Twists on famous fairytales and fairytale characters in animation was something done a lot in primarily the 30s-60s, namely Looney Tunes numerous times and Tex Avery (as well as Terrytoons every now and again). 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and 'Little Red Riding Hood' particularly. There were times where this worked and others where it didn't quite come off. 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured' is a twist on the characters from 'The Three Little Pigs'.
And a truly great and clever one it is too. Of the very interesting Swing Symphony cartoons from Walter Lanz, 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured' is up there among the best of them. It is not a novel concept, but the execution feels fresh and much more original than it sounds. The Swing Symphony cartoons were mostly plotless and primarily a series of sight gags, but there actually is signs of a story in 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured' and an eventful one it is too by the series' standards.
Did think that the ending wasn't quite as good as the rest of the cartoon, not as fresh or as entertaining, and jarred slightly.
However, the music is again wonderful. Full of exuberance, lushly orchestrated and harmonised and the arrangements are remarkably creative and a lot of fun to listen to. The use of sound effects were clever too. The animation is fluid and vibrant, the attention to detail meticulous and far from sparse.
Gag count is very high, almost non stop when the wolf starts telling his story, and they range from very funny to hilarious. Especially towards the end, with the destruction of the house being imaginatively staged. The story sounds slight but to me it was actually full of energy and is one of the few Swing Symphony cartoons that shows signs of having a story. Loved its twist on the story and the characters, wonderfully energetic and anarchic. The interpretation of the pigs was unique and it was shocking to see them in this way, while the wolf has a more interesting personality that is funny, menacing and in the end oddly rootable. Was also shocked at the grim opening, easily the grimmest opening of the Swing Symphony cartoons.
Summarising, great and one of the best of the series. 9/10.
And a truly great and clever one it is too. Of the very interesting Swing Symphony cartoons from Walter Lanz, 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured' is up there among the best of them. It is not a novel concept, but the execution feels fresh and much more original than it sounds. The Swing Symphony cartoons were mostly plotless and primarily a series of sight gags, but there actually is signs of a story in 'The Hams that Couldn't be Cured' and an eventful one it is too by the series' standards.
Did think that the ending wasn't quite as good as the rest of the cartoon, not as fresh or as entertaining, and jarred slightly.
However, the music is again wonderful. Full of exuberance, lushly orchestrated and harmonised and the arrangements are remarkably creative and a lot of fun to listen to. The use of sound effects were clever too. The animation is fluid and vibrant, the attention to detail meticulous and far from sparse.
Gag count is very high, almost non stop when the wolf starts telling his story, and they range from very funny to hilarious. Especially towards the end, with the destruction of the house being imaginatively staged. The story sounds slight but to me it was actually full of energy and is one of the few Swing Symphony cartoons that shows signs of having a story. Loved its twist on the story and the characters, wonderfully energetic and anarchic. The interpretation of the pigs was unique and it was shocking to see them in this way, while the wolf has a more interesting personality that is funny, menacing and in the end oddly rootable. Was also shocked at the grim opening, easily the grimmest opening of the Swing Symphony cartoons.
Summarising, great and one of the best of the series. 9/10.