. . . and on to "Darnation Milk" ("from cheerful cows") as well as hieroglyphics extolling Egyptian cigarettes, LIGHTS FANTASTIC thoroughly explicates the mindset of American advertisers--then and now. Like all the movie studios at the time, Warner Bros. had its share of run-ins with U.S. censors. For example, the first talkie version of THE MALTESE FALCON (1931) features a topless bathtub scene for the actress in the role famously inherited by Mary Astor in the second remake a decade later. But what a difference those ten years made! Well before the 1940s, America had adopted its puritanical sharia law that persists in many sectors of Society through today's 21st Century. Warner Bros. lampoons this pointless prudery by self-"censoring" this cartoon's can-can dance--performed by four dancing cans in skimpy skirts! Whenever these food tins face backstage and bend over for the "big reveal," the animators insert a black screen! That is, until the final "bottoms up" for "Face and Sunburn" Coffee (then known as Chase and Sanborn in the Live Action World) shows this message above the cans' finally revealed cans: "It's dated!" with the can bottoms all reading "Jan. 5, 1942." That coffee may be somewhat stale by today, but the idea that censorship has outlived its expiration date couldn't be fresher!
10 Reviews
chairman of the billboard
lee_eisenberg12 November 2008
Sort of an updated version of "Billboard Frolics", Friz Freleng's eye-popping "Lights Fantastic" depicts a bunch of billboards - apparently around Times Square - putting on various skits. This cartoon really shows off Freleng's penchant for synchronizing music and action (especially with the conga beat). Freleng also made ample use of this in "Pigs in a Polka" and "Show Biz Bugs".
Mostly this was a place holder in 1942. By that point, Bugs Bunny was the undisputed Warner Bros. cartoon star, Chuck Jones had totally eschewed cuteness in favor of slapstick, and the United States' entry into WWII prompted a series of cartoons portraying the characters battling Nazis. But this was certainly a good place holder. Very similar to "Billboard Frolics", true, but I recommend it.
Mostly this was a place holder in 1942. By that point, Bugs Bunny was the undisputed Warner Bros. cartoon star, Chuck Jones had totally eschewed cuteness in favor of slapstick, and the United States' entry into WWII prompted a series of cartoons portraying the characters battling Nazis. But this was certainly a good place holder. Very similar to "Billboard Frolics", true, but I recommend it.
Attractive and occasionally amusing but not fantastic
phantom_tollbooth22 April 2009
Friz Freleng's 'Lights Fantastic' is one of the more unusual cartoons in the things-coming-to-life subgenre. Set in Times Square, 'Lights Fantastic' turns the neon advertising billboards into a series of spot-gags, some funnier than others. As is usually the case with such cartoons, many of the gags are dated and beyond the comprehension of modern audiences when once they would have brought the house down. This was often compensated for by the development of some sort of plot but 'Lights Fantastic' sticks to spot gags all the way through, simply ending when it runs out of time. The animation is certainly attractive and there are a few bits that still raise a chuckle (the eye test skit is particularly amusing) but overall 'Lights Fantastic' is little more than an interesting product of its time. While it's never boring, neither does it ever really light up or come to life!
Classic, Hysterical Cartoon!
Crunkenstein19 September 2001
A mix of real-life footage of New York and cartoon footage of the typical 1940s advertising signs coming to life, Lights Fantastic is a classic cartoon.
From such great gags such as the free eye test ("if you can read this, you are Chinese"), to the Chinatown bus carried by rickshaw boys, to the Egyptian Cigarettes picture of one Egyptian giving another a hotfoot, this is pure fun.
Plus, it's classic Freling.
From such great gags such as the free eye test ("if you can read this, you are Chinese"), to the Chinatown bus carried by rickshaw boys, to the Egyptian Cigarettes picture of one Egyptian giving another a hotfoot, this is pure fun.
Plus, it's classic Freling.
Come And See All Of The Bright, Flashing Lights Of Times Square (Circa. 1942)
StrictlyConfidential12 May 2020
"Lights Fantastic" certainly offers the viewer of today a decidedly comical look at the prevailing glut of neon-lit advertising signage as it existed during the mid-20th century at the busy intersection of New York City's famous Times Square.
Competently directed by notable Warner Bros. animator, Friz Freleng - "Lights Fantastic" is definitely one of those animated shorts that isn't gonna appeal to all viewers since a number of its sequences can be clearly looked upon, today, as being quite politically incorrect in nature.
Competently directed by notable Warner Bros. animator, Friz Freleng - "Lights Fantastic" is definitely one of those animated shorts that isn't gonna appeal to all viewers since a number of its sequences can be clearly looked upon, today, as being quite politically incorrect in nature.
