Rhapsody in Rivets

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

'Rhapsody in Rivets' to me is among Friz Freleng's best work. And this is coming from somebody who is in his prime period and was responsible for some of my favourites. With the involvement of composer Carl Stalling, with heavy use of Liszt's oft-used in animation "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2", and writer Michael Maltese, 'Rhapsody in Rivets' potential was enormous, with it also being directed by Freleng. Potential that is as superb as one can get in execution.

Freleng's style is all over 'Rhapsody in Rivets' and he's in his elements, relishing every colour and every gag.

Animation is wonderful. Throughout it is vividly bright in colour, fluid and rich in detail and smooth in movement and design. Stalling demonstrates why he is my personal favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers with his lush, characterful and action-enhancing scoring that is mainly a brilliant arrangement of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody.

Liszt's music is seamlessly arranged and synchronised with the visuals and gags. The setting is made very imaginative use of and the characters are great fun.

The cartoon is fast-paced liveliness in timing and the gags, in a gag-driven cartoon with no dialogue, are a great many and come thick and fast. There is not a misfire among them, actually haven't seen a cartoon as hilarious as this in a while.

Overall, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This cartoon short SHOULD have won the Oscar instead of Lend A Paw! An absolutely perfect blending of music and action throughout, well-executed at every turn. Incredibly funny with no dialogue-sight gags only and the running gags are great! Wonderful marriage of beautiful music and antic lunacy with a drop dead ending! Fanatically, totally recommended! I love this cartoon!!!

I've always found it neat when classic cartoons play famous songs to move the action along, and Friz Freleng's "Rhapsody in Rivets" adds to that. This is one of the many instances* (it may have been the first one, in fact) where they play Franz Liszt's inimitable "Hungarian Rhapsody #2". In this case, a construction foreman conducts/instructs the builders to that tune as they erect a skyscraper...with a surprise at the end.

The Academy's decision to not give this cartoon an Oscar was matched only by their decision to not give "The Shawshank Redemption" any Oscars. It's one of the all-time classics and one that I recommend to everyone. Among other things, it goes to show that a cartoon doesn't need dialog to be great; as a matter of fact, that makes it easier for people in other countries to understand. Available as a special feature on "The Bride Came C.O.D." DVD.

*Other Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons that play that song are "Rhapsody Rabbit", "Back Alley Oproar", "Wise Quackers" and "What's Up, Doc?". Many years later, Daffy Duck and Donald Duck played it in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".

While classical music (as well as this particular tune) has long been used in cartoons, I can't say I've ever seen it used like it is in "Rhapsody in Rivets". It's darned clever and made incredibly great use of the music--integrating it into a film that is simply a delight to watch.

This film begins with the foreman on a construction job overseeing it just like the conductor of an orchestra. As he gesticulates, the characters working on the bridge do so in perfect unison with the music--or when they don't the foreman becomes very angry. Seeing hammers, jackhammers and the like perfectly times with Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2' was pretty amazing. And, I am not surprised that this one ending up getting nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short. For kids, I'd score this one a 6, as kids want more humor and characters bonking each other on the head. But for older audiences, it deserves at least a 9, as there is nothing quite like it!

. . . "catchy." While some listeners may consider it to be a little "highbrow" in these days of Liquid Sky and Abba, there are several hummable stanzas of tunes here. RHAPSODY IN RIVETS originally was produced for the Jenny Lind and Bing Crosby crowd, so it would be unfair to expect it to be backed by the strains of Dancing Queen or Sweet Dreams, let alone Hey Jude and We Didn't Start the Fire. RHAPSODY is part and parcel post of the time that it originated, which is why it begins to the strains of Buster Bizet and not Little Richard. Of course, it is always best to view archival footage such as this on a platform that includes readily accessible footnotes.