Sunday, February 20, 2011

FAST AND FURRY-OUS! (Warner Brothers, 1949)

Warner Brothers presents...

A Merry Melodies technicolor cartoon!

FAST AND FURRY-OUS title card:

Background art by Peter Alvarado:

You've just gotta LOVE these desert backgrounds. They read funny in and of themselves! They are stylish and anabashedly cartoony. On watching this all day (while digitally assembling the B/G art), I came to realize and appreciate how important a role the Road Runner and Coyote B/G art plays in the comedy. The pans set up a gag on frame one then pans over the the punchline or beautiful set-up for a gag.


This pan B/G includes Wile E. Coyote on the lookout...

Can't you just visualize the chases across these magnificent old west B/Gs?






Here's a spectacular red rock B/G:

This pan has a gag set-up on each end!

The intersection of Road Runner Blvd. and Coyote Avenue,,,

The fabulous, infamous rocket ride...

The desert landscapes continue!




This is going to hurt...

The hand-painted train tunnel...

The frame on the left extends a previously used B/G...

Oh, boy! A classic routine - the Acme super suit!

Look at all the parts involved in this elaborate plan...

More wonderful desert landscapes...



Talk about perspective! You can almost hear the sound effects of the coyote dropping...

The infamous jet-propelled tennis shoe!

More desert landscapes!



There are even chases around the California freeways!



This sign IS a gag, in and of itself - a vertical pan up the sign!

Wile E. hides behind this sign to await his prey...

The familiar "beep-beep" he hears brings a surpring different confrontation on this landscape B/G...

A remarkable cartoon and equally remarkable artwork!