Simply Perfect

People are voting emotionally.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Blistering performances.

Mr. Johnson is a tuba playing old man who adores his dead mother and lives alone in a house on a hill. He is overjoyed when somebody leaves a cat on his doorstep. It doesn't work out as the cat causes a multitude of problems. No matter how hard he tries to get rid of the cat, the cat always comes back.This animated short is helped by the fun song which degenerates along with Mr. Johnson's frantic attempts. It's simple fun. There is a joy about this that is beyond the comedy. It always leaves a smile on my face.

A little kitten is left at the doorstep of a man who lives alone in a little house. He takes the tiny feline in and it begins to dismantle his place. He tears up the carpet, rips the drapes, breaks things. The man has enough and begins to find ways to get rid of the cat. He begins with the most basic way, taking the cat into the woods and trying to leave it, only to be left behind himself. He tries to drown in it in a bag. No dice. The joy is in the perpetual failures. Every time the man comes back to the house, the cat has done even more damage, to the point where there is little left of it. We know that at some point there will be an ultimate effort to end it all. It has a really hilarious conclusion. Great little film.

This humorous short is based on a children's folk song that I recently learned dates back to 1893. The original song was written by Harry S. Miller under the dated and clumsy title "The Cat Came Back: A Comic Negro Absurdity." Cordell Barker alters the lyrics just slightly but the intent is wholly intact. That darn cat just won't leave! There are many little pockets of funny in this over-all comedic short but one of my favorite is when Mr. Johnson tries to entertain the Evil Kitty with his old baby rattle and then looks lovingly at his baby picture. The year cited on the picture frame is 1903!This is a modern classic and it has just been released at www.Filmporium.com on a compilation DVD ($5) with the droll "Village of Idiots" and the slapstick, hilarious "In the Rough". That's a lot of funny for the money.

Canada's National Film Board has produced a seemingly endless number of terrific shorts over the years, and this is one of the best ones. There are numerous funny moments in this thoroughly enjoyable cartoon, and the closing scene is a perfect and appropriate end to the film. If you ever come across this film, please take a few minutes and give it a chance. You will not be disappointed.