When mankind destroys itself by continual wars, animals inherit the earth - successfully living by man's set of rules found in an old book.
This 'Harman-Ising' M-G-M 1939 release is a little gem, superbly animated and with a message that is still relevant today. It was remade in the early 1950's in 'Scope and re-titled Goodwill To Men, both are very effective and both are available from Derann Films.
I have both in my collection but if push conies to shove I prefer the slightly cuter 1939 version, Peace on Earth, in which, as a direct contrast to the animal cuteness, the scene in which the last two surviving humans on earth shoot each other and sink below the muddy waters in the trench is powerful stuff indeed.
Some scenes of the troops at war have been rotoscoped, very effectively too, and of course the whole style of really fluid animation has long since gone, the victim of costs and stylization, and to those critics that argue that some of us collectors live in the past, well this cartoon is a very example of why we do, and why we collect vintage items.
Those who only like the later violent T&J, Roadrunner and later Bugs Bunny cartoons will probably find little to interest them in this film, however, If you are looking for a serious, yet beautifully animated cartoon, with just the message for Christmas (but suitable for any time of the year), then you need look no further than this superb Hugh Harman original, or the 'Scope remake
The print quality on my copies purchased some years ago (and presumably still similar) is excellent. Very good definition and superb colour. The sound on the Scope remake is absolutely first-class.
Both releases very highly recommended.
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Distributed by: Derann
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The above review was printed in Super Eight Film
Review in issue 41. |
This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002