classify the art just don't go anywhere. Just experience it and enjoy.

a wild, colorful ride

[framptonhollis · 8/10 · 28 July 2017]

This is a somewhat experimental animated short film that is quite reminiscent of the opening sequence of "Fantasia" in which abstract visuals sync with instrumental background music. This film can be described as somewhat more dull than "Fantasia" in nature, particularly in the middle, but it is still a whole lot of fun to watch (for the most part) nonetheless. Similarly to Stan Brakhage, the great Canadian animator/avant garde filmmaker Norman McLaren (the man behind the brilliant classic short film "Neighbors", which is, in m opinion, one of the greatest works ever put to celluloid) directly painted on film in order to craft the fine, stunningly colorful visuals expressed in this brief musical trip. If this doesn't sound too abstract to you, I would recommend it highly; after all, it's only seven minutes of your time!

Absolutely Stunning!!!

[Squrpleboy · 10/10 · 25 November 2002]

A masterpiece of hand-drawn & experimental cinema! McLaren & Lambert pulled out all the stops for the wonderful viewing experience that would become BEGONE DULL CARE, a film made directly by hand through painting, etching, drawing, and pattern- rolling onto clear 35 mm film stock. The phantasmagoria of colours, patterns, images and surreal optical trickery of perceived depth of field are blended together PERFECTLY with the rollicking Jazz soundtrack provided by Canadian Jazz-pianist extraordinaire, Oscar Peterson, and his band. Although this style of animation has been attempted many times, by countless others, both before and since, NONE have come close to Norman McLaren & Evelyn Lambert's stunning accomplishment: BEGONE DULL CARE!

10/10. A resounding visual triumph.........and just so much fun to watch!

Begone Dull Care

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 2 April 2024]

Backed by a lively score from the Oscar Peterson trio, Evelyn Lambert and Norman McLaren draw a series of random images directly on to the film. Some of these images look recognisable - I'm sure I saw a shovel, castle and an amoeba in there. Others appear more like your are unsuccessfully trying to tune in your television set. Whilst mostly haphazard sequence, there are some symmetries to be seen, too. The piece is split into three sections, each scored to a different tempo and illustrated accordingly at the same pace. There's less going on in the middle one, but the third is an inspired marriage of syncopation and artistry. Definitely one of their better offerings.

Begone Dull Care showcases Oscar Peterson jazz over images by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart

[tavm · 10/10 · 29 December 2007]

With the recent death of jazz great Oscar Peterson, Amid at Cartoon Brew showed his tribute by linking from YouTube two animated shorts scored by him. One was directed by John Hubley. This one, Begone Dull Care, was done by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart with the abstract paint done directly on film. Peterson provides three jazz pieces with the second one just played to white lines on black background and the other two mixed with that and various other colors, mostly red. Wonderful Jackson Pollock-like images that might have inspired many a trip during the '60s! What a great tribute to a recently departed music genius from Canada.

I can respect all the time they put into this, though it sure isn't fun to watch

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 17 July 2008]

This is a very important Canadian animated short in that many love it for its artistic style as well as all the tedious work that went into making it. Classical music is set to movement of scratches on film. None of the animation is anthropomorphic--instead all shapes and colors and scratches. Because of this, the film looks like something that you'd see in a modern art museum. However, it should also be pointed out that this is a very, very, very difficult film to watch nor is it particularly fun. Watching minute after minute of this is just a chore.

Overall verdict: An interesting experiment that has little, if any, commercial appeal. Not particularly pleasant but I sure can respect the time that went into making it.

Dullness not gone sadly

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 20 July 2015]

"Begone Dull Care" is an 8-minute short film by Scottish animation filmmaker Norman McLaren. He made this one shortly before his Academy Award win for "Neighbors", also his most known work probably. McLaren was in his mid-30s here back in 1949. So this is an over 65-year-old film and it's an experimental piece. It certainly has a touch of Stan Brakhage to it, but I have to say it was not really a success for me in terms of the visual side. The audio was better, some nice music and obviously it was closely connected with the animation being on par with what we heard in this short film. However, the whole thing just stayed underwhelming for me and given the fact that the pretty talented Evelyn Lambart also worked on this one, I hoped for more. Not recommended.

One of the better works of abstract animation.

[msl521 · 3/10 · 15 January 1999]

This film is one of the better works of abstract animation. McLaren succeeds at precisely timing his drawn-on-film animation to Peterson's music. Also, McLaren's mastery of depth in his painting is wonderful.