This review is based on a three-minute "toy projector" version posted on Youtube. These cut-downs were common versions in the early 1930s. With the ending of the silent era, prints of silent movies had very limited commercial value except for a few hobbyists, and short subjects were frequently chopped up for children's projectors.... and sometimes are the only prints of these movies. Apparently a full version exists in a private collection... but whose collection is not known. Good luck finding it and dragging it into the opening.
As it exists this is not particularly interesting. Walter and Joseph A"Baldy" Belmont talk at the seashore, where the cartoon Pete is diving in and out of the ocean. Walter and Pete talk about people swimming the English Channel and Pete offers to swim the Atlantic. At that point, the cut-down ends.
At this time, Lantz was directing and starring in a series of mixed animation/live short subjects for the Bray Studios, competing with the Fleischers' Ko-ko the Clown. The construction and sense of humor are much simpler here. The weak charm of this remnant is the interaction between Pete and Walter, which is handled very simply. While the complete version might have sharper gags in the second half, there is no evidence of it here.
As it exists this is not particularly interesting. Walter and Joseph A"Baldy" Belmont talk at the seashore, where the cartoon Pete is diving in and out of the ocean. Walter and Pete talk about people swimming the English Channel and Pete offers to swim the Atlantic. At that point, the cut-down ends.
At this time, Lantz was directing and starring in a series of mixed animation/live short subjects for the Bray Studios, competing with the Fleischers' Ko-ko the Clown. The construction and sense of humor are much simpler here. The weak charm of this remnant is the interaction between Pete and Walter, which is handled very simply. While the complete version might have sharper gags in the second half, there is no evidence of it here.
