Chuck Jones's Scaredy Cat (1948) is one of my favorite cartoons. I have mentioned it a few weeks ago, but I can't blame it. I always loved everything about this cartoon.
From the atmospheres, to the dreadful but mysteriously fun plot.
The animation is at it's peak, I love the zany but steady movement the Warner Bros. shorts had at that time. I think I more or so laugh at these than characters going completely insane for some reason that feels outta place.
But Chuck Jones's cartoons are logical and powerful to me that I can't believe I honestly made fun of his work in the past. Seriously I blamed way too hard on cartoons that weren't on the level of Tex Avery and Bob Clampett.
Anyways this scene is influential. I love the speed and exaggeration of Sylvester running away from the mansion. These backgrounds are also simple but awesome. Great color gradient.
I love the camera angle, the scene goes from one natural environment to another. We can easily see where Sylvester is running to. It reminds me of the lady from Tom and Jerry in that one scene where she rushes to her house in Saturday Evening Puss.
Sylvester is a character I felt sorry for while I was still watching the classic Looney Tunes shorts especially the shorts starring alongside Tweety. He just doesn't deserve the pain. I like Sylvester as a character, he has alot of deep feelings inside even if he is characterized as a peckish slob in his iconic roles. This is by far my favorite personality of Sylvester. He's very timid, yet he's willing to show his bravery in the final act of this cartoon.
Now appears his conscience. Who is just the most underappreciated and most lovely Looney Tunes characters of all time.
Ha. I would be making faces like Sylvester as well if I been called out for doing something mistaken.
Notice how the skies get more intense as Sylvester fights for his fearlessness.
This is absoutely magnificent stuff. I think what makes this even better is the incredible Carl Stalling music.
Here's another great animation scene of Sylvester sprinting back to mansion.
The drawings are so impressive, I don't think I ever seen another art medium like the hand-drawn method do animated frames like this. Like with the close-up frame of Sylvester's feet.
More "cartoony" drawings done correctly at least to me.
This few seconds of utter chaos.
I would say that when it comes to characters standing up for themselves when they face challenges can be predictable at times, but at the same time, it's one of my favorite type of traits in films. We all can relate to a specific character who is aiming for perseverance. And this cartoon is a perfect example of that.
Sometimes there's a movie that you didn't even know you expected to like until you watch it entirely. That's what brought me to a very obscure but underappreciated old movie classic. You Only Live Once (1937).
Sometimes streaming services pay a good deal outta me. This was free to watch on Plex. There's a ton of old movies on there, and this was one of the few films I saved onto my watchlist. It was a short one, only clocking in at 1 hour and 26 minutes, but was still great.
I like alot of Henry Fonda's movies. 12 Angry Men was easily likeable, The Grapes Of Wrath amazed me and had everything I ever wanted that I could relate to as a young adult. There's a reason why I think Fonda is one of my favorite actors. His acting performances are just great. With other actors I respect, they have this sheer honesty and sometimes deliver powerful lines that are still relevant to this day.
I really appreciate these characters below. "Distinctive" is one of the most overlooked elements in film, and these look like guys I could draw, as an artist this scene in particular was a nice start.
For a film directed by Fritz Lang, a director I need to experience more, there's so much fantastic cinematography. It reminds me of Orson Welles movies and Carol Reed's The Third Man.
I don't mind movies not having elements that make these movies more unique. I personally want more than just going for appeal. Sometimes my favorite bits from these great movies are the dialogue. And since I'm seemingly enjoying mysterious, tense sometimes witty films I also enjoy these complex but enjoyable narratives.
This movie had so much symbolism to it especially with the first act to second acts. Almost everyone is chasing down Eddie Taylor for his crimes yet for some reason I find it more entertaining than most iconic noir movies I seen.
I love Taylor's messy hair in this scene. It adds a layer of attractiveness and expression.
The speech delivery in this scene is just great, and so as the details. Usually I suck at movie character names, but I was able to understood both Eddie and Joan well.
