Just watched this Harmon-Ising Merrie Melodies cartoon for producer Leon Schlesinger in association with Warner Bros. on YouTube. It's basically a musical one with American Indians (or Native Americans if you want to be PC) singing the title song as to what the public was crazy about music-wise during this period. Nice dancing movements abound and there are some amusing gags near the end concerning fire, trees, birds, and the way the fire gets put out. There are also uncanny impersonations of Crosby and Vallee. So on that note, this cartoon is worth a look. P.S. Since this was the early '30s, the familiar Warner Bros. cartoon characters like Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck have yet to be created. If the animal character designs seem a little close to what the Walt Disney animation looked like at the time, that's because Hugh Harmon and Rudy Ising had originally worked for Uncle Walt in the '20s before leaving just as a certain mouse made Walt famous...
7 Reviews
Interesting and well done
TheLittleSongbird7 September 2017
Love Merrie Melodie cartoons, and the early ones are always an intriguing watch regardless of whether it works or not. Despite liking music-themed cartoons a lot and having a lot of admiration for particularly Bing Crosby, there was the uncertainty reading the summary as to whether it would be tasteful in execution.
'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee' is much more tasteful than one would think reading the summary. It is actually very innocent and good-natured and there is nothing offensive about it. It may not have the best or most eventful of stories, pretty lightweight, it does begin on a stale note, and it's not laugh-a-minute. There is a huge amount to like with 'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee', one will find themselves appreciating Crosby and Rudy Vallee and it will be a good introduction to the now unjustly underrated Ross Columbo.
The animation is very nicely done, nice atmospheric shadings, meticulously detailed backgrounds and remarkably smooth drawing for a cartoon so early. The music is full of energy and character, as well as being lushly and cleverly orchestrated. The main song is particularly catchy.
Furthermore, 'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee' has a lot of good moments, especially the fire scene and the Vallee impersonation (all the impersonation are on point, but this one in particular). Some of the cartoon is humorous and even more of it is sweet, with some drama and suspense when the fire breaks out.
All the characters are fun and endearing. They are well characterised in the voices too.
In conclusion, interesting and well done if not one of my favourites. 7/10 Bethany Cox
'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee' is much more tasteful than one would think reading the summary. It is actually very innocent and good-natured and there is nothing offensive about it. It may not have the best or most eventful of stories, pretty lightweight, it does begin on a stale note, and it's not laugh-a-minute. There is a huge amount to like with 'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee', one will find themselves appreciating Crosby and Rudy Vallee and it will be a good introduction to the now unjustly underrated Ross Columbo.
The animation is very nicely done, nice atmospheric shadings, meticulously detailed backgrounds and remarkably smooth drawing for a cartoon so early. The music is full of energy and character, as well as being lushly and cleverly orchestrated. The main song is particularly catchy.
Furthermore, 'Crosby, Columbo and Vallee' has a lot of good moments, especially the fire scene and the Vallee impersonation (all the impersonation are on point, but this one in particular). Some of the cartoon is humorous and even more of it is sweet, with some drama and suspense when the fire breaks out.
All the characters are fun and endearing. They are well characterised in the voices too.
In conclusion, interesting and well done if not one of my favourites. 7/10 Bethany Cox
An entertaining, if largely bland, excuse for selling sheet music
llltdesq23 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This was a one-shot cartoon done by Harman and Ising for Warner Brothers. There will be spoilers ahead:
The title of this short derives from what is essentially a novelty song of the same title, bemoaning the three singers referred to (Bing Crosby, Russ Columbo and Rudy Vallee) and their effect on homes and marriages by being played on the radio and heard in homes across the country.
The short actually begins with a group of Indians dancing and singing complainingly about the three. The best bit of business here is when the three names are intoned by animals on a totem pole. Otherwise, the beginning is a bit stale.
The short then shows an Indian brave paddling a canoe in the best extended bit of animation to be found in the short. The brave plays the type of role later taken on by the character of Buddy, who was developed after Harman and Ising left Warner Brothers and took Bosko with them. In other words, he's as bland as dry toast.
There's a long sequence in the middle of the short where the brave is trying to win the heart of Minnehaha with the help of a radio and extolling the virtues of the three singers. While there are some decent bits here, the cartoon simply marks time until the five minute mark, when a fire starts and some flames break loose and start burning trees. There's a cute bit with a tree shown in its underwear after the flames burn off its bark.
The flames then burn a tree with a nest holding three baby birds, who proceed to chant for help. Heard by the brave, he enlists the aid of some flies to bring a spider web over to serve as a net to catch the birds in when they jump. The end is reasonably cute.
This short is worth seeing.
The title of this short derives from what is essentially a novelty song of the same title, bemoaning the three singers referred to (Bing Crosby, Russ Columbo and Rudy Vallee) and their effect on homes and marriages by being played on the radio and heard in homes across the country.
The short actually begins with a group of Indians dancing and singing complainingly about the three. The best bit of business here is when the three names are intoned by animals on a totem pole. Otherwise, the beginning is a bit stale.
The short then shows an Indian brave paddling a canoe in the best extended bit of animation to be found in the short. The brave plays the type of role later taken on by the character of Buddy, who was developed after Harman and Ising left Warner Brothers and took Bosko with them. In other words, he's as bland as dry toast.
There's a long sequence in the middle of the short where the brave is trying to win the heart of Minnehaha with the help of a radio and extolling the virtues of the three singers. While there are some decent bits here, the cartoon simply marks time until the five minute mark, when a fire starts and some flames break loose and start burning trees. There's a cute bit with a tree shown in its underwear after the flames burn off its bark.
The flames then burn a tree with a nest holding three baby birds, who proceed to chant for help. Heard by the brave, he enlists the aid of some flies to bring a spider web over to serve as a net to catch the birds in when they jump. The end is reasonably cute.
