Unsung Maestros: A Directors Tribute (2007 Video) User Reviews

This "bonus feature" cherry picks a few directors . . .

[oscaralbert · 7/10 · 8 November 2016]

. . . from the scores or hundreds of animators who have directed at least one Looney Tune for Warner Bros., but who did not rate their own separate "Behind the Tunes" tribute by 2007, when this 20-minute compilation UNSUNG MAESTROS was released on Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume 5, Disc 4. (Among the Warner Bros. cartoon shorts directors earning previous solo accolades were Tex Avery, Frank Tashlin, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, and Robert McKimson.) The seven helmsmen touched upon here are presented in chronological order: the Founding Duo of Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising (starting at 37 seconds into this piece), Jack King (3:29), Ub Iwerks (5:59), Ben "Bugs" Hardaway (8:02), Norm McCabe (11:54), and Art Davis (14:58). The Harman\Ising team directed at Warner from 1930 to 1933 (they left for more money at MGM). King led his unit from 1934 till 1936, when he went to Disney for more money. Iwerks "slummed" for Warner in 1937, making two Looney Tunes under a short-term contract. Bugs Bunny was named after Hardaway, who lasted from 1934 until 1940. McCabe (1940 through 1943) HATED all the Looney Tunes he did for Warner. Davis directed from 1945 until 1949, when Warner demoted him to save money.