A Close Shave (1937) User Reviews

The Mad Russian

[boblipton · 6/10 · 15 February 2015]

Farmer Al Falfa is choking his ostrich -- not a euphemism -- when a Russian walks into his barber shop for "da works!" The usual mayhem results in this good Terrytoon.

No writer is credited for this Mannie Davis offering, and neither is any animator, but this has rhythms and characters more typically found down in Manhattan at the Fleischer studios. Over the decades, there was a lot of movement back and forth among all the studios, but this one looks like it might have been a Popeye cartoon with only minor variations -- less ostrich and more spinach, with Bluto as the Russian. Was Davis doing this on purpose? Was Paul Terry trying to steal the Fleischer's market with similar product?

As a barber, Al Falfa makes a good farmer!

[llltdesq · 7/10 · 30 September 2015]

This is a cartoon in the Farmer Al Falfa series produced by Terrytoons. There will be spoilers ahead:

The cartoon opens with Al Falfa trying to learn to play the clarinet, with an ostrich playing shaving mugs like a xylophone and Al doubling on a barber chair for percussion. The ostrich accidentally launches a shaving mug, hitting Al. The ostrich starts laughing, only to swallow the clarinet. Trying to get the clarinet back, Al plays the ostrich like a set of bagpipes.

Meanwhile, a very hairy Russian comes strolling down the street. He decides to head into the barber shop. Al looks to be in the process of spanking the ostrich at that moment. The Russian demands "da vorks". Al proceeds to tie the sheet over the Russian's head, leaving only a topknot visible. It goes downhill from here.

Nothing Al does is right. He starts with an electric styler, showing several "styles", each one making the Russian angrier than the last. The last one is set too high and leaves the Russian completely bald. Al uses a hair restorer which grows it all the way back to its original state.

Al then tries to shave the Russian and give him an egg shampoo, but only succeeds is tearing up his razor on the beard. He tries to sharpen it by stropping it on the Russian's shoes and then shaving his shoes, but destroys the razor. He goes to get his tools.

Now the ostrich comes back into the short, basically running and dancing on the Russian's face and head, wrecking his hair and beard. The Russian sees Al holding a scythe and blames him. The ostrich saves Al from the Russian and the short ends on a pretty good gag.

This short is worth watching.

Farmer Al Falfa's close shave

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 15 June 2018]

The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.

1937, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch, more so than the other years even. Of which 'A Close Shave' is one of the better ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the best 1937 cartoons. There are flaws but also a lot of strengths, and a few things done better than what was seen before. 'A Close Shave' is well worth watching as an above average watch with more to it than completest sake.

Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see and some synchronisation is neat. Again this was an example of more fluidity in the drawing than in previous years which was also great.

A fair share of amusing moments, with more gags than there can be usually found, and there is a lot of zest and bags of natural charm. Also a suitably strange and something inventive quality that was fun and endearing to watch. Farmer Al Falfa as usual is amusing to watch and his adversary is a colourful personality, which makes their conflict a lot of fun.

Having said that, a few of the transitions are a touch crude however.

Likewise, the story is thin and formulaic, even with more structure than usual, with not much new. A few of the gags are stale and with a sense that there was room for even more absurdity and imagination.

All in all, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox