Prod. 2443 - Gull Crazy - a.k.a. The Simple Things

Originally called internally Gull Crazy as a reference to the Gershwin show (and Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland film) Girl Crazy, the film The Simple Things is considered the last Mickey Mouse short made during Walt Disney's lifetime.

Directed by Charles Nichols, laid out by Lance Nolley with as secretary Beulah May "Bee" Selck (who started at Disney in April 1937 and whom we know to have been assistant director and editor during the war years). The film itself adds to the credits: written by Bill Berg, backgrounds by Ed Starr, music by Paul Smith.
Released 4/18/1953. This FINAL draft of 1/25/1952 (!)

Animation by Marvin Woodward, Norm Ferguson, George Kreisl, Fred Moore, Charles Nichols (the director), George Nicholas and Dan MacManus (effects). Sadly Fred Moore died, age 41, on 11/23/52, between the date of this draft and the release date of the film.

A lot can be said about the quality of the animation, so I will not comment a lot on that. The film is lifted by the thought process of Pluto, but the animation of him at times seems to be outdated when looking at the other characters. Mickey at times is pretty badly drawn, his model isn't too exciting either. But once in a while there are great scenes, so we can't really blame Fred Moore or Norm Ferguson for that matter. Marv Woodward's and George Nicholas' scenes aren't among their best (to say it mildly). As a whole this film is pretty uninspired, not a great (temporary) ending to Mickey's acting career in the Disney shorts.

I do like the song, though - I find it hard to shake. Paul J. Smith (1906-1985), though mainly noted for his work on the True Life Adventures, has worked for Disney since 1934 - his official starting day was the same as that of assistant director Lou Debney, father of the great composer John Debney. Paul Smith later worked together a lot with writer Gil George, who was actually Disney nurse Hazel George. Check him out on IMDb - his list of credits is incredible!

The film The Simple Things is found on the Treasures DVD "Mickey Mouse in Living Color Part Two" and can be seen on YouTube, as well.

---

Busy as always, I am currently editing A. Film's latest Olsen Gang CG film that will be released in Denmark in October 2013.
Sorry I have so very little time to upload stuff here!

Prod. 2004 - Fantasia (XXI) - Seq. 4.3 (Beethoven: Third Movement)

Directed by Ham Luske and Jim Handley, assisted by Jack Bruner. Layout by Ken Anderson. This draft dated 9/16/40.

Character animation by Jack Bradbury, Sewell (see note), Lynn Karp, Murray McClellan, Walt Kelly, Bernie Wolf, Eric Larson, Bill Justice, Bob Youngquist, Ward Kimball, Milt Neil, Don Lusk and John Elliotte.

Effects by Ugo D'Orsi, Frank Follmer, Jack Gayek, Paul Kossoff, George Rowley, (see note 2) Fitzpatrick, Cornett Wood, George DeBeeson, Ed Aardal, Miles Pike and John Reed.

(Note: Alberto Becattini has a John Sewall who was animator during this era, and, of course Hazel Sewell, Walt's sister-in-law who married Bill Cottrell, and who was in charge of Ink and Paint in the early Mickey years. Alberto has a question mark behind animation in her name. I must admit I lean towards John Sewall here. They could have spelled his name wrong, based on Hazel being well known around the studio...)

(Note 2: Alberto mentions only Art Fitzpatrick, who was Babbitt's assistant. But a contemporary list of employees who took part in the 1941 strike that I have a copy of (and promised not to post) lists an effects animator called Paul Fitzpatrick. It could be a typo, of course, but more likely our effects guy here is this Paul, who at the time of the strike made a weekly $47.50, while e.g. Don Tobin made $76.50... Oh, by the way, the same list names John Sewall and a person working in color called Claudia Sewell. No other Sewell.)

Prod. 2006 - Dumbo (XVII)

Seq. 15.1 "Lullaby Sequence"
Directed by Bill Roberts and John/Jack Elliotte, assistant director Earl Bench, layout Al Zinnen.
This 1st draft dated 2/28/41.

Animation by Bill Tytla (Dumbo & Mrs. Jumbo's trunk), Fred Moore (Timothy) and assorted animals by Bob Youngquist, Harvey Toombs, Ed Aardal and ... Sewell? My first guess is that this is John Sewall, not Hazel Sewell (Lillian Disney's sister and head of Ink & Paint) - but what do I know...

Effects by George Rowley, Cornett Wood, Dan MacManus, John Reed and Miles Pike. Sticklers for detail are now in droves putting up their hands eager to tell me that Cornett Wood's Social Security Number was one above John Reed's...yeah, right!

Nurse!

Here we have musician Ollie Wallace in a situation with the studio nurse. Now - would this be the illustrious nurse/writer and Walt's confidant Hazel "Gil" George??? It's a fun photo, anyway...

< Click on it!