Just watched this first sound Charles Mintz/Krazy Kat cartoon on Daily Motion as linked from Cartoon Brew. The print I saw was from Jerry Beck's videotaping of vintage silent footage, hence the occasional jumping of scene. The sound added from the DM uploader is from the original Vitaphone-sound-on-disc that was delivered to movie theatres during this short's original release and was considered, along with this film, lost until recently. Okay, while George Herriman is credited as Kat's creator here, Krazy in this short bears little resemblance to the original comic strip character. In fact, instead of pining for Ignaz Mouse, this Kat is hunting American Indians, what we call Native Americans today, as he gets almost burned at the stake by them (it should be noted that the fire, like in many animated shorts made during this time, has a personality of his own here!). This also might be the first time that we see a silhouette of an audience member in a cartoon that would be used several times by the Warner cartoon studio later in the '30s though here it looks like they really had someone stand in front of the screen instead of someone drawing him. There's a few other amusing gags and interesting use of popular songs as well (like seeing a turkey playing "Turkey in the Straw" on a harmonica). Though not a very good cartoon by any means, historically, Ratskin is certainly of interest for early talkie animation fans.
3 Reviews
No Plot; No Problem
Hitchcoc29 November 2018
Let's face it. The character of Krazy Kat is about as bizarre as it gets. This is the first sound film and has some interesting sounds. Music plays a central part in Ratskin. But where it is going is never made clear. It is a series of strange encounters, particularly with Native Americans. Don't bother to figure it out because it is surreal.
A virtually plot less novelty, the first sound cartoon produced for Columbia
llltdesq19 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is a cartoon in the Krazy Kat series produced by Charles Mintz for Columbia. There will be spoilers ahead:
In 1929, this was probably very interesting, because it was a novelty back then. Truth be told, there is some good stuff in here and it is entertaining in spots, but there isn't much of a plot and some of this drags on too long.
This begins with Krazy, his horse and his wagon sleeping when Krazy is awakened by his horse snoring. This is the first instance of music coming from an atypical source (that happens quite a bit in this one). Krazy wakes up his horse and wagon. There's a nice bit where Krazy "pumps up" his horse to get more energy out of him.
The best bit in here may be two turkeys dancing as one plays "Turkey In the Straw" on a harmonica. Krazy spots them and grabs a musket to hunt them. One wisely leaves, but the other is far too curious, sticks its head in the musket and comes out with a shell, which it swallows, leading to an explosion and a large egg.
Krazy chases the turkey, but when he shoots at it, he's actually shooting at an Indian (I think the title is a play on the word "Redskin"). The remainder of the cartoon has Krazy fleeing from and then captured by the Indian he shot. Various gags include musical notes being used as ammunition, various objects and people being converted into musical instruments or record players and a flame come to life twice.
The short hasn't aged well, but it's historically significant and was state of the art for 1929. Worth watching.
In 1929, this was probably very interesting, because it was a novelty back then. Truth be told, there is some good stuff in here and it is entertaining in spots, but there isn't much of a plot and some of this drags on too long.
This begins with Krazy, his horse and his wagon sleeping when Krazy is awakened by his horse snoring. This is the first instance of music coming from an atypical source (that happens quite a bit in this one). Krazy wakes up his horse and wagon. There's a nice bit where Krazy "pumps up" his horse to get more energy out of him.
The best bit in here may be two turkeys dancing as one plays "Turkey In the Straw" on a harmonica. Krazy spots them and grabs a musket to hunt them. One wisely leaves, but the other is far too curious, sticks its head in the musket and comes out with a shell, which it swallows, leading to an explosion and a large egg.
Krazy chases the turkey, but when he shoots at it, he's actually shooting at an Indian (I think the title is a play on the word "Redskin"). The remainder of the cartoon has Krazy fleeing from and then captured by the Indian he shot. Various gags include musical notes being used as ammunition, various objects and people being converted into musical instruments or record players and a flame come to life twice.
The short hasn't aged well, but it's historically significant and was state of the art for 1929. Worth watching.
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