More of an advert for Dutch company Philips than a film, this eight-minute 'Puppetoon' provides a great example of the intricate work of George Pal long before he became a Hollywood producer of science-fiction films. All the puppets are made from wood, and it's clear that the amount of work involved in producing just a short eight-minute flick like this must have been immense. Filmed in sumptuous colour, it's more of a musical revue than an advert and there is something infectiously likable about it. Try to see the colour version if you can - I haven't seen the black-and-white print but it can only suffer in comparison.
4 Reviews
So freakin' awesome!
planktonrules9 July 2011
This film was included in the three DVD set "Saved From the Flames"--a collection of mostly ephemeral movies that have managed to avoid turning to powder, catching fire or melting--something that usually happened with the nitrate film stock used up through the 1950s.
"Den Stora Philipsrevyn" is an odd film that I am glad has been preserved because it just has to be seen to believed. George Pal (later of sci-fi movie fame) used what he called 'Puppetoons' to tell his story. These consisted of wooden dolls with interchangeable parts--such as various heads that can be switched so that by using stop-motion they appear to move with amazing fluidity. It's hard to imagine how long all this took and is an interesting contrast to the clay figures used by Willis O'Brien in films such as "King Kong". In addition, very vibrant Technicolor make this film really come alive. I think it's mega-cool and can't believe it's been just sitting in a can gathering dust all these years. Very entertaining.
"Den Stora Philipsrevyn" is an odd film that I am glad has been preserved because it just has to be seen to believed. George Pal (later of sci-fi movie fame) used what he called 'Puppetoons' to tell his story. These consisted of wooden dolls with interchangeable parts--such as various heads that can be switched so that by using stop-motion they appear to move with amazing fluidity. It's hard to imagine how long all this took and is an interesting contrast to the clay figures used by Willis O'Brien in films such as "King Kong". In addition, very vibrant Technicolor make this film really come alive. I think it's mega-cool and can't believe it's been just sitting in a can gathering dust all these years. Very entertaining.
A fabulous example of animation
georgeeliot28 March 2002
I'm afraid I've only seen this in black and white, although it was done in color. It contains some of the most fluid puppet animation ever done. The cartoon is comprised of two parts of equal length. In the first part the scene is a large nightclub. The orchestra of Ambrose is playing. Sam Browne sings Harbor Lights. People are seated at tables around a mirrored dance floor. Waiters hurry around. A couple modeled on Fred and Ginger, via the De Marcos, dance. The movement of the dancers is amazing. The mirrored image of the dancers on the floor begs belief. The second part is set in Harlem. Ambrose still provides the music but is not pictured. The music is hot. The citizens dance in the streets. An elevated train rumbles by. Again the animation is perfect. It roars to a finish.
Philips Broadcast of 1938 is an early excellent use of George Pal's "Puppetoons" from Holland
tavm16 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
In this, another discovery I found on the Europa Film Treasures site, George Pal's early use of his "Puppetoons" is brought to very entertaining effect here in this Dutch entry he did for the Philips company, which produces radios. Three songs are showcased, all performed by Bert Ambrose and his Orchestra with Ambrose providing the vocals for the first: "She Wore a Little Jacket of Blue" which showcases a woman who fits that description as she knocks an ex-suitor out of the picture and gains several others as she dances up a storm. Then Sam Browne takes over singing duties as he warbles about "Harbour Lights" and the woman he lost to the sea as we see the flashing lighthouse in the background and people waltzing to the tune. Then finally, Evelyn Dall swings to "The Rhythmm's OK in Harlem" as she and her fellow musicians provide the exciting finish that makes this musical short tops all around despite some stereotyping of Black Americans as crap shooters and watermelon eaters and the caricatured big lips (though since everyone is depicted cartoonish, all is forgiven). This animated short is highly recommended for jazz and animation lovers alike!
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