User Reviews

The troop of Paul Terry's animal characters and some humans offer us a view of the post-war world fit for heroes in this Oscar-nominated Terrytoon.

Paul Terry's cartoons did not win Oscars. In fact, this was his first cartoon nominated for one and only one other would ever be. He rarely seemed ambitious beyond the prosperity of his studio: regular rounds of fairy tales, fables, a few lesser stars like Gandy Goose and Heckle and Jeckle; turn out a good product; make a few bucks on his contract with 20th Century-Fox, and a few more from the home-projector market. The target audience of small children have a good time. Everyone works, everyone takes home a paycheck.

There's nothing wrong with that moderate ambition, but it doesn't make great cartoons and it doesn't win Academy Awards. Then the Second World War came along and his staff of first-rate cartoon makers made some excellent cartoons in support. they stretched themselves and the results showed. The people who nominated the awards noticed.

It wouldn't last. After 1946,audiences declined, the studios didn't pay as much and television paid almost nothing. Paul Terry would sell his studio in 1956 and enjoy a nice retirement. Everyone else would work for a few more years.

A rather simple animation starting with a rendition of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" that serves as a musical bed throughout as the soldiers return from WWII to a nation where they will have jobs, full fridges, cars and washing machines. There are a few less propagandist scenes here too - a bra as a parachute, a rooster who is in so much "demand" he has to barricade himself inside the hen house and there is that washing machine! It looks more likely to remove a limb than a stain. Essentially, though, this is just a rather blatant piece of, probably essential by this point, post-war optimism tinged with a little chauvinism and optimistic idealism. It had a purpose, but not longevity I think.

In general, the standard of the Terrytoons cartoons was between mediocre at worst and decent at best. Never irredeemable, though there were some very weak cartoons both in their earlier and later output, but also never properly outstanding. The music was always the best asset, while the animation improved vastly over time. The story however was very nearly always the sore spot even in the best Terrytoons cartoons, and the characterisation and the gags were hit and miss.

1944's 'My Boy Johnny' is something of a departure from Terrytoons' usual work, one of their more mature cartoons with a heavier subject that one doesn't expect from Terrytoons. When looking at the studio's filmography, there is no question that for this reason it stands out. That was what was meant by the review summary, if it sounded derogatory and like a knock against the studio that wasn't the intent. Found 'My Boy Johnny' to be one of the best 1944 Terrytoons cartoons and one of their overall best even.

Even if it is a cartoon that appeals more to adults, who will find themselves relating to it more, and one of the few where it might not appeal or be as understandable to younger audiences born well after this was made and not familiar with the subject. That is not meant to be any kind of generalisation, or to imply that younger audiences are dumb (far from it).

The story is flimsy and pretty basic, a common problem with Terrytoons that they never really managed to sort out, and could have tightened in pace.

'My Boy Johnny' though clearly has its heart in the right place and doesn't feel too preachy. There is some nice well-timed humour that managed to be amusing enough and some of it, especially the ending, is poignant. The characters are not rich in development but are hardly devoid of personality.

Furthermore, the animation has improved so much since the studio first started and is very good. When Terrytoons first started, the animation was not really good at all, now it is the component that has shown the most improvement. It is nicely detailed, lively and colourful, with a vividly rendered and not too cutesy setting and vibrant colours that don't look garish. Even better is the music, the one component that never faltered. It is beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is terrific fun to listen to and the lively energy is present throughout, doing so well with adding to the action.

All in all, one of the better Terrytoons cartoons from 1944 and stands out in premise and in quality. 7/10