There's Good Boos To-Night

I've often wondered just how much CASPER was meant for children...with all the issues revolving around his identity (in this film we are lead to believe that he is the spirit of a dead child, as his home is a cemetery plot), as well as the disturbing message brought by this particular film. Maybe Casper was meant more as a morality play, or Famous Studios felt like breaking new ground in 'reality' cartoons.

THERE'S GOOD BOOS TONIGHT is a well-animated project-no doubt there. But, the plot development involving the fox (who becomes Casper's friend, but meets a tragic end) is a concern.

Give Famous Studios credit--they tackle death with respect...but, the stark image of Casper's mourning is rather graphic and disturbing for children (though the denouement does offer a happy ending, but I won't give away the ending), and the violence is rather steep, even for 1940's standards.

This might be a good cartoon for parents to use in helping explain death to children--but I wouldn't pop it into the VCR for a perky cartoon break.

Casper can't bear the older ghosts flying around, terrifying people. He tries friendship but people are repulsed by him. Eventually, he finds a kindred spirit (who is not a spirit). And he fulfills a need. It's a cut above most cartoons.

I never thought an old cartoon would bring tears to my eyes! When I first purchased Casper & Friends: Spooking About Africa, I so much wanted to see the very first Casper cartoon entitled The Friendly Ghost (1945), But when I saw the next cartoon, There's Good Boos To-Night (1948), It made me break down! I couldn't believe how sad and tragic it was after seeing Casper's fox get killed! I never saw anything like that in the other Casper cartoons! This is the saddest one of all! It was so depressing, I just couldn't watch it again. It's just like seeing Lassie die at the end of a movie. I know it's a classic,But it's too much for us old cartoon fans to handle like me! If I wanted to watch something old and classic, I rather watch something happy and funny! But when I think about this Casper cartoon, I think about my cats!

Of the Famous Studios cartoons (whose output is somewhat inconsistent), There's Good Boos To-Night is towards the better half. It does help though that this was made during a period where their cartoons were visually great, and when they weren't as repetitive. As well as being a very early Casper cartoon, only the second in fact), There's Good Boos To-Night is one of the better ones, it's a pity that it's also one of the rarer ones.

The animation is great throughout, it is luscious, beautifully drawn with incredibly atmospheric backgrounds with the standouts being the spooky opening and the arrival of the hunters. Winston Sharples' music is outstanding, melodically it's haunting but also whimsical and gorgeous to listen to. Standing out in particular is the wonderfully creepy music for the opening credits sequence which sets the tone of the cartoon very well indeed. There's Good Boos To-Night is somewhat different for a Casper cartoon, anyone looking for hilarity or fun are better off seeing something else. As far as the Casper cartoons go, There's Good Boos To-Night is by far the most heart-wrenching, the ending is incredibly poignant (complete with a joyous final fifteen seconds or so), without being mawkish or manipulative (the emotion is very genuine), no other Casper cartoon comes close to the emotional impact this one has.

It is also very cute with the friendship between Casper and Ferdie, which there could have been a little more of perhaps, and it's quite intense for a Famous Studios cartoon at the climax (some youngsters may find it a little too disturbing) but incredibly suspenseful at the same time. The opening is very spooky and it certainly does treat the subject of death with respect. It's nicely scripted too, if slightly heavy on the sentimentality. Casper is very endearing, and you really feel his pain and sadness at wanting a friend and then losing him, while Ferdie is adorable. The voice acting is very good, with some very distinguished narration and Casper is very empathetically voiced.

All in all, a great and beautifully done Casper cartoon but may not be to everybody's tastes. 9/10 Bethany Cox