MERRIE MELODIES - "Love And Curses" (1938)

First there was Looney Tunes, then there was Merrie Melodies, and over at Disney, it was Silly Symphonies. The original concept of Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies was to to use a song out of a Warner Bros movie, and then the cartoon would essentially be an ad for that movie!

 

The name of this cartoon was "Love And Curses," and it was released in 1938.

 

"Love And Curses" starts off with this happy couple looking through an old photo album and reminiscing. There's a couple of quick gags, and then it's on with the story!

The happy couple are named Harold and Emily. They are deeply in love, and on a picnic.

The mean and evil Roger St. Clair thinks that Emily should be his girlfriend and tries to kidnap her.

Harold makes a valiant attempt to rescue Emily, but first gets his fingers stomped on, and then he gets a boot to the face for his trouble. Roger St. Clair whisks Emily away, and Harold doesn't know where they have gone, or where to find them.

Six months later, and Harold has not been able to locate Emily, although he has tried desperately.

Harold shows this lewd and crude sailor a picture of Emily and asks him if he's seen her, and the guy tells him "Aw, go on, I've pushed better dames than dat off the boat." He then inhales on his cigar and the smoke comes out of the smokestack on the boat tattoo he has on his chest.

It doesn't look like Roger St. Clair is concerned about trying to hide his whereabouts.

Emily is forced to sing in Roger St. Clair's bar.

And that's where she is when Harold finally finds her!

Roger drops the curtain on Harold, and scoops up Emily and takes off again!

Right out of "The Perils Of Pauline," Roger ties Emily to the railroad tracks, then he tells her that in just a minute, her pretty little head will be "bouncing along the rails."

Once again, Harold shows up right on time, and saves the day, but while he's doing it, Roger St. Clair snatches up Emily again, and runs off to the old sawmill.

Harold gets knocked out, and is on his way to have a splitting headache.

But......apparently Harold has the hardest head in the world, and the saw comes completely apart when it makes contact with his noggin.

Harold seems to be some kind of Superman as he dodges and deflects bullets with his bare hands!

Roger throws some good body blows, but Harold is unfazed!

Harold then unleashes a mighty punch that sends Roger St. Clair completely out of the scene, and into a river!

But just like the proverbial bad penny, Roger shows up again, and whisks Emily off one more time. The story ends, and the world is left to see if good or evil will prevail!