Mr. Bug Goes to Town

RESTORED 35mm PRINT! ► Kicking off Cinema Sunday’s switch to all-animation in 2011 is the wonderful 1941 feature Mr. Bug Goes to Town, created by the Fleischer brothers, best known for Popeye, Betty Boop, and 1939’s Gulliver’s Travels (their only other animated feature). The Fleischers’ sophisticated, often gritty stories distinguished their works from those of their contemporary Walt Disney, especially in the early days; the Fleischers’ two features are more in the Disney mode. Made in Technicolor, Mr. Bug begins with Hoppity, a jovial grasshopper, returning home to rekindle his romance with lovely Honey (Pauline Loth), only to find his community threatened by real estate developers of both the bug and human variety. Suddenly charged with uniting Bugville to find a solution, Hoppity discovers that it will take more than good will and cheer will to save the town. Although a box office flop at the time — for reasons that may include the bombing of Pearl Harbour two days after its release, and the dominance of Disney’s megahit Dumbo, released six weeks before — animation enthusiasts now universally recognize Mr. Bug as a classic. This rare, beautifully restored 35mm print shows why and is not to be missed! Colour, 35mm. 78 mins.