082 The Truck That Flew

Title: The Truck That Flew
Studio: Pal
Date: 08/06/43
Credits:
An Animated Puppetoon by
George Pal
Based on the popular book of the same name by Dudley Morris
Series: Madcap Models/ Puppetoons
Running time (of viewed version): 8:27
Commercial DVD Availability: -

Synopsis: Kid sick of fairy tales and angels wants a new narrative of his own devising, wherein he kills enemy pilots.
























Comments: Extremely long audio under the TV titles; almost a minute of the running time is the titles. I wonder what is missing from the theatrical prints. Based on a book I've never heard of, and that isn't in Book Finder. It was popular enough to license tho. Kid wants to drive cars, smoke cigars, stay up til 2, blow taps, and shoot Japs (that's a quote). Looks like a non squinty Speedy Alka Seltzer. The overall design seems different from most of the Pal stuff (as a variation within the models; it's still all by itself and together compared to cel animation of the time. Saturn looks good. Music number is calming. Then the bed gets shot by some pagoda topped planes. Crashing zeros make a V for victory. I wonder if the book itself was war related. Most of the trucks are disappointing looking. It seems dangerous to have such casual nostalgia for the ongoing war. Such is how propaganda works tho. Interesting gun sight camera shot. The kid kills three Japanese pilots, then smiles and says his prayers.

References to the book:

http://www.wattpad.com/14934?p=83
MORRIS, DUDLEY H.
The truck that flew. Pictures & verse by Dudley H. Morris. © 27Feb42; A162629. Margaret E. Morris (W); 22Sep69; R469047.

http://openlibrary.org/works/OL7661752W/The_truck_that_flew

http://books.google.com/books?id=f6kYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22truck+that+flew%22+dudley&dq=%22truck+that+flew%22+dudley&hl=en&ei=lCCzTcDuKeXiiAKFrcWvBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAQ