Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Buzz Saws And Dynamite

Wonderland Burlesque's

 Down The Rabbit Hole: 

Buzz Saws And Dynamite

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at Buzz Saws And Dynamite.

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This is another 'Mugzee' film by Charles Bennes. Very little is known about the film and Steve Stanchfield from Cartoon Research, who is responsible for the film's restoration, isn't even sure of the film's creation date or whether it was ever released in theatres, though it does bear a ‘Comedy House production’ end title. His best guess is that this came out in 1935, though it does have a lot in common with Warner Bros. 1930 Vitaphone Varieties release Daisy Dolly In Hearts And Flowers, as it features the same characters and overall stop motion style. 

The biggest difference? This one has its original soundtrack, along with voiceovers.

Buzz Saws And Dynamite

It starts out strange from frame one. Mugzee is riding a train car minus engine. The tracks unexpectedly end, and it sends Mugzee (who bears a passing resemblance to both Alfred E. Neuman and Howdy Doody) flying into the woods where he squirrels about a bit before landing atop a harmonica-playing walking stereotype of a man who is transporting a horse in a cart. The horse, which escapes, is terrifying; that tongue, alone, enough to give children night 'mares' (hee, hee). The horse ends up in a tree and then? Flies. Then we return to reality as our two heroes attempt to rescue a maiden (who looks a lot like the aforementioned Daisy Dolly) being tied to the tracks. The sets are lot of fun.

That said, I'll leave the rest for you to watch. 

It's an experience, for sure, and a fascinating bit of vintage animation.

 

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