Very outstanding and memorable
petersgrgm24 February 2008
I was extremely amused by Lights Fantastic. Some of the plays on words were quite hilarious, like the Face and Sunburn Coffee (with the coffee cans doing the can-can), take-off on Chase and Sanborn. So was the typewriter sign used to advertise an upcoming movie, called Understood Typewriters (play on Underwood), which typed first "It's Sensational", then "it's Colossal", then trying to type "It's Stupendous" but first typing "It's Stupa", crossing out the typo, trying again with "It's Stoop", crossing that off also. (I thought it was going to be "It's Stoopid"! THAT makes little sense as how can a movie that is sensational and colossal also be DUMB?). The last line was "It's Swell!" The cartoon ended with a Win-a-Car conga line, opened up with tapping of Stucco House Coffee (Play on Maxwell House), shaking by peanut and jangling of cow bell for Darnation Milk, and the boy-and-whale "Oliver Oil". The other signs were funny, too; though I have not seen this cartoon in years, I remember it ever so well.
Really does light up in a fantastic way
TheLittleSongbird19 July 2013
Not the most original of Fritz Freleng's cartoons, with a concept that later cartoons would explore later and perhaps at times to slightly funnier effect. But that doesn't take away from that Lights Fantastic is thoroughly entertaining and a delight to watch. The animation is lush and fluid, with great care evidently taken with the details and drawing, and the shots of Times Square are positively glitzy. The music is catchy, wonderfully orchestrated and full of energy, it has a remarkable ability to synchronise as well as it does with the action(like the best of WB/Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies) and also to add to it. Lights Fantastic is never less than amusing, at its best it's hilarious and has Freleng's style all over it. The play on words are snappy and smart and the eye test gag is really funny and inspired stuff. The pacing is crisp, never feeling dull, the characters are eccentric and fun and Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations are dead-on, bringing so much life and distinction to each character he played(in Lights Fantastic and every WB/Merrie Melodies/Looney Tunes he did). All in all, not quite classic but lights up in a fantastic way. 9/10 Bethany Cox
The once and future Times Square
max von meyerling7 May 2008
A weirdie. There are no characters in this cartoon, neither "humans" or funny animals. Its all sight gags and bad puns based on the Times Square billboards known as "spectaculars". The cartoon begins and ends with a "real life" shot of Times Square, red neon predominant. As another comment points out this was not an original idea in as much as it had been recycled from an earlier cartoon. However there might have been a powerful feeling of nostalgia behind this particular cartoon. The WW2 blackout turned off the juice to the Times Square spectaculars (the glow from the lights of big east coast cities was the perfect background for u boats to use to sunk allied shipping). Times Square was "dark". Seeing Times square as it once was and, it was hoped, would be after the war was won, was uppermost in movie audiences minds.
And the crowd goes wild!
slymusic17 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by the great Friz Freleng, "Lights Fantastic" is a fine Warner Bros. cartoon that is quite unique. There are no heroes or villains. Aided by a great music score by Carl W. Stalling, this is merely a gag-oriented cartoon involving lights, signs, letters, product mascots, and (most importantly) advertisements. And that's it, folks! Just a really humorous opportunity for Friz and his animation unit to experiment. Nothing wrong with that, is there?
My favorite gags from "Lights Fantastic": A chorus line of coffee cans performs a can-can dance revealing their "butts". A small group of gentlemen read Chinese on a vertical sign (thanks to the vocal talent of Mel Blanc). A clown cannot control his mounting hysterics as he sings "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" (again a credit to Mel Blanc's voice). And four neon string figures with bulbous noses sing some nice harmonies, with a fifth smaller figure adding his own little interjections (Blanc again).
My favorite gags from "Lights Fantastic": A chorus line of coffee cans performs a can-can dance revealing their "butts". A small group of gentlemen read Chinese on a vertical sign (thanks to the vocal talent of Mel Blanc). A clown cannot control his mounting hysterics as he sings "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" (again a credit to Mel Blanc's voice). And four neon string figures with bulbous noses sing some nice harmonies, with a fifth smaller figure adding his own little interjections (Blanc again).
Entertaining but derivative
runar-42 August 2004
This cartoon is a good example of the fact that while Friz Freling was technically excellent, he was possibly the least imaginative of the directors in the Warner's stable. Lights Fantastic is essentially a rehash of _Billboard Frolics(1935)_(qv) and showcases Freling's tendency to recycle gags in multiple films. This is not to say that Lights Fantastic isn't entertaining - it is and it gives you a chance to enjoy Freling at his technical best, but it also reveals the dichotomy inherent in the canon of his work.
Another reused routine (appearing for the second time in _Show Biz Bugs (1957)_(qv)) is the trained performing pigeons that flew out the theater window instead of doing their act. _Bugs And Thugs(1954)_(qv) and _Bugsy And Mugsy (1957)_ both have material cribbed from _Racketeer Rabbit(1946)_(qv). Yosemite Sam stands out as Freling's best creation, from his introduction in _Hare Trigger (1945)_(qv) to the mid 1950's when the character ran out of steam.
Another reused routine (appearing for the second time in _Show Biz Bugs (1957)_(qv)) is the trained performing pigeons that flew out the theater window instead of doing their act. _Bugs And Thugs(1954)_(qv) and _Bugsy And Mugsy (1957)_ both have material cribbed from _Racketeer Rabbit(1946)_(qv). Yosemite Sam stands out as Freling's best creation, from his introduction in _Hare Trigger (1945)_(qv) to the mid 1950's when the character ran out of steam.
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