User Reviews

Max and Dave Fleischer have made several historical animation shorts, and also simple but fun things, "In the good old summer time" is one of them, Koko the clown and his pet called Fitz appear in the short, it is not a short film normal, it's more to sing together, the words that the characters are stepping on must be sung, it's a short one to sing along, but quite fun, the singing scene is played twice, with a black background and white drawings, this it's a normal song cartune.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

Ko-Ko similarly was an always amiable character to watch and among the better recurring characters in Fleischer's early work. Likewise, his series of Out of the Inkwell cartoons were among the best early efforts of Fleischer and silent cartoons in general. Fleischer may not be at his very finest and there are far better Ko-Ko cartoons than 'In the Good Old Summer Time'. It is still pretty good though as long as not too much is demanded.

The story is as thin as ice, not really one at all and basically a stringing along of sing-along sequences. Do agree too that it is pretty formulaic and obvious and that some of it is on the pat and convenient side.

However, there is a good deal to like. The opening sequence is very nicely animated and a lot of fun. The character interplay delights too.

One expects the animation to be primitive and very low quality, judging by that it's the 20s when animation techniques were not as many, as refined, as ambitious and in their infancy. While Fleischer became more refined and inventive later certainly, the animation is surprisingly good with some nice visual wackiness and wit. The music gives 'In the Good Old Summer Time' charm and energy.

Everything is bright and breezy and there are amusing moments, though never particularly imaginative. The characters are likeable.

In summation, pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I was very confused by "In the Good Old Summer Time" as I watched. While there were a few sound film shorts in the mid 1920s, they were very rare and mostly were made by the Vitaphone unit from Warner Brothers. This one could have been sound originally...IMDB doesn't say. But if it did come with an accompanying disc for sound (the standard until the late 1920s), it must be missing as this sing-a-long features the song "In the Good Old Summetime" but the sound accompanying this short on a DVD from Alpha Video has a Dixieland Jazz sort of soundtrack which has nothing to do with the sound. It is VERY possible that the film never originally had sound and the piano or organ player at the theater was to provide this music. Regardless, the Fleischer Brother's star, Koko the Clown, is in this one introducing the song as a simply animated dog acted like the old bouncing ball. Mildly interesting but tough to love with its current soundtrack. Perhaps you can find one with the original sound or at least the correct song.

I found this piece thoroughly charming! I picked it up on eBay in Super-8 with no idea of what it might be, and was agreeably surprised to find a Fleischer sing-along 'Car-Tune'. Those demanding the justly celebrated Fleischer pyrotechnics should pass on this title, since the Car-Tunes weren't full cartoons but an animated answer to the magic lantern slide theater sing-along. As such they're very enjoyable, especially if you do sing along. There was originally special sheet music that synchronized with the film, adding a few sound effects as well.

The (admittedly simple) animations as well as the time-tested lyrics of 1902's classic hit 'In the Good Old Summertime' provide a nostalgic evocation of old-fashioned summer fun that should bring a smile to most faces. So if you come upon this little film, go ahead-- hold hands with your 'Tootsey Wootsey' and join in!