Superman: The Ultimate Max Fleischer Cartoon Collection
8/10
December 6th 2006 03:25pm | Posted by: Michael Simpson
Starring: Bud Collyer, Joan Alexander
Written by: Dan Gordon, Seymour Kneitel, Robert Little, Carl Meyer, Jay Morton, Ted Pierce, Isidore Sparber
William Turner
Directed by: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel, Dan Gordon, Isidore Sparber
DVD Release Date: Now available
DVD Features: Behind the Cape, a synopsis of each cartoon; Snafuperman, a 1944 cartoon parody; bios; trailer for the 1948 Superman serials; phone interview with Joan Alexander
Released by: VCI Entertainment
Superman: The Ultimate Max Fleischer Cartoon Collection
Review by Michael Simpson| HNR Special Contributor
The Max Fleischer Superman cartoons are essential viewing for fans of the Man of Steel and classic film fantasy. This series of 17 animated shorts was Superman’s first foray onto the big screen. They were originally shown in movie theatres between 1941 and 1943 as a prelude to the main feature. They have since entered the public domain and been made available on VHS, DVD and the internet. The DVD reviewed here was recently released by VCI Entertainment.
Fleischer Studios was commissioned by Paramount to produce these cartoons when the character of Superman was still relatively new. The Man of Steel had already made the transition to radio, where his voice was provided by Bud Collyer. Collyer would play Superman/Clark Kent in the Fleischer cartoons. Also crossing over would be Joan Alexander, who repeated the role of Lois Lane. Her’s would become the longest-running voice in that role on radio and in cartoons.
In 1942 Paramount purchased Fleischer Studios, renamed it Famous Studios, and took over production of the Superman series. The famous opening lines, “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to soar higher than any plane!” were replaced and, like other series of the time, the stories began to involve wartime enemies. It wasn’t the Nazis or Kryptonite that brought this all-powerful Superman down, though. At a cost of around $100, 000 each, the cartoons were too expensive to make during the Second World War and the series ceased production before the war was over.
Superman’s appearance in the Fleischer cartoons differs somewhat from what we are used to seeing today. Clark Kent is the not a shy, fumbling character of more recent movies. Instead, he is the archetypal tall, square-jawed Hollywood hero of the 1930s and 1940s. Superman’s costume was also not the same. Although the colours are familiar, the super ‘S’ on his chest was different, in keeping with the appearance of the character in the Sunday newspaper comic strips of the time (which are reprinted in the book Superman: The Sunday Classics 1939-1943).
The Fleischer cartoons are loaded with action, but another notable difference from today is that there is only a small amount of dialogue. The background music is almost non-stop and there is not much talk to get in the way of the crash, bang, wallop.
On the technical side, this DVD release is excellent. The disc includes all 17 of the original cartoons, which have been digitally remastered. The liner notes claim that the quality here is better than any previously available versions. Regardless of whether that is so, the sound and visual quality is very high, especially given the age of these productions.
DVD Features
To round out the release, VCI have put together a small set of extra features. These include Behind the Cape, a synopsis of each cartoon with “fun facts,” Snafuperman, a cartoon parody made by Warner Brothers in 1944, biographical information on the actors, Max Fleischer and the titular character, and a trailer for the 1948 Superman serials starring Kirk Alyn.
Some of these special features have been made available before, but as an exclusive, VCI has included a recording of a phone interview with Joan Alexander. Alexander gives an account of her career in the entertainment industry and her experiences with Superman on radio and in cartoons. It may seem odd to have an audio feature on a hi-tech visual medium, but this is a treat for fans of vintage movies and radio.
In addition to the extras, VCI has provided a booklet outlining the history of the Fleischer cartoons. For those, like me, who don’t know their Superman history in detail, it is an interesting read and generally well written, but some grammatical errors let it down. It shouldn’t put you off, though, if you want to add these cartoons to your collection.
(This reviewer would like to acknowledge the Superman Website and Ross May at the Superman Homepage for additional background information on the making of the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons).
Source: HNR
In: DVD Reviews
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