. . . which one might think would qualify him to be an imperial wizard or something in the Masons, but I don't believe that he is any such thing. However, I learned what I know about writing reviews from him during family reunion picnics in the park back in yesteryear. While everyone else among our relations were engaged in exciting pursuits (such as "Rubic's Cube" and chess), Uncle and I would be perfecting the A, B, C's of reviewing. Uncle's First Rule of Review Club was to ALWAYS put the name of the thing you were reviewing close to the top (or near "the lead," in his technical jargon), and continue to use your item's title as often as possible. However, lo, these many moons later I just got Instagrammed by my pedigreed kin warning me NOT to follow his Golden Rule for Reviewing on every site! For example, Uncle said that he just had a review rejected on this site for this page because the Good Doctor Wordsmith of Peoria's contribution was--quote--"badly formatted.." My mentor explained that the indubitable reason for this negative response was because the actual title in question (please see above) was ITSELF badly formatted, and--by repeating it thrice--he got tarred with the same brush, even though he has literally had three college textbooks published about formatting! So, consider this a word to the wise: Never play down to the level of your competition, OR to your topic of conversation!
4 Reviews
My great uncle up in Peoria, IL, has three degrees in English . . .
cricket3012 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Still Clever After All These Years
ccthemovieman-121 September 2007
I really loved the first 84 seconds on this four-minute silent cartoon. The cartoon is one year short of being 90 years old as I write this, but it's still clever. We see the artist draw the main figure, "Bobby Bumps" and his dog "Fido" and those two plus the scenery comes alive in a speed-ed-up fashion that is interesting to watch.
The dialog was presented into two different kinds of formats: in a comic-strip "balloons" and in "title cards." I liked the former more, because it's almost like looking at a comic strip literally come to life.
The story is a bunch of antics that go on in a diner/restaurant (they used to call a "beanery") and in the kitchen as Bobby and his dog help out. Some of the gags are excellent. The dog is a riot.
I've seen perhaps 20 silent cartoons as of this writing and, so far, this is the best. It was part of the Popeye The Sailor 1933-1938 DVD Package and can be seen on Disc two. Highly recommended. Don't pass this one up. It is part of the "From the Vault" features.
The dialog was presented into two different kinds of formats: in a comic-strip "balloons" and in "title cards." I liked the former more, because it's almost like looking at a comic strip literally come to life.
The story is a bunch of antics that go on in a diner/restaurant (they used to call a "beanery") and in the kitchen as Bobby and his dog help out. Some of the gags are excellent. The dog is a riot.
I've seen perhaps 20 silent cartoons as of this writing and, so far, this is the best. It was part of the Popeye The Sailor 1933-1938 DVD Package and can be seen on Disc two. Highly recommended. Don't pass this one up. It is part of the "From the Vault" features.
Amusing and interesting for its time, but a curio nonetheless
llltdesq27 November 2002
As early animation goes, this is interesting most particularly for the brief live-action/animation and the use of word balloons to make up for the lack of sound. Amusing in spots and even entertaining to a point, but seriously dated in a way that lessens its charms, as opposed to early shorts like The Mechanical Cow, Gertie the Dinosaur or Felix in Hollywood, which have aged much better and retained their wonder and still have much the same effect today as they did when they were made, or nearly so, While this is worth watching, there's not much magic here. For die-hard animation fans, to be sure, as are most of the other Bobby Bumps shorts. They are, at best, curiousities.
The reason we have child labor laws!
planktonrules5 February 2021
Some of my favorite silent cartoons are the Out of the Inkwell shorts starring Koko the Clown. Seeing him interacting with his animator is both clever and fun...and the films managed to seamlessly blend live action with animation. Well, although I love the films, I must admit that the Fleischer Brothers Studio did not originate this style film. The Bray Studio had its Bobby Bumps series and it began three years before Koko...and also had live action and animation. Of the two, I prefer the Out of the Inkwell films...though both series are charming.
In this film, the animator draws Bobby and then Bobby supervises and climbs all over the animator's hand as he draws Bobby's dog. Bobby also corrects the animator when he seemed to forget to draw the dog's tail!
The story then finds Bobby working at a restaurant ( a 'beanery') but the boss is a bit of a jerk and he expects poor Bobby to do work that is just insane for a small child. Fortunately, by the end of the cartoon, the owner's been taught a bit of a lesson.
Overall, a clever and enjoyable short...well worth seeing and very well made for 1918.
In this film, the animator draws Bobby and then Bobby supervises and climbs all over the animator's hand as he draws Bobby's dog. Bobby also corrects the animator when he seemed to forget to draw the dog's tail!
The story then finds Bobby working at a restaurant ( a 'beanery') but the boss is a bit of a jerk and he expects poor Bobby to do work that is just insane for a small child. Fortunately, by the end of the cartoon, the owner's been taught a bit of a lesson.
Overall, a clever and enjoyable short...well worth seeing and very well made for 1918.
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