More Golden Collection speculation

Over at the Animation Show forums, TinaMarina wonders if we might finally see some of the controversial "censored 11" on the upcoming volume five of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs:

This sounds like the Golden Collection of every cartoon fans' dreams--especially since the Fairy Tale and Bob Clampett discs could give way to some of the Censored 11 cartoons appearing, preferably:

--Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs (could be on either the Bob Clampett disc or the Fairy Tale disc)
--Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears (Fairy Tale disc, since this is a Friz Freleng cartoon)
--Tin Pan Alley Cats (Clampett disc, since it's not based on a fairy tale)

To me, Coal Black seems to be the one most likely on the disc set since it is a fairy tale, it is a Bob Clampett cartoon, and everyone loves it despite the racial stereotypes. The others have a chance, but it's a long shot. Then again, I said the same thing about "Mississippi Hare" appearing in volume 4 and look what happened.

Alas, it is not to be. Jerry Beck puts this idea to rest:

I hate to break it to you... but those titles will not be appearing on Vol. 5. Sorry.

Which is unfortunate, but not altogether surprising. Why would Warner Brothers bother risking the type of backlash they might suffer by releasing a cartoon like Coal Black, when there are still so many great cartoons not yet on DVD?

Tex Avery and the Golden Collections

At the Golden Age Cartoons forums, Houserunner ponders why Tex Avery has been so underrepresented so far on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs:

I read LTGC VOL.5 news. Yes, it looks like another great set, Robert Clampett is my second favorite cartoon director, so Clampett disc is a great news to me. But, I don't understand why five volumes of Looney Tunes not had one Tex Avery disc. Yes, I believe Tex Avery set will happen newt year or in the near future, I agree Tex made his best cartoons with MGM but he made so many innovative, influential classics with WB. But, after five volumes of LTGC, not one single Avery disc? I don't understand.

Janiepooh34 is blunt:

Why? Because the people that make the decisions are idiots.

Leviathan:

Avery also has the worst representation of all the directors on the Golden Collections (7 measly cartoons. Even Clampett and Tashlin have much much better showings). As a matter of fact, we've had two WHOLE Golden Collections with no Avery shorts whatsoever. Why? Is is because Avery's WB cartoons are considered inferior to his MGM cartoons?

J. J. Hunsecker has a theory:

It's probably because most people prefer the WB cartoons from the 40's and 50's (the classics most people remember from childhood). The cartoons from the 30's are largely unknown to most audiences, and are probably a little troubling for Warners since most of them are in black & White or are somewhat crude in their animation. Most of Avery's Warner cartoons are from the 30's, so you can see why an entire disc hasn't been devoted to him.

Leviathan isn't so sure about that:

They had no problem giving Tashlin his own disc (full of '30's cartoons, animation quality comparable to the Van Beuren cartoons from earlier in the decade). And a Clampett disc is imminent (Most likely More 30's cartoons). Furthermore, Avery's color cartoons greatly outnumber his B/W cartoons (He made only 12 B/W cartoons, since he worked exclusively in the Merrie Melodies from 1937 through for all intents and purposes his Departure to MGM)

Jack has a different theory:

I think they're trying to space out some of the more marketable content in the discs (and regardless of whether Avery's WB work was crude or not, he is actually fairly well known to a lot of people, so his name on anything is a draw). I think it'll happen, we just need to wait for it.

More details on LTGC Volume 5

Over at the Golden Age Cartoons forum, the Cartoon King posts word that a few more details have been released about the upcoming fifth volume of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD. Still no full list of cartoons, but better than nothing for now. From tvshowsondvd.com:

More Looney Tunes...your wish is our command. In this 4-disc set are 60 of the most hysterical Looney Tunes ever created and over 5 hours of extra special features. Indeed, some have never before been on home video! Disc 1 celebrates a duo every bit as famous as thunder and lightning or beans and weenies: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Termite Terrace provides peerless takes on Fairy Tales in Disc 2. Not to be outdone, Disc 3 showcases the hilarious talent of the great animator Robert Clampett. And the fowl deeds and rabbit-fire jokes wrap with Disc 4's hamboree jamboree of Porky Pig and more classics.

Kaseykockroach wonders:

Does this mean Porky is going to get another disc? Or is it another All-stars? By the sound of it, it sorta sounds like a "Porky & Friends" type of disc to me.Either way, Mouse Menace just has to be included! P.S: Also, if there a Clampett Disc, does this mean more John K. commentaries?

Eugene the Jeep quickly puts that notion to rest:

No. He thinks the series is an abomination.

Leviathan weighs in:

Clampett getting his own disc is overdue. I would expect to see at least one commentary from you-know-who on the disc (and an appropriate blog entry damning Warner Bros. for turning the shorts into candycane lane, but that's neither here nor there). And here's hoping at least one Foghorn Leghorn makes it to the last disc.

Looney Tunes Golden Collection -- Volume 5 News

It appears that Madison Carter over at the Golden Age Cartoons forum has gotten his hands on an advance copy of the upcoming Popeye DVD. And apparently one of the discs features a preview for the still-unannounced upcoming Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD. Madison was kind enough to post some screengrabs from the promo.

Based on those, here's what Duck Dodgers says we can expect from this set:

Senorella and the Glass Huarache.
The Abominable Snow Rabbit
Paying the Piper
Scrap Happy Daffy
A Pest In the House
Goldimouse and the Three Cats
The Turn-Tale Wolf
Buccaneer Bunny
A Star Is Bored
Little Red Rodent Hood
The Super Snooper
The Stupor Salesman
Hollywood Daffy
The Old Grey Hare
Red Riding Hoodwinked
The Wacky Wabbit
Bacall To Arms
Little Red Walking Hood
Prehistoric Porky
Patient Porky
The Daffy Doc
Porky's Preview
Milk and Money
Bugs Bonnets

It's not a complete list, obviously, but interesting nonetheless.



The Spectre gets a bit worried when he notices that the black & white cartoon "Patient Porky" appears to be colourized. Duck Dodgers quickly puts any fears to rest:

This promotional trailers are worth only because they reveal a bit of the contents. The clips usually come from unrestored copies and even from colorized versions of b/w cartoons. They do not reflect anyway the real quality of the cartoons in the set.

And then of course, the apparently requisite ugly cover art is discussed. Sean Gaffney puts it bluntly:

Wow, that jacket art is hideous

LTS agrees, but puts things into perspective:

That cover art is hideous but they can throw four discs, with no box, at me and i'll still pay $45-50.

It is quite baffling that they continue to give these things such outrageously ugly covers, but like LTS says, it's the content that counts. Hopefully we'll get an official announcement soon.