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Greatest Eye Take…Ever!
 October 13, 2008 2:00 pm
Avery’s Northwest Hounded Police, Clampett’s Book Revue or… Charles Mintz’ Svengarlic?? Blogger John Vincent makes the case for the latter, an obscure 1931 Krazy Kat cartoon, over at Uncle John’s Crazy Town. Update: Vincent uploaded the clip here. |
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Woah, must find Svengarlic. Though it’s not a surprised eye take, but some kind of… hypnose? But until then Book Revue got my vote :)
Avery’s my fave one, I really like that face.
The last one is definitely the most creative, but lacks the surprise element and better timing of the others. I love the first one.
Book Revue. Biased; it’s my favorite Clampett.
“Svengarlic” is a parody of the 1931 Frederic March “Svengali” feature, still the best version of that story. The take is a take on mind control rather than a broad comedic display. But it needs to be available to view at 24 f.p.s. to please everyone.
I uploaded a clip of the scene. Click here.
i like porky pig’s take when he sees the cats/martians in “kitty kornered”
While “extreme” in a different style than Clampett, I nominate an honorable mention for Bluto’s eye take/closeup in “Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor.” The one where John K. and friends all go “Whoa!” on the DVD’s commentary track.
Seeing the clip at speed is a revelation. The animation is all on ones and very smooth, adding to its sheer creepiness, which no doubt was the animator’s intent. Wonder who animated this scene?
If I had to vote on one of the three, then “Book Revue” would get my vote… For me, however, a close runner-up (or at least an honorable mention) should be the Country Wolf’s reaction to a photo of Red Hot Riding Hood in Avery’s “Little Rural Riding Hood”.
SVENGALI starred John Barrymore, not Fredric March.
The take in “Book Revue” registers as pure emotion. Clampett was always great at getting the primal stuff.
Allthough not as weird and funny as most of the others you like, “There’s Good Boos Toninght” has the funniest varation even if it’s Famous Studios-type mediocere, when the hunter’s eyballs pop out when… let’s just say the part that historians hate so much (hint: it’s not the allusion to Bambi’s mom)
I find the most disturbing “eye take” is when Popeye takes a long drag on a cigar and blows the smoke out of his eye in “Can You Take It.” Now THAT creeps me out.
I vividly remember, from my childhood, a circa 1950 Terrytoons cartoon entitled “Mystery in the Moonlight,” which featured a weird (and, to a child, very frightening) character the pupils of whose eyes were concentric circles that moved in a kind of whirling fashion. He appeared suddenly in the opening and closing scenes. I dare say I last saw this cartoon at least forty years ago, and the thought of those scenes still gives me the creeps.
CRAZY TOWN…. HMMMM PRE-REEFER MADNESS COMMENT PERHAPS?
You can’t beat Book Revue. 100% Essence of Wild Take
I’ve always been partial to the one in Chuck Jones’ “Cheese Chasers”, after Hubie and Bertie stroll into Claude’s mouth while he’s snoozing.
To Doug Downs…
I, too, was very impressed as a child by “Mystery in The Moonlight.” In fact, my sister and I still talk about that cartoon to this day!! You described it just like I remembered it!!!
“mystery in the moonlight” is seared into my consciousness, too (grew up in the 70’s/80’s)…i’ve searched several times on youtube…no luck. would love to see it again.