The Merry Old Soul

The Merry Old Soul is an American animated short film directed by Walter Lantz from the year 1933.

Action

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit sitting at the dentist. A tooth hurts and is so severely damaged that it needs to be pulled. Several attempts have already failed, and the dentist will place the next drawing test on, when suddenly the radio brings an urgent message: " Old King Cole " had the blues, help was needed. Oswald makes an immediate effect on the way and brings together the most famous entertainers in America in the King's Castle: is Charlie Chaplin, as well as the Marx Brothers, Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy.

Earlier, the jester of the king had tried to cheer him up. What he did not succeed, the newcomers create playing. They sing among other Mother Goose rhymes that cheer the King. In Laurel and Hardy finally starts a pie fight that affects everyone in the end.

The jester of a king is jealous of Oswald and kidnapped him in the torture chamber of the castle. Here he ties him to a chair and want to strangle him with a sling. The scene appears in the reality about: instead of a torture chamber Oswald is still sitting at the dentist, instead of a noose Oswald fights with the doctor and with the tooth that does not want to get dressed. It was only with great difficulty, the tooth can be removed, wearing shoes at the end of its roots - while Oswald sitting barefoot with a time in the dentist's chair. Oswald reacts puzzled.

Production

The Merry Old Soul was released on 27 November 1933 as part of the animated series, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit by Universal Pictures.

The film shows and caricatured numerous entertainers and actors of his time:

• Roscoe Ates
• Joe E. Brown
• Charlie Chaplin
• Jimmy Durante
• W. C. Fields
• Greta Garbo
• Oliver Hardy
• Al Jolson
• Buster Keaton

• Stan Laurel
• Harold Lloyd
• Marx Brothers
• Edna May Oliver
• Zasu Pitts
• Will Rogers
• Mae West
• Paul Whiteman
• Ed Wynn

In a brief scene also is seen Laverne Harding (1905-1984) cartoon character Cynical Susie.

Awards

The Merry Old Soul 1934 for an Oscar in the category " Best Animated Short Film " nomination, but could not prevail against the Three Little Pigs themselves. It was the first film Walter Lantz ', which was nominated for an Oscar.