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Katnip Kollege
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Katnip Kollege
| image = Katnipkollegeblueribbon.jpg
| caption = Re-Issue Title Card
| producer = Leon Schlesinger
| studio = The Vitaphone Corporation
Warner Bros. Cartoons ('Blue Ribbon' reissue)
| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures
| released =
| country = United States
| color_process = Color
| runtime = 7:34
| language = English
}}
'Katnip Kollege' is a 1938 Warner Bros. 'Merrie Melodies' cartoon directed by Cal Howard and Cal Dalton. The short was released on June 11, 1938.
The cartoon was made into a full-length animated feature film released on the same day as the original, filling out its 82 minutes by adding new subplots and characters and combining animation with live-action segments, and featured Bugs Bunny in his debut since 'Porkys Hare Hunt'.
Plot
In the "Swingology" classroom at Katnip Kollege, the Professor (a parody of Kay Kyser) requires each student to sing their lessons to a jazz rhythm, all the while singing "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down". Johnny Cat just doesn't have it, and as a result, he has to stay after class wearing the dunce cap. Kitty Bright returns his fraternity ring as she leaves the room, telling him to call her when he learns how to swing.
That night, as all the other cats jam at an outdoor caterwaul, Johnny is suddenly inspired by the rhythm of a Pendulum clock. He runs to join the group and shocks everyone with a flawlessly jazzy rendition of "Easy as Rollin' Off a Log" sung (and trumpeted) to Kitty. At the end of the song the two cats actually roll off the log they were using as a stage, and Kitty covers Johnny's face with kisses. .
Voice Cast and Crew
;Voice Cast
* Johnnie "Scat" Davis voices Johnny Cat
* Mabel Todd voices Kitty Bright
* George "Spanky" McFarland voices Mr. Jones
* Poley McClintock voices Frog Voice Vocal
* Singing Groups: The Pied Pipers and Fred Waring's Glee Club
* Additional Voices: Mel Blanc, Cliff Nazarro and Danny Webb
;Crew Members
* Film Directed by Cal Howard and Cal Dalton
* Film Produced by Leon Schlesinger
* Film Edited by Treg Brown (uncredited)
* Story by Dave Monahan
* Music by Carl W. Stalling
* Orchestration by Milt Franklyn (uncredited)
* Animation by Joe D'Igalo
* Uncredited Animation by Rod Scribner, Volney White, Herman Cohen
* Visual Backgrounds Supervised by Art Loomer (uncredited)
Music
The music in the short is pieced together from a number of contemporary Warner Brothers features. The featured song, "Easy as Rollin' Off a Log", is written by M. K. Jerome and Jack Scholl and sung by Johnnie Davis and Mabel Todd in the 1937 film 'Over the Goal' . Other songs used include "You're an Education" by Al Dubin and Harry Warren which was written for, but never used in Warner Brothers' 1938 feature film 'Gold Diggers in Paris' and the Richard A. Whiting/Johnny Mercer song "We're Working our Way through College" from Warner Brothers' 1937 feature 'Varsity Show'. Carl Stalling supervised the music soundtrack.
James Taylors music video As Easy As Rolling Off A Log contains clips from this cartoon, accompanied by Taylors recording sessions.
Home media
*October 4, 1988 - Walt Disney Home Video
*October 28, 1994 Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection
*August 1, 2000 Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection
*LaserDisc - 'The Golden Age of Looney Tunes', Volume 1 (unrestored)
*DVD - 'Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2', Disc 4
*DVD/Blu-Ray - 'Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 1', Disc 2
*DVD/Blu-Ray - 'Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces'
*DVD/Blu-Ray - 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' (included as a bonus)
References
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