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Ratings for the Paramont Superman series. (1941-1943)

posted 17 years ago by Forgotten_Hero
1 reply | jump to latest

Fleischer Studios

Superman 7.6
The Mechanical Monsters 7.3
Billion Dollar Limited 7.0
The Arctic Giant 6.5
The Bulleteers 6.8
The Magnetic Telescope 6.8
Electric Earthquake 6.9
Volcano 7.0
Terror on the Midway 6.4

Average: 6.92

Famous Film Studios

Japoteurs 6.1
Showdown 6.5
Eleventh Hour 5.8
Destruction Inc. 6.4
The Mummy Strikes 6.1
Jungle Drums 6.3
Underground World 6.5
Secret Agent 6.5

Average: 6.28

Total Average: 6.59

For whatever reason, Paramount ousted the Fleischer brothers and focused more on the war-era propaganda than the sci-fi and fantasy elements of the originals. That said, it may be worth noting that the Famous Film era's highest rated short was one tenths of a point higher than Fleischer's lowest rated short. While it was important to show their support during the war, I think it's fairly easy to see why robots and dinosaurs appealed to children more than battles against Nazis and the Japanese. It's a shame Superman's last short couldn't be more like his first one. Superman saluting the flag as he flew past was a cool ending, but it's a shame he didn't get another climactic battle to close out the series. Oh well.

[–] smcarter1966 15 years ago

And Forgotten Hero theorized...

For whatever reason, Paramount ousted the Fleischer brothers and focused more on the war-era propaganda than the sci-fi and fantasy elements of the originals.

The reason is ,sadly, unfortunate timing.

The Fleischer's second animated feature Mr. Bug Goes To Town was released on December 4, 1941. Three days later, the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor, thus plunging the U.S. head first into a war campaign which had a definite effect on the box office. As a result of this, Mr. Bug Goes To Town was a box office failure. The Fleischer's bosses at Paramount booted the Fleischer's out and took over their animation studio, thus renaming it Famous Studios.

That is why the last Fleischer cartoon features battles with circus animals, and the first Famous Studios cartoon (actually the majority of the Famous cartoons) deals with fighting the Axis scourge.

If you haven't done so yet, check out Mr. Bug Goes To Town. I have the Genius Entertainment version of it, under the title Bugville. It's a pretty cool film.

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Gallipoli.....