FLEISCHER CLASSICS FEATURING GULLIVER’S TRAVELS PLUS EIGHT FANTASTIC CARTOONS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF ANIMATION [1939 / 2014] [Blu-ray + DVD] [USA Release] Ahoy Mate! Thunderbean is proud to present Fleischer Classics – A Collection of Wonderful Animated Films Produced by the Fleischer Studio!
From the early 1920s through the early 1940s, the Fleischer Studio created some of the greatest and most popular cartoons ever made, including the Popeye, Betty Boop, Out of the Inkwell, and Superman series! Presented here are 8 Fleischer Studio shorts, in new digital transfers from high quality 16mm and 35mm materials. The highlight of this collection is ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS,’ the American feature-length animated film. It premiered Christmas of 1939, becoming one of the top 10 grossing films of 1940. Entertaining generations of fans ever since, and it is now here in a carefully restored hi-definition master from original 35mm Technicolor elements, preserving its original beauty and looking better than it has in decades!
Bonus Feature: The complete original Decca record album, an original radio broadcast from 1939, songs from the Hit Parade by Guy Lombardo, a rare pencil test, original theatrical trailer, and still galleries with original production art, publicity materials, toys, books, and much more!
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1939 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song for Ralph Rainger (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics) for the song "Faithful Forever." Nominated: Best Music for an Original Score for Victor Young.
FILM FACT No.2: All of the songs for ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ were written by Leo Robin and composed by Ralph Rainger with the exception of "It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day", which was written by Sammy Timberg, Al Neiburg and Winston Sharples. The ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ film score by Victor Young was nominated for a Best Original Score Academy Award while the song "Faithful/Forever" was nominated for Best Original Song, but both of them lost out to ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with the film winning the latter category for the song "Over the Rainbow." "It's a Hap-Hap-Happy Day" and "All's Well" later became standard themes used for Fleischer and the Famous Studios cartoon scores, while "I Hear a Dream" was quite popular as well.
Voice Cast: Jessica Dragonette (Princess Glory singing voice), Lanny Ross (Prince David singing voice), Pinto Colvig (Gabby) (uncredited), Cal Howard (Prince David) (uncredited), Jack Mercer (King Little) (uncredited), Sam Parker (Gulliver) (uncredited), Tedd Pierce (King Bombo) (uncredited) and Livonia Warren (Princess Glory) (uncredited)
Director: Dave Fleischer
Producer: Max Fleischer
Screenplay: Jonathan Swift (based on immortal tale), Edmond Seward (story adaptation), Cal Howard (screenplay), Dan Gordon (screenplay), Edmond Seward (screenplay), Izzy Sparber (screenplay) and Tedd Pierce (screenplay)
Composers: Victor Young (atmospheric music score)
Cinematography: Charles Schettler (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 76 minutes (Gulliver's Travels)
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Fleischer Studios / Paramount Pictures
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: The ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ [1939] animated classic is reborn on this Blu-ray! Digitally restored and re-mastered using state-of-the-art technology, Max Fleischer's song-filled, 1939 masterpiece comes to life for the first time ever in awe-inspiring high definition. Richly drawn from the timeless tale by Jonathan Swift’s novel “Gulliver's Travels” follows the legendary adventures of a shipwrecked sailor among the tiny people of Lilliput. In this strange land, Gulliver brings peace to two feuding kingdoms and reunites a prince with his princess before returning to the sea in one of the most "hap-hap-happy" endings of all time. Featuring breath-taking, newly-enhanced picture and sound, this definitive edition of ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ is a feast for the eyes and ears that your whole family will enjoy for years to come!
In December 1937, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ became the first feature-length animated film to open in theatres. Almost exactly two years later came the second, ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.’ But in contrast to the Walt Disney classic, this new film was the work of pioneering animators Max and Dave Fleischer, whose innovative company had been responsible for Betty Boop and Popeye, among other iconic cartoon characters of the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, this animation film was originally planned as a vehicle for Popeye to play Gulliver.
‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ is based on just the first part of Jonathan Swift's classic novel, a section entitled "A Voyage to Lilliput," in which Gulliver washes ashore in a kingdom whose inhabitants are so small that Gulliver appears as a giant. Swift's tale was written as a sociological satire, and the Fleischer brothers disagreed at first over how much of that flavour would inhabit their screen version. Max Fleischer envisioned retaining the strong satirical themes, while Dave Fleischer wanted something lighter, simpler and more musical. In the end they compromised on a colourful spectacle that nonetheless does preserve some satire. In any event, the look and feel of the animation was distinctly theirs. As the Motion Picture Herald's review said, "The Fleischer style, well known for many years to a great public, is readily identifiable. The usual grotesqueness is present in all of the characters, with the exception of the Giant and the Prince and Princess. One might expect Popeye to peek around the corner at any moment."