Joan states as she looks directly at Eddie's hat with his initials.
Usually I find female leads to be likeable but nothing noteworthy, but I really like Joan's facial expressions in this movie. And both of these characters have a deep but meaningful connection with each other.
I like these close-up scenes. I just realized how B&W movies can look cinematic at times. Fritz Lang in particular also directed Metropolis and I have mentioned it a few weeks ago with some screencaps, just amazing.
I appreciate when actors can be forceful with their roles. Like that fist.
We get some creative and excellent shots in the movie. This shot in particular left me impressed. The scene of Eddie in bars, love the silhouettes, as well as that spectacular performance.
This is my favorite scene in the entire movie. This is where Ed is accepted as a "free man". But refuses as he points a gun at Doctor Hill and counts till 20.
As for the rest of the movie, almost all these elements feels like what I want to aspire to create. I enjoy these movies for it's righteousness, realism and strength while also having some bit of sympathy for these characters.
Old Movies have really shaped me lately whatever genre, I appreciate what I have been watching lately. Some of the movies honestly understood not why but how these people handle situations that honestly feel like a struggle, and I know I have had experiences like that before, and since I'm pretty practical myself I appreciate these film's stories and messages taking a more pragmatic approach.
I'm surprised this movie hasn't gained more attention.
Here's this free clip from what I said earlier was my favorite scenes from this movie.
Previously I looked into a comic and in that post I mentioned something about storyboards and how they can be useful for making a cohesive and inventive product. Animation mostly uses storyboards unless if live action movies use them for it's setting. Also most of the old movies whether it's their script or behind-the-scenes footage is rare to find.
You know who you didn't expect had a storyboard art crew? Alfred Hitchcock, who made some of the most iconic, well thought-out creative movies of all time.
The Birds (1963) I first experienced watching on DVD, there was sorta of a scrapped ending that wasn't in the final product. The film became a Hitchcock staple, it had a ton of storyboard art. It's incredible. I researched into comparisons of each scene.
I like the addition of arrows with the scenes of Melanie so that it's easy to understand her reaction by distinctive shots.
One of the latest Hitchcock movies I seen was Vertigo (1958). Was easy for me to appreciate this film, since I respect Stewart's work. It looked so gorgeous with incredible effects. The scene above is the famous church scene with the staircase.
Scottie is so cute in these drawings. The sketches of the camera angles are also very pleasent and detailed.
I researched into Pyscho and while I haven't watched it yet, it definitely has more explicit moments that isn't suitable for all audiences. Anyways just great drawings by Saul Bass. He's also well known for creating iconic movie posters like West Side Story and The Shining.
Here's one I'm definitely familiar with. Strangers On A Train. Such a fantastic movie, this gives me back recent memories of the amusement park scene.
These were more rare to find as I looked into a video. I just always loved when Hitchcock could almost do the impossible like when Cary Grant would climb onto Mount Rushmore. Seriously one of the coolest scenes in movie history, and similarly back in 1942, Saboteur had an intense climax of the characters atop of The Statue of Liberty. Okay, I need to look more into this film immediately.
I absolutely appreciate alot of these since I like creating stuff myself and directors like Hitchcock give me an inspiration to make something exicting and passionate. Sure I'm not only focusing on his work. Some of my favorite movies are from other great movie directors.
I like these close-up shots. Melanie's bleeding. I like blood in B&W, it's sorta dramatic than how it's realistic portrayed in Technicolor but I still thought they did it artistically well in the actual movie. I also like how more cartoony she looks, like the face, now I need an animated version of this!
Sometimes the storyboards aren't always drawn as in the final product or aren't as detailed and stunning as in his later works, but I still like them. I like how in this scene from Notorious (1946), informs how many times a certain amount of people should kiss Alicia's hand.
I'm starting my own storyboards myself. I know that they don't look fully detailed and cinematic yet but with the addition of words and narration? See for yourself.
Willing to buy the book very soon. I can't wait to look more into these whenever I get the chance.
