It was interesting to see Yosemite Sam playing off against characters other than Bugs Bunny, even if it was also a bit odd. That said, it works great.
Don't let the story similarity to the Daffy Duck cartoon 'His Bitter Half' put you off. There is a similarity, but it is not a retread and has enough originality of its own to set it apart.
Milt Franklyn's music score doesn't quite enhance the action quite as much as Carl Stalling did so brilliantly, but it at least fits with the action and is also dynamic with it. What's more, it's excellent music on its own, with every bit the clever orchestration, lushness and characterful energy that Stalling's music had.
'Honey's Money' is also great fun and is very funny. The best parts even, like the ball gag, Sam being reduced to a blubbering mess, the alligator gag and the touch with the bank book, are hilarious. The dialogue is as fresh and as witty as Looney Tunes at its best (it isn't quite here, but certainly much worse was to come), and the story is always entertaining and energetically paced.
Sam proves that he can shine even without Bugs, not surprising seeing as he always did have a strong personality, he is true to his abrasive personality but one can't help feeling sorry for him. Especially when he has to put up with such an overbearing loudmouth such as the unnamed wealthy widow. The dynamic and personality contrasts do work well, and the same applies with Sam and the oafish Wentworth. June Foray, Billy Booth and especially Mel Blanc deliver spot-on voice work.
Where 'Honey's Money' impresses least is the animation. It's not bad, especially when compared to later in the mid-late-60s but one can't help comparing to the more traditional animation seen with Looney Tunes in their prime. The colours are bright and vibrant enough and the characters are drawn appropriately, but the sketchy more stylised backgrounds and generally lack of smoothness will not work for him, personally it would have worked better with a more traditional touch but budgets and deadlines wouldn't have allowed it to.
Otherwise however, 'Honey's Money' is a great cartoon. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Don't let the story similarity to the Daffy Duck cartoon 'His Bitter Half' put you off. There is a similarity, but it is not a retread and has enough originality of its own to set it apart.
Milt Franklyn's music score doesn't quite enhance the action quite as much as Carl Stalling did so brilliantly, but it at least fits with the action and is also dynamic with it. What's more, it's excellent music on its own, with every bit the clever orchestration, lushness and characterful energy that Stalling's music had.
'Honey's Money' is also great fun and is very funny. The best parts even, like the ball gag, Sam being reduced to a blubbering mess, the alligator gag and the touch with the bank book, are hilarious. The dialogue is as fresh and as witty as Looney Tunes at its best (it isn't quite here, but certainly much worse was to come), and the story is always entertaining and energetically paced.
Sam proves that he can shine even without Bugs, not surprising seeing as he always did have a strong personality, he is true to his abrasive personality but one can't help feeling sorry for him. Especially when he has to put up with such an overbearing loudmouth such as the unnamed wealthy widow. The dynamic and personality contrasts do work well, and the same applies with Sam and the oafish Wentworth. June Foray, Billy Booth and especially Mel Blanc deliver spot-on voice work.
Where 'Honey's Money' impresses least is the animation. It's not bad, especially when compared to later in the mid-late-60s but one can't help comparing to the more traditional animation seen with Looney Tunes in their prime. The colours are bright and vibrant enough and the characters are drawn appropriately, but the sketchy more stylised backgrounds and generally lack of smoothness will not work for him, personally it would have worked better with a more traditional touch but budgets and deadlines wouldn't have allowed it to.
Otherwise however, 'Honey's Money' is a great cartoon. 9/10 Bethany Cox