The film's production schedule was very challenging. Paramount Pictures (the Fleischers' parent company and distributor) was so eager to challenge Disney with an animated feature that it poured money and resources into the movie in order to meet a Christmas 1939 release date. (The film opened a day after ‘Gone with the Wind’) Fleischer Studios had been based in New York, but union strife in that city compelled Paramount to pay for a new Fleischer studio in Miami, Florida. The Fleischer studio also paid for hundreds of extra animation artists to work on the project, in both Miami and Hollywood. The schedule was so rushed (18 months from conception to release) that 400 Miami art students were even hired to help out, following a crash course in animation. The final negative cost was about $1.5 million.
The critical reception for the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ was overall positive. Variety deemed the film "an excellent job of animation, audience interest and all around showmanship... enjoyable as much for the elders as the youngsters." But The New York Times disagreed, calling it "a fairy tale for children almost exclusively," and criticising it for lacking the depth, subtlety, and freshness of the Walt Disney animation films. But I say to those idiots at The New York Times, you talk absolute crap and how dare you slate this classic animated film and how dare you compare the cartoons that Walt Disney has released, compared to the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ it is a totally different ball game.
Nonetheless, ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ was a big enough commercial hit that Paramount Pictures ordered a second animated feature from the Fleischer Studios, and that was ‘Mr. Bug Goes to Town’ [1941]. As for awards, it was the film's music that drew attention from the Motion Picture Academy. Victor Young received an OSCAR® nomination for Best Original Score, and songwriters Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin collected a nomination for Best Original Song, for "Faithful Forever." This was one of 22 Oscar® nominations that Victor Young would receive over the course of his career and won the award just once, posthumously for ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ [1956].
Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger also won their first OSCAR®, for the classic song "Thanks for the Memories," in The Big Broadcast of 1938. The talented composer Ralph Rainger would die in a plane crash in 1942, while lyricist Leo Robin would carry on a successful career over a life that lasted until his death in 1984. Leo Robin accrued a total of ten Oscar® nominations but never won the award again. Singer Lanny Ross provides the singing voice of Prince David in ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS,’ and it was the only animated voice Lanny Ross ever did.
GULLIVER’S TRAVELS MUSIC TRACK LIST
FAITHFUL (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
FOREVER (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
FAITHFUL/ FOREVER (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
I HEAR A DREAM (Come Home Again) (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
WE’RE ALL TOGETHER NOW (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
BLUEBIRDS IN THE MOONLIGHT (Silly Idea) (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
ALL’S WELL (1939) (uncredited) (Music by Ralph Rainger) (Lyrics by Leo Robin)
IT’S A HAP-HAP-HAPPY DAY (1939) (Music by Sammy Timberg and Winston Sharples) (Lyrics by Al Neiburg)
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ is presented on this Blu-ray by Thunderbean Animation with a wonderful Technicolor 1080p image presentation and enhanced with a 1.37:1 aspect ratio and the release is hard matted with rounded corners, reproducing its original theatrical exhibition. Thunderbean Animation is the brainchild of Steve Stanchfield, who did a fund raising campaign to fund this restoration, which he painstakingly undertook without a huge staff (the credits list three total people handling digital clean-up, restoration and editing, with one more person listed as the telecine operator). This transfer was sourced from a variety of 35mm elements, though Steve Stanchfield mentions in his interesting liner notes that the bulk of the release stems from a 1957 print, though this print evidently had replacement footage from another print to replace damaged sections. Four other prints were utilized for various segments as well. The results here are quite beautiful, though there are some minor though noticeable colour space variations as well as density issues that occasionally crop up. The image retains the painterly depth that was the Max Fleischer's hallmark. There are still manifold scratches and minor imperfections that can be seen, but this is truly a remarkable achievement by a "sole proprietor" that should put any number of niche labels on notice as to what someone who really cares about what they're doing can offer to classic film aficionados. While a transfer from an interpositive or negative would have probably culled more pleasing results, the fact that this looks as wonderful as it does sourced from a "mere" print (or set of prints) is an astounding accomplishment. There are no subtitles which might have been a decent idea.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ brings us an audio that may slightly surpass the image quality with a rather meek 2.0 channel stereo audio track that sounds more like a mono one. While the mono audio it sounded much better than I anticipated, it is far from an LPCM track that would have been more ideal and gets little in the way of dynamic separation. There are some noticeable differences in overall ambience that I assume can be attributed to the different source elements utilised for the transfer. There are occasional issues with hiss becoming more apparent in quieter sections, but overall this track, while not optimal, is at least listenable and doesn't present any problems.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Bonus Cartoons:
Out Of The Inkwell: Modeling [1921] [480i] [1.37:1] [7:09] The Clown causes trouble for the Cartoonist, and a sculptor using the studio, when he escapes from his backdrop and hides in the wet clay of a bust. A wonderful early entry in Max Fleischer's "Out Of The Inkwell" series featuring Ko Ko the Clown. The combination of cartoon animation and live action is every bit as impressive today as it was when this film was first released 86 years ago.
