Overlooked Cartoon (See it HERE): Thugs with Dirty Mugs (1939)

I love all the Warner's Brothers cartoons lampooning movie stars of the day. They did a lot of those, and Edward G. Robinson was included in most. But in this one, whose title was obviously inspired by the non-Robinson film Angels with Dirty Faces, Eddie G is the star. This is the only cartoon I've seen that's a complete send-up of Warner's crime films. Enjoy.

Click HERE to see THUGS WITH DIRTY MUGS.

More Overlooked Films at SWEET FREEDOM.

Comic Gallery: CRIMES BY WOMEN (1948-49)

See the first three CRIMES BY WOMEN covers HERE.

Poster Gallery: Bob Steele

1932

1933

1931

Comic Gallery: GHOST Comics (1952-53)

See the first three good-lookin' GHOST covers HERE.

Forgotten Books: GANGLAND'S DOOM (The Shadow of the Pulps) by Frank Eisgruber Jr. (1974)

Gangland’s Doom, published by Robert Weinberg way back in 1974, was the first non-fiction book devoted entirely to The Shadow. And, I’m pleased to say, it dealt exclusively with the real Shadow - the Shadow of the pulps - and not that watered-down fraud who impersonated him on the radio, in comic books and in the movies.

There’s been much written about The Shadow in the years since, much of it good, but this book by Mr. Frank Eisgruber Jr. certainly gives you all the basics. Chapters deal with our hero’s true identity and eight of his false ones, detailed descriptions and histories of 32 of his agents, all the dope on his two secret sanctums, the lowdown on nine of his most formidable enemies, a detailed analysis of his travels around the country and the world, info on Walter Gibson and his two assistant raconteurs - Theodore Tinsley and Bruce Elliott, and a list of all 325 adventures, identifying the authors of each.

That’s a lot to pack into 64 pages, but it was made possible by the primitive technology of the times. The book was typeset with a typewriter, providing plenty of words per page.

And as you see here, the front and back covers were graced with the art of Frank Hamilton. There’s another fine Hamilton illo inside - of Gibson and his creation - but I couldn’t scan it without damaging the book.

Not surprisingly, this little volume is now a collector’s item, and will cost you quite a few simoleons. But Altus Press has kindly published a new improved edition for a new generation of Shadow fans.

More Forgotten Books at pattinase!

Poster Gallery: Lloyd Nolan as MICHAEL SHAYNE

1941

1942

1942

DOC SAVAGE COMICS (1940-41)

Lots more Doc Savage stuff HERE.

Overlooked Films: Flynn, Rathbone & Niven in THE DAWN PATROL (1938)

How’s this sound?  A movie starring Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven - and all of them are good guys. A movie that’s all action and drama - wasting not a single second on romance. A movie that’s funny, sad and heroic - all at the same time.

If that sounds like your kind of film, you need look no further than The Dawn Patrol (1938, and not to be confused with the original 1930 version starring Richard Barthelmess). 

It all happens in WWI France, where a squadron of (mostly) happy-go-lucky British pilots are doing their best to support their troops. Opposing them is a German named Von Richter (though the name is often slurred enough that you can hear Richthofen if you want to) and his (mostly) more experienced fliers.

Rathbone, a former pilot, is commander of the unit, and chafes under the ever more outrageous demands of the brass. They send him raw replacements with only a few hours of flying time - and zero combat experience. Naturally Von Richter’s fighters shoot them down as fast as they go up.

Flynn and Niven, best of friends and the only two pilots with enough experience to survive, deal with the death by staying drunk as lords, carousing at every opportunity and disobeying orders with impunity. And naturally, they blame Rathbone for following orders and sending inept pilots out to the slaughter.

Things change dramatically when Rathbone is promoted, naming Flynn as his replacement. Now it’s Flynn who chafes under the whip of the brass-hats, and is forced to send out raw recruits. And that’s when Niven’s young brother, wide-eyed and inexperienced as they come, arrives as a new recruit. Suddenly all is very much unwell among the Dawn Patrol.

The acting is just what you’d expect from these guys, there’s nothing wrong with the dialogue, and there are some nice scenes of dogfights and bombing runs. This is top-flight Warner Bros. entertainment.

 More Overlooked Films, as usual, at SWEET FREEDOM.