Tom Thumb in Trouble

When it comes to animated shorts, each of the studios that produced them has their own style. It’s easy to spot a Disney cartoon, the Fleischer Studios had their own crazy style, and then, of course, there was the Looney Tunes. I mean, they didn’t call them “Looney” for nuthin’, but today we’re going to look at a very non-looney short released by Warner Brothers. As a matter of fact, this film looks a lot more like a Disney short. Directed by Chuck Jones, it’s 1940’s “Tom Thumb in Trouble.”

This short focuses on the classic fairy tale character of Tom Thumb who lives with his burly lumberjack father. Tom, of course, is about the size of an adult man’s thumb, while Dad is normal size. We see Tom and his father wake up one morning and get ready for their day. This includes Tom taking a bath in a pool of water cupped in his father’s hand. It’s uber cute.

When Dad heads off to work, he leaves Tom to take care of his chores, including washing the dishes. Tom accomplishes this by washing plates with his own mini mop and cleaning glasses like a window cleaner on a skyscraper. But Tom has some trouble when he falls into a bowl of water. Luckily a helpful bird crashes through the window and rescues Tom. However, when Dad rushes in and finds Tom unconscious, he assumes the bird is responsible.

Tom tries to tell his father that the bird saved him, but he just doesn’t want to listen. So, that night, Tom heads out in the snow to find his feathered friend. When Dad wakes up to find his son missing, he panics and calls out the window. But the bird, hearing the cries, rushes out and finds Tom. He is then welcomed into the home by Dad.

“Tom Thumb in Trouble” is very heavily influenced by the Disney style and not at all characteristic of what would come out of Warner Brothers in the years to come. Tom even sings a song as he does the dishes that is sure to bring “Whistle While You Work” to mind. Though we think of Chuck Jones as being the man behind quintessential Looney Tunes films like “Duck Amuck” and “What’s Opera Doc?,” this sort of cutesy style was very much Jones’ thing at this point in his career. It may not be Looney, but it’s still a fine piece of animation.

A lot of credit has to go to Robert McKimson who animated much of the film. McKimson had a real knack for realistic looking characters and movement, and that is certainly on display in this short. Tom Thumb’s father is as believable looking a character as you will see in a Looney Tunes short. McKimson, of course, would go on to direct many Looney Tunes in the future.

If you’re looking for boulder’s dropped on coyotes or ducks getting their beaks blasted off with a shot gun…well this isn’t that sort of cartoon. It does however show the great artistic range of the gang in the Warner Brothers animation department. It’s about as far from the Looney Tunes style as you can get…but is a fine piece of animation none the less.

The Pom-Pom Girls

I’ve often talked about the many fun films that were brought to the screen by American International Pictures (AIP). But there was another great independent studio known for drive-in style films…Crown International Films. They released all sorts of monster movies, biker films, and exploitation flicks. Of course, they journeyed into the realm of the cheerleader movie, which leads us to today’s film…1976’s “The Pom-Pom Girls.”

Despite it’s title, the film actually spends most of it’s time focusing on two high school football players, Johnnie (Robert Carradine) and Jesse (Michael Mullins). Of course, where you find football players, you often find pom-pom girls. Johnnie has a thing for Sally (Lisa Reeves), while Jesse has the hots for Laurie (Jennifer Ashley). But Jesse also has a side gig going with Sue Ann (Susan Player). Jesse will occasionally pull his van/love wagon up to the drive-in diner where she works for a little action.

Now, even though Johnnie and Sally seem to be hitting it off, there is a problem that comes in the form of her ex-boyfriend, Duane (Bill Adler). He and Johnnie are constantly at each other’s throats, which includes their own private food fight one day in the cafeteria. These jocks also have trouble in the form of their rivals from Hardin (yes “Hardin”) High School. The two teams go back and forth playing various pranks on each other. Our heroes even go as far as to steal the town’s fire truck so they can cruise over to Hardin (snicker) High and spray their team with the fire hoses. Somehow, the crack police squad in this town can’t put their finger on who pulled off this little crime.

When the time finally arrives for the big game, the two teams are so pumped up that a massive brawl erupts on the football field. This leads to a locker room run-in between the coach (James Gammon) and Jesse. Jesse then determines to leave town and take Laurie with him. But plans soon change when Johnnie has to face Duane in a game of suicide chicken.

Having just watched “The Swinging Cheerleaders” just about a week ago, it’s hard not to make comparisons here. Both films even feature Rainbeaux Smith as one of the cheerleaders. “The Pom-Pom Girls” ends up falling quite a bit short of it’s swinging companion. First is the fact that, as mentioned earlier, the film really doesn’t focus that much on the pom-pom girls. It’s primarily about two football players…one of whom was much more famous for playing a nerd 6 years later. Plus, the film just kind of wanders. There’s no big goal the characters are working toward. Heck, the big game comes at the midway point and that ends up a bit of bust. Bottom line, the film lacks focus.