In My Merry Oldsmobile [1932] [1080p] [1.37:1] [6:28] A lady is rescued from a villain by a heroic young man, who then takes her for a spin in his Oldsmobile. For an Oldsmobile commercial, the Fleischer Brothers created this extremely bawdy cartoon. No, they don't make 'em like they used to.
Betty Boop: Is My Palm Read [1932] [480i] [1.37:1] [6:35] Betty Boop visits Bimbo the fortune teller for some advice, but Bimbo is only interested in making time with Betty. Bimbo's crystal ball predicts that Betty will be shipwrecked on a desert isle (during which time she sings part of the Irving Berlin song “All by Myself”), and attacked by evil spirits resembling poltergeists, but is rescued by Bimbo. When Bimbo reveals himself by removing his fake beard, a happy Betty embraces him. Unfortunately, a group of the ghosts from the vision burst in on this scene, and chase the two to the desert isle. Betty and Bimbo eventually escape from the ghosts by tricking them into going off a cliff into the sea.
Little Dutch Mill [1934] [1080i] [1.37:1] [8:03] The scene is of a painted Dutch plate sitting in a china cabinet comes to life. It's a simple tale of a Dutch Hans and Gretel and their pet duck, which play around a mill inhabited by the town miser. The miser catches the children spying on him as he counts his gold and ties them up, threatening to burn their tongues out. The duck alerts the townspeople, and they clean up the old mill and the miser. In the process, the miser realizes that all his gold did not bring him happiness. This is the first “Color Classic” and was photographed in the two-color Cinecolor process.
Popeye The Sailor: The Paneless Window Washer [1937] [1080i] [1.37:1] [6:14] Bluto is trying to make a buck by spraying mud on the windows to make people think they're dirty. Up 20 stories (or at least Popeye says that) is Olive Oyl, public stenographer. Wiping all kinds of windows, Popeye and Bluto get into a bitter quarrel between who's better at cleaning windows.
Betty Boop: Pudgy in Ding Dong Doggie [1937] [1080p] [1.37:1] [6:37] Pudgy the Pup is impressed by a Dalmatian fire dog he sees out his window. Against Betty Boop's orders, Pudgy accompanies the fire dog to a fire at a general store. Pudgy tries to help out, but the fire takes on an animated life of its own and gets the better of Pudgy. In the end, Pudgy is happy to run back home to Betty Boop.
Two For The Zoo [1941] [1080p] [1.37:1] [6:26] Gabby and the head zookeeper at the Lilliput Zoo bring in a new kangaroo to the zoo. A delivery man pushes a crate down the street containing a Rubber Necked Kango. Gabby bumps into the crate, and in his usual know-it-all fashion, offers to personally deliver the animal, a baby. Gabby doesn't know that the mother is also in the crate, and she catches up with them, dropping the baby into her pouch, causing Gabby to think that the baby suddenly grew. They end up getting trapped in the kangaroo's cage and the Kangaroo runs free. [Gabby is from the animation film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’].
Swing Cleaning [1941] [1080p] [1.37:1] [6:35] The King Bombo allows Gabby to take over the supervision of the castle's spring cleaning with disastrous results. [Gabby is from the animation film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’].
Special Feature: Production Artwork: ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Model Sheet: Here we get to view 33 images of layout drawings relating to the main characters in the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.’ To view all 33 images, you have to press the right next button on your remote control.
Special Feature: DECCA Album: ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ [1939] Here you get to hear 8 audio tracks that were released in conjunction with the release of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ and these are the songs you get to hear: “All’s Well;” “We’re All Together Now;” “It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day;” “Bluebirds in the Moonlight” (Silly Idea); “Faithful;” “Forever;” “Faithful Forever;” “I Hear a Dream.” To hear each individual song, you have to click on the title in the menu list and when you pick a title song, you get to view an image of the original long playing vinyl record. This is without a timecode.
Special Feature: Guy Lombardo: Here you get to hear two DECCA 78rmp records by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians performing "Bluebirds in the Moonlight" and "It's a Hap Hap Happy Day." Again these records were released in conjunction with the release of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.’ To hear each individual song, you have to click on the image of the record and when you pick each individual title song, you get to view an image of the original long playing vinyl record. This is without a timecode.
Theatrical Trailer [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [2:20] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.’
