June 09, 2004
MERRIE MELODIES MYSTERY
Cartoon historian Cole Johnson sent me this jpeg of his cel from HOLLYWOOD STEPS OUT (WB 1941).
The odd thing about it is that in the actual cartoon, Jimmy Stewart is wearing a tux - not an Army uniform. Cole thinks this might be the way the film was originally - and changed for its "Blue Ribbon" reissue. My guess is that this was a special cel made for publicity purposes.
As HOLLYWOOD STEPS OUT was in production in 1940, and released May 1941, before the US entered the war - and as Stewart joined the Army in March '41 - and that both characters are on the same cel (they were most likely on separate cels on the production art), I doubt this was an image from the original version of the film.
But a damn nice piece of art, Cole. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by at June 9, 2004 04:04 PM