User Reviews

The Wolf Gang has kidnapped Little Bo Peep's flock. Bo and the black sheep go after them in this Terrytoon.

Although Paul Terry had finally turned the direction of some of his cartoons to other directors, long-time pro Frank Moser would direct some of his output for another year. This one shows a failing hand; the visual style varies between the old rubber-tube derived animation and the newer, slicker character design with more fluid animation. Some of the gags seem old-fashioned and pointless and the title is justified by the opening song; unlike some cartoon and comedy shorts producers, Terry did not usually give his product random names.

The net result is what Moser had been turning out for years: a competent but uninspired cartoon.

The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.

1936, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch, more so than the other years even. Of which 'A Wolf in Cheap Clothing' is one of the middling ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the middling 1936 cartoons. It is an unexceptional, nothing exactly special cartoon and has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'A Wolf in Cheap Clothing' is also watchable, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.

Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation is neat.

A few amusing moments and there is some zest and natural charm. The characters, while not terribly distinctive, are not entirely personality deprived and appeal, though only the wolves are memorable.

Outside of the backgrounds however, the animation is primitive and crude sometimes.

Likewise, the story is paper thin and formulaic, once again with nothing new to a fairly old premise. Gags aren't enough, they are not always very organised (fairly scattershot), and there is not much especially memorable about some and some don't serve much point. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and a lot of it is pretty predictable. Some choppiness too and the cartoon feels very old fashioned.

Overall, watchable if unexceptional. 5/10 Bethany Cox