The film was directed by Joseph Rubin, who’s next film, “Joyride,” was featured on a recent episode of the Forgotten Filmcast. That film (which also starred Carradine) also suffers from sort of aimlessly wandering it’s way through it’s running time. Still, Carradine and Mullins do a decent enough job with their roles, problem is their characters just aren’t that interesting. A few of the cheerleaders get a bit higher marks in this category, but don’t get near enough screen time to make an impact. More of the chronically gruff James Gammon’s coach character also could’ve helped a bit.

There are certainly some entertaining aspects to “The Pom-Pom Girls,” but it fails to completely satisfy the viewer. Had the title actually been an accurate reflection of the film it would’ve been called “The Geeky Football Players.” Somehow I doubt that would’ve sold a whole lot of tickets, though.

8 Million Ways to Die

For a stretch there in the 80’s, Miami Vice was THE show to watch. I even had a Miami Vice poster in my room for a while. It’s success led to a string of other shows and movies with similar themes. Warm locales, drug dealers, unshaven cops…you get the picture. Today’s film is one that falls into that category. From 1986, it’s the final film from director Hal Ashby, “8 Million Ways to Die.”

The film focuses on Matt Scudder (Jeff Bridges) an alcoholic ex-cop who ends up losing his job, wife, home, etc after shooting a man during a booze-fueled drug bust. But, Scudder is now on the mend and attending AA meetings. One night after the meeting, a woman hands him a strange note which invites him to a private gambling club in the home of Chance Walker (Randy Brooks). When he arrives at the party, Scudder is greeted by Sunny (Alexandra Paul), a beautiful high-class prostitute who acts like she knows him. While at the party, he also meets Tony Montana wannabe Angel Moldonado (Andy Garcia) and his particular call-girl obsession, Sarah (Rosanna Arquette).

Even though he’s not exactly sure what’s going on, Scudder follows Sunny around for the evening and eventually the two end up back and his place. She explains to him that she needs his help to get out of Chance’s harem of call-girls. Scudder agrees and goes to talk to Chance, but Chance explains that he is not a pimp…the girls do what they want. Scudder also talks with Sarah, who hints that Angel is really the one Sunny is afraid of. And with good reason, it turns out, as Sunny ends up kidnapped and splattered beneath an overpass the next day.

The incident throws Scudder back into his old drunken ways. Once he sobers up, he sets out to find out what happened. When he spots a jewel that Sunny wore in a ring belonging to Angel, he figures out who was responsible. Heck, Angel pretty much boasts about it, so it’s not too hard to figure out!

Scudder soon brings Sarah back to his place, convinced she may suffer a similar fate. He then begins to investigate Angel’s drug operation, realizing that stereotypical 80’s slimeball is using grocery stores, owned by Chance, to move the drugs. Scudder and Chance then team up to take down Angel…but at what danger to Sarah?

“8 Million Ways to Die” was the final film directed by Hal Ashby. He died of cancer in 1988. The film also features a screenplay co-written by Oliver Stone, right at the point where his directing career was taking off with the likes of “Platoon” and “Wall Street.” I admit, Stone’s involvement gives me mixed feelings. He is a filmmaker who often impresses me, and just as often makes me shake my head in disgust. Just like in a number of other Stone penned films, there a moments where the script is really weak. The final confrontation between Bridges and Garcia is an especially woeful moment. The exchange goes approximately like this:

“Cut her loose, Angel!”
“I’m in control here, baby!”
“Come on man, cut her loose!”
“Put the f****n sh** down!”
“Cut her loose!”
“F****n drop the sh**, baby!”
(Repeat ad nauseum)

The script really needed some help, and apparently, even an uncredited stab by Robert Towne didn’t do the job. Still, the cast does a pretty solid job despite the flaws in the material. This sort of character suits 80’s era Jeff Bridges very well. Although Andy Garcia’s performance is sort of pseudo-Scarface (which was also penned by Stone), he’s still fun to watch. Rosanna Arquette, though, seems a bit out of place. She actually comes across as quite annoying and her performance leaves the viewer wondering why Scudder would even bother trying to rescue her.

On the other hand, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed Alexandra Paul. Of course, she is best known for her many years on Baywatch, which isn’t exactly Inside the Actor’s Studio type stuff. She manages to give her performance a tone that is both sweetly innocent and extremely sexy. Though, I have to admit, I felt a bit sorry for her having to deliver one of the script’s most juvenile moments where she stands naked in a doorway, silhouetted, commenting about how her pubic hair looks as it glows in the light from the street lamps outside. Seriously Oliver?

In the end, there’s really not much to move “8 Million Ways to Die” beyond the ranks of the average 80’s drug dealer crime story. The actors, for the most part, turn in some solid performances, but in the course of delivering a less than stellar script.

LAMMY Awards Presentation – Best Movie Reviewer

Over at the Large Association of Movie Blogs (or LAMB), they are coming to the end of the annual LAMMY awards. Even though Forgotten Films wasn’t nominated this year (let’s change that next year peeps), I was thrilled to once again be able to be a part of presenting the awards. Once again, I employed my puppet friends to take care of the award for Best Movie Reviewer. Enjoy the video and be sure to check out all the LAMMY winners over at the LAMB site.