In my opinion, the Heckle and Jeckle theatrical series is generally the best of Terrytoons Studios' regular character theatrical series (do like some cartoons from that of Gandy/Sourpuss too, personally find Mighty Mouse hit and miss). Which generally were interesting watches, if more the earlier ones than the later ones. It does help too that Heckle and Jeckle themselves are compelling lead characters in the way that some of the studio's other recurring characters weren't and their personalities were already very well established at this point.
Of the 1949 Heckle and Jeckle cartoons, 'Dancing Shoes' gets my very easy vote as the best and is pretty much on the same level of the best of the Heckle and Jeckle cartoons from the previous three years. The only one to be properly so, and it is also the closest in spirit to the general tone of the series for the previous years. Tame 'Dancing Shoes' is not (a few of the 1949 cartoons were a bit) without being too dark or mean-spirited. Was generally not that impressed by the 1949 Terrytoons cartoons, but 'Dancing Shoes' is one of the few winners and a strong contender for the best for that year.
'Dancing Shoes' is not a classic certainly. The story admittedly is not very original and at times does feel a little too overstretched and a series of gags. Some of which being quite familiar.
The ending is not that much of a surprise and felt on the rushed side.
However, so much is good here in 'Dancing Shoes'. Despite their low ratings, personally have found not an awful lot to fault most of Heckle and Jeckle's cartoons and think that they have a lot to like about them. The music, a consistent good thing, is so lovely to listen to and there is such an uplifting vibe hearing it because of the snappy character it has. The animation is every bit as great. It is vibrantly coloured, quite smooth in drawing and transitions, doesn't look static or simplistic and the attention to detail is good.
Furthermore, the gag count is one of the highest of all the Terrytoons cartoons from 1949 (along with 'A Truckload of Trouble') and of the 1949 Heckle and Jeckle cartoons it is by far the funniest, with the best moments being hilarious. As well as the most inventive in gags and the most anarchic in the manic action. The dancing shoes are put to very imaginative use. The dialogue avoids being too corny and the action is deliciously anarchic, sometimes darkly so when the two get more malicious in their outsmarting of the hotel detective.
The pace is fast and furious and the action and increasing anarchy is wonderfully chaotic, yet remarkably it doesn't feel too much of an overload. The story is not novel, but the character interaction, constant entertainment value and eventful content helped always make it interesting still. Once again, Heckle and Jeckle are highly entertaining characters, their movements, the way they talk (in the use of language and the voices themselves) and their expressions make them quite unique characters for Terrytoons. The hotel detective matches them very well in comic timing and personality. The interaction between them is great and has tension even though it's not much different from similar conflicts.
Concluding, very enjoyable indeed. 8/10.
Of the 1949 Heckle and Jeckle cartoons, 'Dancing Shoes' gets my very easy vote as the best and is pretty much on the same level of the best of the Heckle and Jeckle cartoons from the previous three years. The only one to be properly so, and it is also the closest in spirit to the general tone of the series for the previous years. Tame 'Dancing Shoes' is not (a few of the 1949 cartoons were a bit) without being too dark or mean-spirited. Was generally not that impressed by the 1949 Terrytoons cartoons, but 'Dancing Shoes' is one of the few winners and a strong contender for the best for that year.
'Dancing Shoes' is not a classic certainly. The story admittedly is not very original and at times does feel a little too overstretched and a series of gags. Some of which being quite familiar.
The ending is not that much of a surprise and felt on the rushed side.
However, so much is good here in 'Dancing Shoes'. Despite their low ratings, personally have found not an awful lot to fault most of Heckle and Jeckle's cartoons and think that they have a lot to like about them. The music, a consistent good thing, is so lovely to listen to and there is such an uplifting vibe hearing it because of the snappy character it has. The animation is every bit as great. It is vibrantly coloured, quite smooth in drawing and transitions, doesn't look static or simplistic and the attention to detail is good.
Furthermore, the gag count is one of the highest of all the Terrytoons cartoons from 1949 (along with 'A Truckload of Trouble') and of the 1949 Heckle and Jeckle cartoons it is by far the funniest, with the best moments being hilarious. As well as the most inventive in gags and the most anarchic in the manic action. The dancing shoes are put to very imaginative use. The dialogue avoids being too corny and the action is deliciously anarchic, sometimes darkly so when the two get more malicious in their outsmarting of the hotel detective.
The pace is fast and furious and the action and increasing anarchy is wonderfully chaotic, yet remarkably it doesn't feel too much of an overload. The story is not novel, but the character interaction, constant entertainment value and eventful content helped always make it interesting still. Once again, Heckle and Jeckle are highly entertaining characters, their movements, the way they talk (in the use of language and the voices themselves) and their expressions make them quite unique characters for Terrytoons. The hotel detective matches them very well in comic timing and personality. The interaction between them is great and has tension even though it's not much different from similar conflicts.
Concluding, very enjoyable indeed. 8/10.
