All Films

Basie Boogie

1950 • 4 min • United States of America

Count Basie and His Orchestra playing us a boogie.

Oslofilm: Oslo kommunale sykehus

1950 • 14 min • Norway

Glimpse from the hospital operation in Oslo Municipality.

Federal Agent at Large

1950 • 60 min • United States of America

A crime ring is smuggling gold from Mexico across the border in the US. The Customs Service sends an agent to Mexico to try to infiltrate the ring and stop the smuggling.

The Littlest Angel

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

First and little-known film version of the classic story, an animated short by Coronet Films.

Works of Calder

1950 • 20 min • United States of America

The film begins with a sun materializing out of the emptiness of space. In the first of three sequences we see various images from nature against music: the sky, trees, leaves, a bird, water, sand, a beach. A little boy wanders along the beach observing the natural world around him. He walks and presently comes to a house and peers inside. The second sequence has no music. The narrator speaks of sculptor Alexander Calder and his work, as we see Calder in his workshop, cutting and creating unusual shapes, and seeing the resultant artworks. The last sequence has music as we view images of Calder's work. However, now they are intercut with images from nature so that we understand that Calder's inspiration is the natural world around him. The film ends as it began, with an image of the sun, now fading into the sky.

Riot in Rhythm

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Popeye's nephews practice their music, swinging out at the end. He puts them to bed with a perfunctory story; they say their prayers, finishing by blessing "all the nice people that come to see their pictures." But they're not ready to sleep, so they sneak down to their instruments. Popeye confiscates the instruments (even the piano) so he can get some sleep. The tots quickly realize that common objects in their bedroom can be used as musical instruments and they start swinging out on everything in sight. Popeye can't catch them in the act; they are always asleep when he looks in, even through the window or floorboards. He pulls his bed outside the iris-out, but they follow and he runs down the aisle of the theatre.

Lion Around

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Donald's nephews use a mountain lion costume to scare Donald away so they can grab a pie off the windowsill. The deception is exposed, but a short while later, a real mountain lion comes along.

When Christmas Trees Light Up

1950 • 20 min • Soviet Union

On New Year's Eve, two lost in the woods toys try to prove to wild and hungry predators that they're not good to eat.

Tarts and Flowers

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

While waiting for her cookies to bake, Audrey dreams about a marriage between the Gingerbread Man and Angel Cake.

Anti-Cats

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Three mice seek refuge during a winter storm in a house with a very hungry cat, who chases them- until Mighty Mouse steps in. Mighty Mouse, living in a star, watches the universe through a telescope. He observes a home full of mice being terrorized by a cat, so he travels to earth and infiltrates the house in disguise in a trench coat and hat. In an effort to make life miserable for the mean cat, Mighty Mouse drinks the cat's milk, sleeps in his bed, and eventually gets rid of the cat so the three harassed mice can live in peace.

Did'ja Know?

1950 • 8 min • United States of America

This short looks at the following questions: How would you act as an expectant father? How many greeting cards are sold in the USA each year? Why do indoor radiators make that pounding noise? Why do mammals yawn?

Hurdy-Gurdy Hare

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Organ grinder operator Bugs must get rid of his chimp when the ape steals the take from him. The replacement is a gorilla.

The Girl from San Lorenzo

1950 • 58 min • United States of America

Cisco and Pancho set out to clear their names in a series of stage robberies committed by two thugs who are impersonating them.

Dog Collared

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

On Be Kind to Animals Week, Porky Pig decides to practice the principle and affectionately pets a large, slobbering dog. The dog takes an instant liking to Porky and follows the pig everywhere.

Sock-a-Bye Kitty

1950 • 6 min • United States of America

An alley-cat, plagued with a bad case of insomnia, reads that the eating of a blackbird is a sure cure. He catches the first blackbird that comes along, which happens to be Buzzy the Crow (not to be confused with Walter Lantz's Buzz Buzzard), who not only talks like Rochester but is nearly as smart as Rochester. Buzzy, smart enough not to want to be eaten, convinces the dumb cat that he has better methods of curing his insomnia, and then proceeds to severely punish the cat with a variety of all painful, sleep-inducing tricks.

A Fantasy on London Life

1950 • 8 min • United Kingdom

An animated short depicting aspects of London life set to traditional tunes and popular standards. Part of the J Arthur Rank Musical Paintbox series.

The Cuckoo Clock

1950 • 6 min • United States of America

A cat is driven up the wall by the inhabitant of the cuckoo clock, so he spends the film trying to catch him.

Quick on the Vigor

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Popeye takes Olive to the carnival; while he's busy winning candy at the "ring the bell" stand, strongman Bluto muscles in on her. There follows the inevitable contest, invevitably rigged.

The Leghorn Blows at Midnight

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Foghorn Leghorn tricks a naive young chicken hawk into believing the barnyard dog is a pheasant.

The Laughter Congress

1950 • 1 min • France

Mother Goose's Birthday Party

1950 • 7 min • United States of America

Mighty Mouse.

The Funicular of Mount Faloria

1950 • 10 min • Italy

Vertigine (Vertigo) is the original title of a fragment of around 4', signed by Michelangelo Antonioni, which is a part of the eight-minutes documentary La funivia del Faloria. The title was eventually modified in La funivia del Faloria because considered more effective to obtain the governmental prize (at the time the minimum length allowed was 8 minutes). Vertigine was shot in 1949 with the cinematographer Bellisario, who was director of photography in several documentaries in those years, but was edited only in 1950, after Antonioni had made his first feature film, Cronaca di un amore.

The Farmer and the Belle

1950 • 6 min • United States of America

Olive Oyl's Farm is desparately in need of a farmhand. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the boys are driving by. They compete for the job. Chores: Getting water from a well, picking apples, shoeing a horse, gathering eggs. Popeye feeds a hen a little spinach, and she produces a mountain of eggs, which eventually end up all over Bluto. Bluto drops an anvil on Popeye, then goes after Olive against her wishes, chasing her into a succession of haystacks (where he finds a needle!). The chicken feeds Popeye his spinach, and he triumphs, sending Bluto into the pigpen (where the pigs won't have anything to do with him).

Journey for Three

1950 • 44 min • New Zealand

Three Brits travel and settle down in New Zealand, and the film records their hopes, jobs, challenges, and adventures in the new country.