Fiddlesticks (1930 film)
| Fiddlesticks | |
|---|---|
 Flip in his first appearance. | |
| Directed by | Ubbe Iwwerks |
| Produced by | Celebrity Pictures |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | M-G-M |
Running time | 6:12 min |
Fiddlesticks is a ground-breaking 1930 animated cartoon film. It was the first animated sound cartoon that was photographed in two-strip Technicolor. It was also Ub Iwerks's first cartoon since he departed from Walt Disney's studio.
This is the first film in the Flip the Frog series. THe recording system for this film was the same for Steamboat Willie.
Plot synopsis
Flip is seen dancing on lilypads until he reaches land and dries himself off. He walks to a party, where he performs a dance for the audience, accidentally climbing to a spider web. He also performs a duet, with an unnamed mouse on violin, and Flip on piano. They perform two songs, which on the first, the mouse starts crying, as do Flip and the piano. The second song makes Flip start hugging the piano, who kicks Flip. The cartoon ends with Flip beating on the piano - he kicks all the piano keys into the air, and they drop onto him.
Trivia
- This film was simultaneously released with King of Jazz, a musical revue. At the very first scene, it included a cartoon, based upon how Paul Whiteman, the music director of the film, "became the King of Jazz". The animation was made at Lantz Productions.