Terror on the Midway

1942
Terror on the Midway
6.5| 0h8m| en| More Info
Released: 30 August 1942 Released
Producted By: Fleischer Studios
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

When things go wrong at the circus, it's up to Superman to stop the escaped animals.

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betina-18954 This cartoon is not only the last of the Superman cartoons produced by Fleischer. But the last animated short Fleischer Studios ever produced. This is one of the Superman cartoons i remember the most, of the 8 Fleischer cartoons, and 4 Famous Studios cartoons i had on DVD as a kid. It scared the crap out of me when i was little. But despite all these facts, this is still one of my least favorite of the cartoons produced by Fleischer, along with Volcano. But it's still great and enjoyable. Let's see why.The story is about this circus that Lois is sent to review. Later that night, as Lois attends the clown performance, a monkey wanders from the main tent and accidentally opens the cage of a giant gorilla (That looks an awful lot like King Kong). Growling, the Gorilla named "Gigantic" wanders into the tent, sending everyone into pandemonium, as the Gorilla goes on a rampage. Circus workers try to stop the Gorilla, but are overpowered by it's strength. Now it's up to Superman to save the day.So this is one of my lesser favorite Superman cartoons. It seems kinda weird that Superman is challenged by King Kong. I know it has a name, but i'll just refer to it as King Kong. I mean, he has been up against giant robots, death rays, and Godzilla. And destroyed them all with little challenge, and with ease. But he seems to have the same challenge against King Kong, as he had against all his other foes. Many of the action scenes in this one, also aren't quite as good as in the other cartoons. So what do i like about this cartoon?? Well i like that the animation isn't as colorful in this one, but darker. Fitting the tone of the cartoon. So this cartoon has great animation. An although i find it silly that Superman is challenged by an animal, i still find alot of the scenes with King Kong, and the other animals exciting. Even though they aren't the best action scenes in the series. And Lois proves to be very brave in this one. She doesn't get into trouble because of some selfish reason, but because she is trying to save a child. I also really like that they pay tribute to King Kong in this one.So although not one of the best, still highly recommended. 8/10Like i said above, this was not only the last of the Superman cartoons produced by Fleischer. It was the last cartoon that Fleischer Studios produced in general. Leaving behind a legacy of experimentation, wacky visuals, gags, and sensual appeal. Starting out with the groundbreaking Out of the Inkwell series, being the first animated films to use the rotoscope. An animated series made to demonstrate his invention of this technique.And later the Betty Boop cartoons, starring the first animated sex symbol. with they're dark and etchy humor, and surreal gags, these cartoons i sometimes think were superior to the old black and white Mickey Mouse cartoons.And of course the Popeye cartoons. Which alot of times i think were funnier than both the old Mickey Mouse cartoons and Donald Duck cartoons. Atleast the ones made by the Fleischers were. I especially love Popeye's voice, it cracks me up.They also created the Color Classics series, which i will admit were far from the quality of the Silly Symphony cartoons, which they were made to compete with. I will still admit alot of these cartoons still have they're own charm, and kept with the fleischer tradition of showing a grimmer reality than that of they're Disney counterparts.They also made 2 very good animated feature films. The second animation studio to make feature films in fact. These were Gulliver's Travels, and Mr. Bug Goes to Town. Although i will admit these films were not as good as the ones Disney made. They still had alot of charm to them.And finally the Superman cartoons. The first action cartoons ever.And they made other cartoon series as well, but the ones i mentioned seems to be the most famous, and i'm not even going to get into them all, i mean i could go on about this forever, i just love this stuff.When Fleischer Studios closed down, Paramount replaced the studio with Famous Studios. Which would continue the Popeye and Superman cartoon series' and would make other cartoon series' as well.Anyways, Terror on the Midway wasn't the best Superman or Fleischer cartoon, but it was a decent cartoon to end the studio off with.
bok602 This has always been one of my all-time favorites of the original SUPERMAN series, but also one of the most puzzling to me.It is very different in tone, feel, design and execution from all the rest of the series. Most particularly because of its "darkness." I mean this both literally and figuratively.While all the others are, for the most part, bright and cartoonish in their color design, TERROR is dark, gloomy, murky and downright sinister -even in the opening scenes of what should be a bright, cheerful circus setting.The opening shots of the circus posters and scenes appear to me more to be still-frames, rather than intended snapshots, as though the original footage has been replaced with these artificial still shots. I am strongly tempted to believe that these particular shots were modern substitutions for the original footage.Later, when the gorilla makes his appearance, it is plainly evident (from the excessive graininess) that the original image has been photographically enlarged to produce the close-ups of Lois Lane and the gorilla.The unusual (and uncharacteristic) lack of detail in the close-up of Lois, combined with the strange quality of the speed at which she moves suggests that the close-up was manipulated from a much longer shot and perhaps slowed down somewhat.The initial close-up of the gorilla is even more extreme (and highly effective as a terror shot) and suffers more from darkness and lack of detail.A later shot of Superman wrestling with the ape also shows signs of tampering, like the poorly framed shot of Superman and the ape which, because of the clumsy re-framing of the image, results in an awkward and lengthy close-up of Superman's backside. Surely this was NOT the original intent of the film-makers.Can anyone provide any insight?
preppy-3 Lois Lane and Clark Kent are sent to cover a circus (for some reason). They separate to cover more ground. While Lois is watching a show in the Big Top a HUGE (and very fierce-looking) gorilla (or ape) is accidentally let loose.He proceeds to wreak havoc and, in the mayhem, other animals escape from their cages. Lois saves a little girl from the huge gorilla (or ape) but then it goes after her? Can Superman save her and the circus?Very strange Superman cartoon. For once he isn't battling mad scientists or creatures--just animals. Also it seems kind of strange that he has trouble beating a large gorilla (even though it IS huge). And he doesn't even show up until 6 minutes in (this is only 8 minutes long). Still, it's pretty good.
jim riecken (youroldpaljim) While Clark and Lois are at an amusement park, the parks main attraction Gigantic the gorilla escapes and wrecks havoc. This a job for Superman! Superman helps the police round up the escaped animals and saves Lois from the clutches of Gigantic the gorilla.Sort of "Superman vs King Kong" except the giant ape doesn't fall in love with Lois and take her atop the tallest building in Metropolis. What can be said about this entry in the Superman cartoon series can be said about the series as a whole; superb animation and art work, fast pace and action, and beautiful vivid technicolor. These forties Superman cartoons are highly recommended to those enjoy good cartoon animation.