First shot of animation: Elliot becomes visible in an apple orchard for a snack

First hybrid picture since The Three Caballeros to have animated characters in a filmed environment, rather than the other way around, and the effect isn’t as good. At least, the first impression isn’t. Elliot’s low contrast and looks washed out composited with live elements, especially in daylight scenes. His interactions with the set get steadily more impressive as the movie goes on, but he’s invisible for nearly all of them which avoids the technical challenge of integration.

Mickey Rooney plays every scene like he was shot from a cannonball and Jim Dale might have had live wires inside his costume. Elliot is maybe the 5th most cartoonish character in here. Maybe the most alcohol in a movie? We’re talking Whitnail & I levels. One dance number ends with dozens of beer barrels spontaneously popping, inventing the foam party.

There are enough subplots that an accurate remake today would be a miniseries. Not surprising the actual remake is one of the very rare ones to run significantly shorter than the original.

The songs are stage ready, in their number and variety, and most are pretty good. It’s the songwriting team from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers which makes perfect sense.

Middling movie all told, but 10/10 for lighthouses. Fresnel lenses are maybe the prettiest things ever devised.