I’ve had this on the stack for a while, and since I know you’re dying for updates, here’s a rarity to tide you over.
As you all know, the only color copy of Bob Clampett’s sole cartoon for Republic, It’s a Grand Old Nag, was available in terrible dupes for decades. That was it. Even Clampett himself didn’t have anything better, and that’s what was included on the Beany & Cecil Vol. 2 DVD.
That changed almost two years ago when a 16mm Kodachrome of the cartoon appeared for an astronomical price on eBay. I tried reasoning with the seller, and he agreed to sell it for something reasonable. Then he decided to back out. Then I asked, look, for posterity’s sake, can I rent it from you, make a transfer, and pay you a fee (and all shipping costs)?
The guy said sure. I was very impressed with the quality of the 65 year-old Kodachrome print. That film stock is not well known for its sharpness, but trust me, after the third-generation dupes we’re accustomed to, this is the best we’ll see it until a 35mm print shows up. (The color won’t be much better either. Trucolor was another cheaper two-color process like Cinecolor.)
The improperly dressed animation wizard Steve Stanchfield came to my rescue and did the very nice transfer you see below. It was a big deal. Clampett’s kids, the genial Rob and Ruth, were extremely pleased when I offered them a copy of their dad’s final cartoon in full animation. I sent the print and a copy of the transfer back to the owner and never heard another thing.
That is, until several months later when I found out, quite by accident, that the guy flat out sold the print to someone else, after how he would only rent it to me because he whined about how “this is the closest I’ll get to having a lost film.” (I guess anything has its price.) The buyer, fortunately, was Jerry Beck, a close friend and fellow animation historian, but the story is still a thorn in my side. The guy never operated a film projector in his life and I could’ve easily swapped it out with anything. But that would mean stooping to his level.
Bottom line: the guy who had this rare, fun cartoon was a jerk, but happily it ended up in more than capable hands. And hey, now you can see it for free! Sorry for the watermarks, but the hard work of Mssr. Stanchfield and myself will not be overlooked. We paid for it, for chrissakes!
It’s a Grand Old Nag from Thad K on Vimeo.
Whoa, what a find! Thanks, Thad, Steve, and the third guy who bought it.
Whow! Many thanks for sharing, but for the love of god, bring this to Blu-Ray!
It will happen.
Yes! I too would like to buy this on Blu-ray (with a good Hi-def transfer, of course)! How can we know when it will be available on Blu-ray?
– Mike Priolo
Clampett only gets a producers’ credit for this cartoon, not a director’s credit. Does this mean that the “real” director is the “supervising animator”?
Clampett is the director. He’s “Kilroy.” It’s a gag credit.
Oh, as in “Kilroy was Here”, huh? Clever.
Great story! Gorgeous copy!!
Thanks a LOT, Mr. Thad Komorowski
The guy never operated a film projector in his life and I could’ve easily swapped it out with anything. But that would mean stooping to his level.
I think I’ve dealt with people like him before. Often times I usually try to play dumb and not let on to what I might do with such an item if I was in that predicament. But yes, it’s hard dealing with those who aren’t quite savvy in this sort of thing. At least the film found a good home.
Funny how a proper restoration can do for watch ability of a cartoon.
No splices during the horse shoe gag! HOORAH!
Great post Thad. It’s a pretty better print than the other ones.
Loved that cartoon. Think that any one will find republics lost cartoons Jerky Journeys series
The Long Car jokes are very inventive variations on that old concept, and the musical direction is good, with the over-use of the theme song being justified by Ciro’s Serenade, which was one of the big laughs of the second half. The climax was oddly similar to the sickeningly sweet Elmer Elephant, but Clampett was probably playing it safe for his first Republic entry. Pity it was his last, but then we might have missed out on all his TV work.