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

Like 'Pigs in a Polka' and 'The Band Concert', this cartoon short centres on a piece of music with an inventive animated theme - this time, the 'orchestra' are workmen building the 'Umpire' State building, whether the little elevator dog or the scrawny cats knocking pegs into the ground.

Beautiful colour and music enhance this short, which was Oscar nominated but just pipped to the post. The foreman, with baton and whistle, monitors and directs the action, including an inventive bricklayer and a lift which can dodge obstructions.

Wildly funny and well constructed, 'Rhapsody in Rivets' is a real find, and is a Merrie Melodie well worth tracking down.

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".

When I first watched this cartoon short ages ago, I was amazed by the film itself. Such a hilarious cartoon playing out to the tune of a classical song, there are few of.

The story is that of a foreman, who is a lion, who "conducts" a group of human-like animal construction workers to build the tallest building, the Umpire State Building, a clear parody on the Empire State Building. While the animal workers strive to build this construction, hilarity quickly ensues in the form of the workers messing up each others' workings and a multitude of hilarious events which make this cartoon short well worth watching! I recommend it to all who enjoy a good musical parody.

When the foreman steps from his office, his entire construction workforce is poised to embark on what is an entertaining exercise in humorous synchronicity as Franz Liszt provides the music and a myriad of enthusiastic workers set about building, drilling and cementing their way up, and up, and up - all whilst plenty of slapstick humour sees comedic injuries and disaster ensue. It's end to end stuff this with some finely drawn characterisations giving us an idea of just how complex building a building can be, especially when some of your colleagues are half asleep, or hungry or absent-minded and the choice of score is as inspired as the vibrant animation. This is good fun.