A jazz cartoon involving a "Fats Waller"-like cat who leaves the "Uncle Tomcat Mission" for the local jazz club.A jazz cartoon involving a "Fats Waller"-like cat who leaves the "Uncle Tomcat Mission" for the local jazz club.A jazz cartoon involving a "Fats Waller"-like cat who leaves the "Uncle Tomcat Mission" for the local jazz club.
Photos
Mel Blanc
- Giant Lips
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- …
The Four Dreamers
- Uncle Tom Cat Mission Singers
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Four Spirits of Rhythm
- Fats Waller Cat backing vocals
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Zoot Watson
- Scatting Cat
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne 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 [and others]: What's de MOTOR with him?
- ConnectionsEdited from Porky in Wackyland (1938)
Featured review
Not for the faint hearted, but still one of the better "Censored 11" cartoons
Bob Clampett was a highly imaginative director, with a wonderfully wacky visual style unlike any other animator/director in cartoon history and the humour in his cartoon was often thick and fast, razor sharp and inventive in visuals.
'Tin Pan Alley Cats' is not one of his strongest efforts, and many won't take kindly to some of the material and stereotypes. One can see why it's one of the "Censored 11" cartoons, but to be honest there are worse and more offensive cartoons in this small group, particularly 'Angel Puss' which was both offensive and a bad cartoon.
It is not hard to see why the material in 'Tin Pan Alley Cats' is not for the faint hearted or easily offended. As someone who isn't easily offended, even I had to admit that the characters were poorly drawn, ugly in design and with features ridiculously exaggerated (especially those lips) and that the stereotypes of black people looking, sounding and acting stupid and lazy (which is further from the truth more often than not) are crude, exaggerated to extreme and unsubtle to the point of offensiveness. The cartoon is very light on plot.
Despite all this, there is entertainment value in 'Tin Pan Alley Cats' and much of it is exceptionally made, making it somewhere around top middle of the "Censored 11" cartoons in ranking. Cartoons like 'Angel Puss' don't have the honour of having either of those things. Ugly character designs aside, the animation is extremely imaginative and rich in detail. Even greater is the incredible soundtrack which adds to the cartoon enormously and gives it such energy.
Some amusing moments are present, though the humour could have been more consistent, Clampett's distinctive style shines through loud and clear and there is a wonderfully weird surreal atmosphere that works so well within the cartoon and elevates the material to a higher level actually. The supremely talented Mel Blanc has done much better, having to provide stereotypical voices for the characters, but he does bring exuberance at least. The Four Dreamers, Four Spirits of Rhythm and Zoot Watson add a good deal.
Overall, one of the better "Censored 11" cartoons, despite being racially offensive in places. 7/10 Bethany Cox
'Tin Pan Alley Cats' is not one of his strongest efforts, and many won't take kindly to some of the material and stereotypes. One can see why it's one of the "Censored 11" cartoons, but to be honest there are worse and more offensive cartoons in this small group, particularly 'Angel Puss' which was both offensive and a bad cartoon.
It is not hard to see why the material in 'Tin Pan Alley Cats' is not for the faint hearted or easily offended. As someone who isn't easily offended, even I had to admit that the characters were poorly drawn, ugly in design and with features ridiculously exaggerated (especially those lips) and that the stereotypes of black people looking, sounding and acting stupid and lazy (which is further from the truth more often than not) are crude, exaggerated to extreme and unsubtle to the point of offensiveness. The cartoon is very light on plot.
Despite all this, there is entertainment value in 'Tin Pan Alley Cats' and much of it is exceptionally made, making it somewhere around top middle of the "Censored 11" cartoons in ranking. Cartoons like 'Angel Puss' don't have the honour of having either of those things. Ugly character designs aside, the animation is extremely imaginative and rich in detail. Even greater is the incredible soundtrack which adds to the cartoon enormously and gives it such energy.
Some amusing moments are present, though the humour could have been more consistent, Clampett's distinctive style shines through loud and clear and there is a wonderfully weird surreal atmosphere that works so well within the cartoon and elevates the material to a higher level actually. The supremely talented Mel Blanc has done much better, having to provide stereotypical voices for the characters, but he does bring exuberance at least. The Four Dreamers, Four Spirits of Rhythm and Zoot Watson add a good deal.
Overall, one of the better "Censored 11" cartoons, despite being racially offensive in places. 7/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•00
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 24, 2016
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Merrie Melodies #17 (1942-1943 Season): Tin Pan Alley Cats
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime7 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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