Bottles

Harman and Ising largely developed the midnight in the store trope during their WB years. Disney also utilized it, but not to the extent that Harman and Ising, and by extension WB, did.

BOTTLES continues this idea; this time in a chemist's laboratory. This short strongly benefited from the use of three-strip Technicolor, which was recently unleashed to Hollywood after Disney's trial period ended. Much like Disney's earlier short THE CHINA SHOP, the glass/ceramic characters are convincingly animated as such.

The mood goes from sinister to light hearted, much like what Disney would achieve in the features.

One of the best Happy Harmonies and most polished of the inanimate objects come to life cartoons.

Agree with previous poster, this cartoon is fantastic on so many levels.

I find it very warming, a treat for the eyes and ears, the only shame is it's over so soon.

Remember watching this over 30 years ago when I was a kid, that skeleton-bottle, it scared the life out of me but I loved those singing baby-bottles. Watching it again is a real trip.

I also agree, it's long time overdue for a DVD release of these gems. Those geniuses who created these deserve no less.

Brilliant.

It seems that one major theology of animation concerns the animating (meaning coming to life) of normally inanimate objects.

Its one strain worth tracing, because with today's film technologies, animals can easily be seen to talk and even wear clothes and such. Its the power to make objects and environments have agency that gives great animation its power. And if you trace the evolution of the idea, you'll come through this. Its an unimaginative idea: a chemist/druggist mixes a poison, then dreams that it comes alive and evilly threatens him, together with all the other objects in the lab.

As with all early attempts with object life, some of the objects must be juvenile, and the centerpiece here are three baby bottle who whine because their diapers are dirty.

This was made toward the end of prohibition when use of opiates and marijuana became its great rise in popularity in the US, and that's the not so subtle subtext here.

Unfortunately the animation itself isn't any great advance.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

"We don't feel like safe and tidy/No one here will change our di-di/That's the reason why/All we do is cry...." These 1930's MGM Harman-Ising cartoons, with their lush Technicolor hues, are still waiting to be discovered by cartoon fans. Many have but the thinnest of story lines to hang onto, but the musical numbers in this one--to say nothing of the innumerable puns (the "baby bottles," the "shaving mug," the "smelling salts," etc.) take the prize for sheer invention. (Or, perhaps, sheer audacity.) Genuine suspense, too, in the climax. So when's Time/Warner going to put out the "Happy Harmonies" shorts into a complete DVD collection??

In a stormy night, a pharmacist in a drug store mixes a concoction and falls asleep. Various inanimate objects come alive while he is miniaturized.

This MGM Happy Harmonies cartoon is created by Hugh Harman. It's 10 minute. It's fun but it's always going to be a dream. It's really an exercise in having fun with the variety of bottles. As in most cartoons of that era, there are some old fashion racial insensitivity which is par for the course. If Aunt Jemima is only changing now, one can't expect better from this 85 years old cartoon. The bigger issue is that it's never not a dream. The ending is inevitable.