This short is worth seeing.
In the days of the three crooning sensations.
theowinthrop25 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is an amusing old cartoon I saw twenty or so years ago. An Indian tribe has a problem - the woman all love Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee, and Ross Columbo (three of the four leading crooners of the 1920s into the 1940s, with Al Jolson probably being the fourth). Now, some seventy seven years later, the cartoon probably raises questions among the young watching it: they might recall Crosby, who had a great movie career (with or without his pal Bob Hope) copped by an Oscar, as well as a leading singing career - best known for "White Christmas". They can possibly be aware of Rudy Vallee due to his performances in some film, culminating in his repeating his stage triumph as "J. P. Biggley" in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, but it is hard for me to believe they would recall his megaphone antics with songs like, "There is a tavern in the town" or "The Wippenproof Song". By the end of the 1930s, while still popular he was nowhere near Crosby in popularity.
Columbo is the real problem. Most of his songs are long forgotten (except by his fans of course), and he is best recalled for his bizarre death (shot "accidentally" (?) by a very close male friend shortly after announcing his engagement to actress Carole Lombard). Whether it was murder of not, it is his taking off that most people recall. It's too bad, because he was a good singer, and quite handsome. He might have gone as far as Crosby.
The little jingle tune in honor of the three (with the singer doing imitations of them in the course of the song) is what I most recall from this cartoon. It was not a great song, but it was lively. So was the animation, leading up to a forest fire, and the rescue of a nest of birds. It is a sweet cartoon - of a somewhat gentler time in our culture.
Columbo is the real problem. Most of his songs are long forgotten (except by his fans of course), and he is best recalled for his bizarre death (shot "accidentally" (?) by a very close male friend shortly after announcing his engagement to actress Carole Lombard). Whether it was murder of not, it is his taking off that most people recall. It's too bad, because he was a good singer, and quite handsome. He might have gone as far as Crosby.
The little jingle tune in honor of the three (with the singer doing imitations of them in the course of the song) is what I most recall from this cartoon. It was not a great song, but it was lively. So was the animation, leading up to a forest fire, and the rescue of a nest of birds. It is a sweet cartoon - of a somewhat gentler time in our culture.
Murder mystery finally solved after 83 years, thanks to . . .
oscaralbert8 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
. . . this prophetic (but, like always, unheeded) Warner Bros. warning to Gary Cooper's co-star and Carole Lombard's fiancée, crooner Ruggiero Eugenio "Russ" Di Rodolfo Columbo, baritone violinist songwriter of "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love" and "Prisoner of Love." Warner Bros.' psychic Looney Tuners begin their animated short CROSBY, COLUMBO AND VALLEE with a chanting circle of sinister Native Americans threatening "When it comes to pale face enemies, (we) know only three--Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee . . . they made a million Injun women wish that they were free (now I know what's become of Sally)." Less than two years later 26-year-old Russ Columbo, who'd starred with Cooper in THE TEXAN, who had another hit movie just coming out, who was about to announce his engagement to Lombard, and who was on the cusp of Mega-stardom like Selena, got gunned down by his "best friend"--shot through his brain--with an antique dueling pistol "by accident." As soon as I saw the "smoking gun" of CROSBY, COLUMBO AND VALLE I smelled a rat, being keenly aware of how the String Theory Principle of Quantum Physics proves that Looney Tunes have dictated virtually every significant event in America History since the early 1930s. Sure enough, when I had our resident genealogical researcher look into Columbo killer Lansing Vanwoert Brown, Junior's background, he discovered that not only was Brown one sixty-fourth Cherokee, but that crooner Columbo had fathered a child by Brown's Lakota Sioux Sweetie (Sallee Begay) and eventual common-law wife. As a result of this kerfuffle, Clark Gable wound up with Ms. Lombard, and America lost 37 hit songs never-to-be-written by he who would have gone down in history as "The Spanish Elvis."
A Delightful, Refreshing, Early Merrie Melody.
Dawalk-125 May 2009
I, too, first came across watching this Merrie Melody short via Youtube a while back earlier this year. I love it and it's since become another of my favorites. Indeed enjoyable, entertaining and recommendable because it features the music of and makes references toward at least two-thirds of the eponymous cartoon's singers played/heard in it. Their music is from a time back when music was still at an all-time high commercially and I'm sure that there were more good mainstream songs than not. For those who are new to this, take a chance on it if y'all think y'all are ready, willing and able to get into the musical sub-genres from the past decades and have eclectic taste. Y'all may never know and just might find yourselves getting into the samplings of the vocal and traditional pop stylings like I did. Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee were real talent, not like the majority of what we hear today above the ground. My favorite parts are the performances of this number, the dog impersonating Rudy Vallee and the young Native brave coming to the aid of the birds when the little flames spread. A good lesson in quality music for those who've heard of none of these three crooners. This should put a smile on everyone's face, it certainly made me happy while watching it.
Early Merrie Melody & "Crosby, Colombo & Valle!!"
ksrfine2 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the most innocent cartoon romances, with kindness demonstrated for animals and sheer fun. It is a sweet portrayal of Indians (NA) and wild-life in a time when music was legitimately music and not just noise; 1932. This lively cartoon paired with the song "Cosby, Colombo & Valle" (about Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee &Ross Columbo) makes a great combination. I love the original song "Crosby, Colombo & Valle," & have it on CD. The song is funny, quite lively & has great instrumentation, all while someone is spoofing the 3 crooners. They were amazing singers in their time and continue to greatly influence their fans and music buffs interested in swing, as well as those who appreciate older cartoons & humor. Compared to some of the cartoons today, this is one which will not offend-- it lacks innuendos, adult-humor, yet entertains. Take a chance, you'll like it!
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