"UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection" set now on DVD
Movies Unlimited has "done it again" by releasing UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection, a set of 38 cartoons produced by United Productions of America at the height of animation's golden age.
These cartoons have been sought by collectors for years. Columbia Pictures released the UPA short films in theaters during the late 1940s to the late 1950s. UPA was known for its inventive and stylish work, creating cartoons enjoyed by children and adults alike.
The UPA cartoons were the home of the cantankerous, near-sighted Mr. Magoo, who is featured in this collection in his debut, the 1948 short The Ragtime Bear. The studio also played host to the Dr. Seuss-created Gerald McBoing Boing, a boy who speaks in sound effects, featured in three shorts here, including his self-titled Oscar-winning first effort, released in 1950.
Additionally, UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection showcases cartoons featuring The Fox and the Crow, directed by animation great John Hubley; the Academy Award-nominated Madeline, based on the beloved children's book; an animated adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, narrated by James Mason; and The Unicorn in the Garden, based on the writings of James Thurber.
Each of the 38 shorts on the collection has been digitally remastered, and animation experts Leonard Maltin and Jerry Beck contribute commentaries. Extras include examples of production art, marketing materials and a booklet that covers the UPA animators and their work, retailing for $39.99. UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection is being released in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies.
Movies Unlimited specializes in hard-to-find movie classics. UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection can be ordered through its Web site at www.moviesunlimited.comor by calling 1-800-4-MOVIES. The Philadelphia-based company also publishes the annual encyclopedic Movies Unlimited DVD Catalog.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
(This post was edited by eminovitz on May 1, 2012, 3:21 PM)