Special Feature: Books and Publications: This features a compilation of tie-in products relating to the release of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ and you get to view 42 images from the Children’s Album-page that includes ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Sheet Music Book [1940]; Gulliver’s Book [1940]; Coloring Book [1940]; “Little” Book [1940]; RCA Record Set [1940]; Coloring Story Book [1940]; Coloring Book [1940]; Book To Color [1940]; Giveaway Book [1940]; Giveaway Booklet [1940]; British Sheet Music [1940]; Paperback Book of original ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Book with Licensed Cover [1940]; DECCA Album Front Cover [1940]; DECCA Album Inside Cover [1940]; DECCA Album Back Inside Cover [1940]; Sheet Music Album [1940]; Paper Dolls [1940]; Birthday Card [1940]; ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Japanese Book [1940] and English Cigarette Cards [1940].
Special Feature: Radio Broadcast: This is the Original Maxwell House Radio Broadcast, entitled the “Good News of 1940” that was broadcast on American Radio on the 21st December, 1939. The programme features a "special preview" of ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ with Lanny Ross and Jessica Dragonette (from New York). The first tune is, "It's A Hap-Hap-Happy Day. Lanny Ross and Jessica Dragonette also sing "Make Believe." After the radio version of the film, Dave Fleischer tells how the picture was made. Voice Cast: Warren Hull (announcer), Edward Arnold, Fanny Brice, Jessica Dragonette, David Fleischer, Al Goodman, Lou Holtz, Lanny Ross, Benny Rubin, Hanley Stafford, Robert Stevens (singing voice of the Prince) and Meredith Willson. This is without a timecode.
Special Feature: Publicity Materials: Here you get to view is items relating to items in conjunction with the release of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ which are as follows: Original Release Poster Style “A;” Original Release Poster Style “B;” Original Release Poster Style “C;” French Poster [1939]; NTA Reissue Poster [1957]; NTA Reissue Poster and Window Card circ. Early 1960s; Advertisements from Good Housekeeping Magazine circ. January 1940; Magazine Advert [1940]; Advertisement from Vanity Fair [1940]; Page from Look Magazine circ. 1940; Publicity Stills from NTA Reissue Posters; Publicity Stills from Original Release; Sheet Music; Lobby Cards [1957]; NTA Reissue Poster [1957]; Lobby Cards for British Original Release; Lobby Cards for American Original Release; Window Card Original Release; Dave Fleischer [Publicity Still]; ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ still playing at the Paramount Theatre, New York [1940]; ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ still playing at the Lowe’s Inwood Cinema, New York [1940] and Dave Fleischer [Publicity Still]. To view all the images, you have to press the PLAT button on your remote control.
Special Feature: Popeye and Gulliver Pencil Test [1938] [480i] [1.37:1] [00:26] This is a brief but fascinating glance at some very rough Black-and White animated pencil tests of Gulliver and Popeye the sailor.
Special Feature: Toys and Other Merchandise: Here we get to view the following items that were produced in conjunction with the release of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ and they are as follows: Gabby and King Little II Jointed Dolls from the Knickerbocker Toy Company; Soap Set; Dish and Plate from the Hammersley and Co (Longton) Ltd.; Teacups from the Hammersley and Co (Longton) Ltd.; ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Children’s Fabric; Drum from the Knickerbocker Toy Company; Animated Kitchen Klenzer Flip Book; Gulliver Drinking Glasses by Anchor Hocking; ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ Children’s Bowel; Toy Cart from the Knickerbocker Toy Company; King Little Figurine [Company Unknown] and Children’s Valentine’s Day Cards. To view all the images, you have to press the PLAT button on your remote control.
BONUS: You get a fantastic “Fleischer Classics Featuring Gulliver’s Travels” 12 page liner notes by Steve Stanchfield, packed with fact-filled essays with different sections explaining the information on the process that went into the this amazing animation classic ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ by Max Fleischer. They include: “Gulliver's Travel Notes” by John McElwee; “The Miami Gamble” by Ray Pointer; “On Gulliver's Travels” by G. Michael Dobbs and “Gulliver's Travels: Music To My Ears” by Chris Buchman. Plus you get to see all the Design and Production Notes.
Finally, ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ has had quite a journey since its 1939 release. While the animated film was a rather marked success for Paramount Pictures in both its American and foreign releases, and went on to be a regular broadcast life on American television, and it was never held in quite the same esteem as the early Walt Disney cartoons. Its home video releases up to now have been similarly lacklustre, even annoyingly offensive in some instances. This new upgraded release offers one of the titans of early Technicolor feature length animated films and looking wonderfully refreshed. While the audio is occasionally problematic, the supplemental features are totally outstanding, and Steve Stanchfield and his Thunderbean team, small though it may be, deserve the heartfelt thanks of all fans of the animated film ‘GULLIVER’S TRAVELS’ for their overall excellent Blu-ray release and it is such an honour to have this brilliant animation classic by Max Fleischer, who in my opinion is just as good, if not just as superior in adventurous animation genre as Walt Disney and has now gone pride of place in my Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
