The Early Bird and the Worm (1936)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Beautiful, moving film.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The Happy Harmonies aren't too well remembered today outside animation fandom circles. They were the only cartoons of the 30's that matched the quality of the Disney cartoons; although they never mastered storytelling or character development, but the character animation was always top notch. It's no surprise that the Happy Harmonies closely resembled and felt like Disney's cartoons, as Harman-Ising once worked for Disney and were trying to compete with him around this time. Most of their storylines were perfectly in tune with a Silly Symphony storyline.I like to compare this one to the Silly Symphony BIRDS IN THE SPRING (1933), which also follows a misadventure of a young bird that has a run in with a snake. Although the snake here looks far less menacing, but still attempts to hypnotize the bird so he can get a meal. Rudy Ising said in later years that the censors took issue with the snake using a baby's rattle at the end of it's tail. I could see that as potentially disturbing, but what I got from it was that the snake looked like a hapless character and using a baby's rattle helped convey that type of character.A problematic part of this short is the two crows that are based on the black face comedy duo Moran and Mack. I get the joke that their routine "Two Black Crows" was a literal joke, but this reference would be lost on modern viewers. Their depicted as lazy and lethargic. Their design seems reminiscent of the crows from Dumbo which would be released a few years later. This could be why this film is rarely seen nowadays. Although I like Scott Bradley's bluesy tempo that plays during their scene. While the MGM Harman-Ising cartoons boast some top notch animation, they're not too distinctive from the Disney shorts of the time. However there's something I've enjoyed from watching almost all of them. Hopefully there will be an official release.

Whilst dated this is worth a look - if only for for the two crows. Their opening scene where they are discussing the merits of early rising is very amusing.Alas political correctness would probably rule them out today! The rattle snake is a hoot too. The main characters - the bird and the worm - are rather twee but they provide enough entertainment to carry this 1930s short through at a fair lick.8/10 for lovers of old style animation and watchers of historical footage. I am such a person and cartoons like this one can give insight into those early times. The director, Rudolf Ising, is highly regarded by lovers of old animation.He spent a lifetime producing and directing animated features. When the Thin Man DVD Collection was put together this was included as one of the special features. It is a good choice and gives the nostalgia lover a satisfactory glow!