The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
'Pretzels' is the second Terrytoon cartoon, after 'Caviar' from the same year, and again it's not half bad if with not much exceptional, with pretty much the same strengths and flaws. Like 'Caviar', 'Pretzels' is available as of now on Youtube via a French theatrical print with German subtitles. There is also another print available where two scenes are missing, one with the silhouetted instrumentalists and the hot milks scene, both scenes intact in the other version.
Its best asset is the music, which is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Even recognised Schumann's 'The Happy Farmer' from way back when studying the Suzuki Method on the cello. The backgrounds are detailed enough and show a studio that were aiming for ambition and succeeding in some aspects.
Pacing is neither too hectic or dull, there is a natural charm and fun and the characters may not have significant development to them but are not annoying or personality deprived. Synchronisation is pretty neat, back when the technique was still being refined but managing here and in 'Caviar' in being a major accomplishment for so early on, putting that in later cartoons from Van Beuren to shame.
However, the amount of detail that went into the backgrounds doesn't show as much in the character designs, which tend to be crude and simplistic. The story is not dull or incoherent but there is not much to it and what there is is formulaic, unremarkable stuff.
Despite some charm and fun and a very nice introductory scene with instrumentalists in silhouette, the laughs are too few and are fairly bland and lacking in variation and occasionally 'Pretzels leans on the too cutesy.
Overall, very watchable but unremarkable. 5/10 Bethany Cox
'Pretzels' is the second Terrytoon cartoon, after 'Caviar' from the same year, and again it's not half bad if with not much exceptional, with pretty much the same strengths and flaws. Like 'Caviar', 'Pretzels' is available as of now on Youtube via a French theatrical print with German subtitles. There is also another print available where two scenes are missing, one with the silhouetted instrumentalists and the hot milks scene, both scenes intact in the other version.
Its best asset is the music, which is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. Even recognised Schumann's 'The Happy Farmer' from way back when studying the Suzuki Method on the cello. The backgrounds are detailed enough and show a studio that were aiming for ambition and succeeding in some aspects.
Pacing is neither too hectic or dull, there is a natural charm and fun and the characters may not have significant development to them but are not annoying or personality deprived. Synchronisation is pretty neat, back when the technique was still being refined but managing here and in 'Caviar' in being a major accomplishment for so early on, putting that in later cartoons from Van Beuren to shame.
However, the amount of detail that went into the backgrounds doesn't show as much in the character designs, which tend to be crude and simplistic. The story is not dull or incoherent but there is not much to it and what there is is formulaic, unremarkable stuff.
Despite some charm and fun and a very nice introductory scene with instrumentalists in silhouette, the laughs are too few and are fairly bland and lacking in variation and occasionally 'Pretzels leans on the too cutesy.
Overall, very watchable but unremarkable. 5/10 Bethany Cox
