The Terrytoons are oddly interesting, mainly for anybody wanting to see (generally) older cartoons made by lesser known and lower-budget studios. They are a mixed bag in quality, with some better than others, often with outstanding music and with some mild amusement and charm and variable in animation, characterisation and content.
1939, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch. Of which 'The Golden West' is one of the middling ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the middling 1939 cartoons. It is an unexceptional, nothing exactly special cartoon and has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'The Golden West' is also watchable, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation is neat.
Some very amusing moments, some imaginative and there is some zest and natural charm, and parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done. The ending is quite fun if predictable and the best character is easily the villain, although a typical villain seen many times already he does have an interesting antagonistic personality.
However, although the improvement in animation is huge since Terrytoons first started, some transitions and drawing show a lack of refinement. Neither of the lead characters are properly memorable and the conflict is bland.
Likewise, the story is paper thin and formulaic with not an awful lot to it (like the cartoon in general), it's also a very familiar melodramatic premise done to death already with Terrytoons so everything was easy to figure out. Gags aren't enough, they are not always very organised (fairly scattershot), and there is not much especially memorable about some and some don't serve much point. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and a lot of it is pretty predictable, particularly at the start which is dull. It picks up a little towards the end but still doesn't generally compel in content. Some choppiness too.
Overall, watchable if unexceptional. 5/10 Bethany Cox
1939, like all the other years for Terrytoons, saw a hit and miss batch. Of which 'The Golden West' is one of the middling ones ranking it in correlation with the rest of the Terrytoons and one of the middling 1939 cartoons. It is an unexceptional, nothing exactly special cartoon and has the same amount of problems as it has the amount of strengths. 'The Golden West' is also watchable, completest sake is the main reason to see it but it's not the only reason.
Best asset is the music, which predictably is incredible. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and arranged, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action. The ambitious, elaborate detail in the backgrounds is still great to see, as is the comparatively improved fluidity of drawing and movement, and some synchronisation is neat.
Some very amusing moments, some imaginative and there is some zest and natural charm, and parts of it and the basic set up are nicely done. The ending is quite fun if predictable and the best character is easily the villain, although a typical villain seen many times already he does have an interesting antagonistic personality.
However, although the improvement in animation is huge since Terrytoons first started, some transitions and drawing show a lack of refinement. Neither of the lead characters are properly memorable and the conflict is bland.
Likewise, the story is paper thin and formulaic with not an awful lot to it (like the cartoon in general), it's also a very familiar melodramatic premise done to death already with Terrytoons so everything was easy to figure out. Gags aren't enough, they are not always very organised (fairly scattershot), and there is not much especially memorable about some and some don't serve much point. The cartoon tends to veer towards being too cute and a lot of it is pretty predictable, particularly at the start which is dull. It picks up a little towards the end but still doesn't generally compel in content. Some choppiness too.
Overall, watchable if unexceptional. 5/10 Bethany Cox
