Malibu Beach Party
| Malibu Beach Party | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vitaphone |
Release date |
|
Running time | 8:12 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Malibu Beach Party is a 1940 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng.[1] The short was released on September 14, 1940.[2]
The short is a parody of the popular radio comedy series,
Synopsis
An invitation goes out to Hollywood stars to a beach party at the Malibu beach home of "Jack Bunny," a parody of
On Jack Bunny's patio, a caricatured version of
As caricatures of Adolphe Menjou, Wallace Beery, Mary, James Cagney, and Ann Sheridan recline on the patio, Jack Bunny announces that he spared no expense in providing entertainment for the party. Gags include Winchester (a caricature of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) and bandleader "Pill" Harris (Benny's bandleader Phil Harris), and parodies of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Deanna Durbin, Mickey Rooney (as Andy Hardy), and Cary Grant.
Jack Bunny announces that "I have a real treat in store for you, the feature attraction of this afternoon, an artist with rare ability and fine technique, a person you all know and love: Mr. Jack Bunny." A parody of Benny's notoriously bad violin-playing follows, as the guests attempt to sneak out during his performance of
In the final scene, Jack Bunny continues his performance sitting on Winchester quoting "Someone's going to listen to this". When Jack asks Winchester if this number is beautiful, Winchester quotes "Under the circumstances, yes". Invoking Jack Benny's usual farewell, Jack says "Good night, folks." The scene irises out.
Voice cast
- Jack Lescoulie as Jack Bunny, Phil Harris
- Sara Berner as Mary Livingstone, Actresses
- Mel Blanc as Winchester, Crab
- Danny Webb as Ned Sparks, most male actors
- Marie Greene as Durbin singing
Sources
- Barrier, Michael (2003). "Warner Bros., 1941-1945". Hollywood Cartoons : American Animation in Its Golden Age: American Animation in Its Golden Age. ISBN 9780198020790.
- Lehman, Christopher P. (2007). "Black Characterizations". The Colored Cartoon: Black Representation in American Animated Short Films, 1907-1954. ISBN 9781558497795.
- Stausbauch, John (2007), "Black & White Film", Black Like You: Blackface, Whiteface, Insult & Imitation in American Popular Culture, ISBN 978-1101216057
See also
- Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur - An earlier cartoon that used a caricature of Jack Benny and used his usual farewell.
References
- ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
