I do rather enjoy the joyfulness of Molly Moo-Cow. She seems to drop in on situations that challenge her. But here, she comes upon some dwarves who bowl and drink too much. Most of the cartoon is about her getting drunk and throwing bowling balls. Rip Van Winkle is hardly part of the whole, just sleeping through the whole episode. There are some funny things, but pretty weak overall.
5 Reviews
Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle
TheLittleSongbird22 April 2018
Van Beuren cartoons are extremely variable, especially in the number of gags and whether the absurdist humour shines through enough (sometimes it does, other times it doesn't), but are strangely interesting. Although they are often poorly animated with barely existent stories and less than compelling lead characters, they are also often outstandingly scored, there can be some fun support characters and some are well-timed and amusing.
Of the twenty seven "Rainbow Parade" cartoons (a very hit and miss series, the best cartoons being decent and the worst being very weak), 'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' is among the weaker ones. From the title, the summary and if one is familiar with the previous Molly Moo-Cow and "Rainbow Parade" cartoons, it is impossible to not know what to expect. Not unwatchable or without redeeming qualities, it just didn't do anything for me. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths as aforementioned. Quite liked the animation, which has come on a lot since (human) Tom and Jerry and Cubby the Bear. Despite the character drawing lacking refinement and some garishness which does give off a primitive feel, the colours appeal generally to the eye while the backgrounds are elaborate and meticulous. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough.
'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' has a lot of things wrong and pretty much all the flaws are apparent in other "Rainbow Parade" cartoons as well. The content is very thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. The cartoon is too saccharine and very cutesy in characterisation, some of the sugar excessive. The first part of the cartoon goes on for too long and is distastefully saccharine.
As for the conflict, it doesn't convince. It's not tonally jarring like it was in 'Hunters are Coming' and not too bizarre. There's just nothing to it, there is very little tension and urgency. Molly herself is just not a strong enough lead character, even her playfulness doesn't compel here, while the rest of the characters are insipid, even the criminally under-utilised Rip Van Winkle.
Story is flimsy, non-existent actually (what there is of any is very predictable that surprises are nil), and things really drag and badly.
At the end of the day, it was very difficult to remember anything from 'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' other than the animation and music and also that it is just so dull, bland and excessively cutesy with a misleading title. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Of the twenty seven "Rainbow Parade" cartoons (a very hit and miss series, the best cartoons being decent and the worst being very weak), 'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' is among the weaker ones. From the title, the summary and if one is familiar with the previous Molly Moo-Cow and "Rainbow Parade" cartoons, it is impossible to not know what to expect. Not unwatchable or without redeeming qualities, it just didn't do anything for me. Saw it really as somebody who is trying to see as many Van Beuren cartoons as possible, so that is pretty much the main reason to see it.
There are strengths as aforementioned. Quite liked the animation, which has come on a lot since (human) Tom and Jerry and Cubby the Bear. Despite the character drawing lacking refinement and some garishness which does give off a primitive feel, the colours appeal generally to the eye while the backgrounds are elaborate and meticulous. Even better is the music score, it is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated, is great fun to listen to and full of lively energy, doing so well with enhancing the action.
Some of the synchronisation is sharp enough.
'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' has a lot of things wrong and pretty much all the flaws are apparent in other "Rainbow Parade" cartoons as well. The content is very thin, not much to it, and not only are there not enough gags as such but any absurdist humour or surrealism present in some of Van Beuren's earlier work is completely absent. The cartoon is too saccharine and very cutesy in characterisation, some of the sugar excessive. The first part of the cartoon goes on for too long and is distastefully saccharine.
As for the conflict, it doesn't convince. It's not tonally jarring like it was in 'Hunters are Coming' and not too bizarre. There's just nothing to it, there is very little tension and urgency. Molly herself is just not a strong enough lead character, even her playfulness doesn't compel here, while the rest of the characters are insipid, even the criminally under-utilised Rip Van Winkle.
Story is flimsy, non-existent actually (what there is of any is very predictable that surprises are nil), and things really drag and badly.
At the end of the day, it was very difficult to remember anything from 'Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van Winkle' other than the animation and music and also that it is just so dull, bland and excessively cutesy with a misleading title. 3/10 Bethany Cox
If you've got a dog with cow-like coloration named Molly, this is the video series for you!
cliff-leanne14 August 2007
I just want to know how come "Molly" has a very deep manly voice :-O
Plus for a title of "Rip Van Winkle", that character only appears twice for about 15 seconds total.
Actually we got this because we recently adopted a shelter dog named Molly who is white with brown spots in a relatively cow-like pattern, so what better video series to represent?
Other than that, not terribly much to recommend them, although the coloration is relatively impressive for 1935.
Another video in the series takes a pot shot (har!) at hunters, with various woodland creatures exacting brutal revenge on a not-so-sharpshooting outdoors-man.
Plus for a title of "Rip Van Winkle", that character only appears twice for about 15 seconds total.
Actually we got this because we recently adopted a shelter dog named Molly who is white with brown spots in a relatively cow-like pattern, so what better video series to represent?
Other than that, not terribly much to recommend them, although the coloration is relatively impressive for 1935.
Another video in the series takes a pot shot (har!) at hunters, with various woodland creatures exacting brutal revenge on a not-so-sharpshooting outdoors-man.
Don't get your cow drunk in a bowling alley and other sound advice
boblipton22 July 2002
I suppose it was inevitable that the Van Beuren studio would attempt to come up with its own series ideas. Besides recycling Felix the Cat in three pretty good cartoons in 1936 and a bunch of Toonerville Trolley shorts that owe their interest to the comic strip, Van Beuren had a Tom-and-Jerry series of singing shorts -- no, not the MGM Cat and Mouse combo, but an earlier series of black and white cartoons that look like better than average Fleischer work.
When Van Beuren began doing color cartoons, however, they went for a new series: Molly Moo-Cow, who wandered in and out of situations in four awful shorts involving Indians, butterflies, Robinson Crusoe and this one. If you get a chance to see any, take a nap instead.
When Van Beuren began doing color cartoons, however, they went for a new series: Molly Moo-Cow, who wandered in and out of situations in four awful shorts involving Indians, butterflies, Robinson Crusoe and this one. If you get a chance to see any, take a nap instead.
The Cow Needs a Personality
Michael_Elliott17 March 2016
Molly Moo Cow and Rip Van Wrinkle (1935)
** (out of 4)
Molly Moo is once again walking along when she notices a bunch of gnomes bowling. Under a tree lies Rip Van Wrinkle who is still sleeping. As soon as the gnomes walk off Molly Moo decides to drink some of their beer and try bowling as well.
This is the fourth Molly Moo film I've seen from the series and once again I must say that this character is quite bland and boring. There isn't a single ounce of personality with this cow and when you don't like a lead then you're in for a boring adventure. The drunk bowling was rather interesting but it didn't lead to any laughs. The one saving grace is once again the use of color and the nice animation. I really loved the colors used in this series and I especially liked the gnome's clothing and the colors in the background.
** (out of 4)
Molly Moo is once again walking along when she notices a bunch of gnomes bowling. Under a tree lies Rip Van Wrinkle who is still sleeping. As soon as the gnomes walk off Molly Moo decides to drink some of their beer and try bowling as well.
This is the fourth Molly Moo film I've seen from the series and once again I must say that this character is quite bland and boring. There isn't a single ounce of personality with this cow and when you don't like a lead then you're in for a boring adventure. The drunk bowling was rather interesting but it didn't lead to any laughs. The one saving grace is once again the use of color and the nice animation. I really loved the colors used in this series and I especially liked the gnome's clothing and the colors in the background.
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