Here’s an example from Old Mother Hubbard (1935). You know the lines from the nursery rhyme. Mother Hubbard and her dog go to the cupboard. All there is in the cupboard is a spider.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUB8IE6r7fiKp7q4FzZ09TprloKTvpP6_n5g1bHjp4sqZbJGf59jG0XI5DH-LB8FPYI0m7yq5GHAl0Mdu4G_HlODEqEiv1w8y8oYMOcQxYqTGi1oXsMr-0g0sZsjhil0HQA4f5uWYHFDqH/s400/MOTHER+HUBBARD+%25281%2529.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eo0fmwGJdzjKQfjme9P202_KVgnsu0wFKO5AAW6QeNCr8unbAZhjOyiCXmFZt9WH4pPJr6Lb8qBwVfPmZ_75xuC2Baev5A8_Fr6j9NR4Wl2C9SUcQoajf-6jb9KIY-dIrs7mWMM-EiUw/s400/MOTHER+HUBBARD+%25282%2529.png)
If this were a Fleischer cartoon, the spider would come out with some kind of non sequitur. Even in a mid-‘30s Friz Freleng cartoon, the spider would say or do something silly.
But no. Not in an Iwerks cartoon. Not even a “Can you direct me to Miss Muffet?” The spider being there is the gag. That’s it. Are you laughing yet?
Below are consecutive frames.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxqOKKXKvQa5Olu7IqodjJ_sOaDNrvJ_MzX9Mqo9nTzp9PixK_StxJ3ggBn4NR_sBybZj7PX29ANuIuYJfRxWQA9j3qLvgaVJcdd2Yl4P_9eoJAYuKNkSSVS3w69un92c6iGdE8EmpkUH/s400/MOTHER+HUBBARD+%25283%2529.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQdJ-HOcaTFUlhuztEhuuE7kQvSK5m8eX15_zjTEGPxyH023kcLS5UFihtFJGdLhiq6-IG4fWGGgtlMqjhHRjco0D19uHcfMRLCOjZoBnPJUM3WF7J9cUQvyMrpGnRPYXYjXEeQARa3A7/s400/MOTHER+HUBBARD+%25284%2529.png)
“No bone,” gestures Mother Hubbard. Or maybe “No spider.” Where did it go? It was just there a frame ago. Maybe Ub is jumping into the future (and wondering how fast he can get back to Disney).
There are other spots in the cartoon where it looks like a gag is being set up and nothing happens. However, the dog mouths the word “Damn” twice (this is an Iwerks cartoon after all) and does a weak Maurice Chevalier impression.
Iwerks and his people seem more interested in loading up the cartoon with songs than humour. I love Carl Stalling, but as an operetta, this short is third rate.
The studio was only making these ComiColor cartoons by 1935; Willie Whopper had been kicked out by MGM the year before.
Maybe the dog ate the spider. XD!
ReplyDeleteHeh. Pretty fast dog. I couldn't even see him do it!
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