Tin Pan Alley Cats (1943)

Director:

Robert Clampett

Writer:

Warren Foster (story)

Release Date:

17 July 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Short | Comedy | Music

Plot:

A jazz cartoon involving a "Fats Waller"-like cat who leaves the "Uncle Tomcat Mission" for the local jazz club.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Jazz | Piano | Trumpet | Reference To Louis Armstrong

Cast

Mel Blanc

...

Giant Lips / Rubber Band / Hitler / Cat (voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

USA:7 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia) | UK:U (1961)

Company:

Leon Schlesinger Studios

Trivia:

One of the "Censored 11" banned from T.V. syndication by United Artists in 1968 (then the owners of the Looney Tunes film library) for alleged racism. Ted Turner continued the ban when he was hired and stated that these films will not be re-issued and will not be put on Home Video. These cartoons will probably never air on television again, and only non-Warner Bros. licensed public domain video tapes will probably ever have these cartoons on them.

Quotes:

Fats Waller Cat: Where is I?
Giant Lips: You is outa dis world!
Fats Waller Cat: Who dat?
Giant Lips: Well... who dat?
Fats Waller Cat: Who dat say who dat when I say who dat? Was dat you?
Giant Lips: Mmmmmmm... could be!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Behind the Tunes: Man from Wackyland - The Art of Bob Clampett (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Jazzy score is just one of many reasons to check this one out!

This is an incredibly good cartoon that has sadly been shoved into the vaults because of the fact that it caricatures pianist Fats Waller (as a cat, no less) and the powers that be are afraid this short might offend somebody somewhere. Even sadder still, Fats Waller himself is probably all too unknown these days. A great musician and one of those larger-than-life personalities that come along a few times each generation. This short reminds me in spots of Porky In Wackyland, but with better music. This is well worth the effort to hunt for. Most highly recommended.