Jasper and the Haunted House

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Jasper and the Haunted House is a 1942 animated short film in the Puppetoon series relased as a Madcap Model by George Pal. It is an early entry that features the popluar yet racist Paramount Puppetoon characters Jasper and his friend/nemesis Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird.

Jasper and the Haunted House

Puppetoons/Madcap Models series
Produced by George Pal
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) October 23, 1942
Color process Technicolor
Running time 7 minutes

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

The original Paramount opening titles show the preparation of the pie and the vocal is singing the preparation of the pie.[1]

Jasper walks with Gooseberry pie and Professor Scarecrow [2](aka Mr. Scarecrow) notices the smell. Blackbird and Professor Scarecrow opens Jasper's pie and finds out it is gooseberry. When Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird asks what he's doing with the pie, Jasper says that he's going to deliver it to Deaccon Jones. Jasper walks away irratated with Professor Scarecrow's and the crow's curiosity. Professor Scarecrow switches the sign to trick and swindle Jasper later in the film so Professor Scarecrow can get his hands on Jasper's pie. Jasper comes back, then Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird lie about the sign. Jasper doesn't believe in him at first because Jasper says "There ain't nothin' down that way but a-ha-haunted house". Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird lie again and says the house is no longer haunted and they were drafted for World War II. Jasper is now gullible[3] and manipulated about it, so he thanks Professor Scarecrow for showing him the right way. After Jasper leaves, Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird laugh maniacally because they tricked Jasper into the haunted house. The next scene transitions to a fade out/fade in, then Jasper knocks on the door. He yells for the deaccon, but instead Jasper is locked inside the haunted house. Frightened, he walks (with a gag where his shadow walks back), and Professor Scarecrow scares Jasper by surprise, then Jasper hides in the piano. The plan worked, and as soon as the pie is taken, Professor Scarecrow accused Blackbird of taking the pie. The argument ends when they find out the plan is backfired. Frightened, Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird hide in the piano with after the pie is eaten when the invisible ghost talks to Professor Scarecrow. The ghosts walks, gets ready to play the piano. The introduction music is heard, and there's a swing piece played[4] and every inanimate object dances since it's a haunted house, from the typical bookshelf to the pie pan. Meanwhile, the piano keys hit the main characters as the music plays. Then they fly out of the haunted house, and they hit a billboard. Jasper asks what happened to pie and if he's going to get into trouble, then Professor Scarecrow gives Jasper the empty pie pan. Jasper has revenge on Professor Scarecrow and the crow by hitting the pie pan pan on their heads. As Jasper hits Professor Scarecrow and Blackbird, the camera zooms out with a contreversial[5] advertisement for a fake brand of pie that says "Next Time Try Spook's[6] Gooseberry Pie" (It was a racist comment and the fact there was a spirit). Jasper mysteriously drops it onto the ground revealing the Paramount Pictures print logo of the time on the pie pan, with the variant "A Paramount Picture".

[edit] Television

This has not been seen on TV for many years because it was deemed racist. It was retitled by U.M.&M. T.V. Corp. and the Paramount pie pan was cut out and was replaced by the same "The End" title used in Little Lulu films. The only official video relase was on the Puppetoon Movie DVD relased by Image Entertainment.

[edit] See also

[edit] Video links

Liketelevision

http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/tuner.php?channel=770&format=tv&theme=guide