8mm Forum: The Weathered Melody

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Posted by Robin Moss (Member # 706) on June 10, 2008, 04:54 PM:

Produced in Germany in 1940 under the title of 'Die Verwitterte Melodie', AG Colour, Film from FischerKosen. Music by Lothar Bruhne. Idea from Horst Von Mollendorff.

A beautifully crafted cartoon following a bee as it collects nectar in a field of wild flowers.

On it's travels the bee encounters an old abandoned wind-up gramaphone with a record in place, which has been open to the elements for some time. The needle arm of the gramaphone lying broken to one side

The inquisitive bee decides to investigate and whilst hovering over the record the bee's stinger soon clogs up with dust as it emulates the action of the gramaphone needle. A furry caterpillar who has been lying dormant until now reveals himself from a coiled leaf in the centre of the record and proceeds to clean the dirt from the grooves of the record. The bee then resumes his musical exploits and all the insects and small animals in earshot join in and dance to the delightful music played.

I bought this film in Super 8 colour sound format from Larry Pearce, some years ago and I liked it so much that I bought a second copy as a reserve from Paul Foster.

Larry told me at the time that it was produced, Disney was barred from Germany as it was deemed to be propoganda. Hitler's regime ordered that a German alternative be made, of which this is one. However, the cartoon contains no reference to the sinister regime that it eminated from and to me each time I view it, it contains a freshness and inventiveness that keeps me coming back for more.

I have no idea who released this film on Super 8, but it looks as though copies were salvaged in the nick of time, as the first few feet you can clearly see the signs of the decomposing negative around the outer edges. This part of the cartoon also has a pinkish hue, but a minute into the film these faults are banished and whilst the colour cannot be described as vibrant, it is sufficiently evident.

The length of the film is slightly over 200 feet and I have yet to see an original box. I also do not know what film stock is used, as I could not detect any indication on the film.

I am not a cartoon buff, but when this short masterpiece is screened, I am enthralled.

Print B. Sound A.

Robin

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on June 10, 2008, 05:34 PM:

Robin,

Thanks for a terrific review. For those who can't wait till they get a print, this great cartoon can be seen on you tube.

Doug

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 10, 2008, 07:12 PM:

Nice little review, I wouldn't mind seeing this cartoon as well!

Posted by Barry Attwood (Member # 100) on June 11, 2008, 01:15 PM:

Robin,

I believe Phil Sheard of CHC brought this out, and I believe it's still in his catalogue.

Posted by Robin Moss (Member # 706) on June 11, 2008, 03:07 PM:

Hi all

thanks for the nice compliments re review. If Phil Sheard has released this classic on Super 8, it's well worth enquiring about. It's so different from the run of the mill cartoons, with real original charm.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on June 11, 2008, 04:21 PM:

Originally it was a Perry's release. Got that from the horses mouth.....ummm, sorry Ian told me that it was one of his back in the good old days.

Kev.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 25, 2012, 03:51 PM:

I was going to review this one myself, but Robin beat me to it by a year (...or four!).

It's a remarkable film: obviously produced by some sort of multi-plane camera system. The effect of the bee circling the old phonograph is wonderful.

The shame of it is as Robin says the first minute is kind of washed out looking. My print also has random pops and clicks in it that sound disturbingly like an audio system on its way to a meltdown. Every time I see it I have to remind myself of this.

My print is (probably) kind of an accidental souvenir of Cinesea last Fall. Steve Osborne sent Doug Meltzer a big reel of sample films and "Weatherbeaten Melody" was about mid-way through. I liked it so much that a few weeks later I e-mailed Steve and asked about it. He said he had it new but had one used in nice shape. I bought that one and when it showed up it had ends of two other films spliced on the head and tail like it had been cut out of a reel.

-Odds are the print I have is the same one on screen in Wildwood last October.

Hans Fischerkoesen also animated "Der Schneemann", which is a cartoon about a snowman who hides away in a freezer so he can experience Summer: also a great cartoon.

Der Schneemann

-Id love to have this on film too!

Posted by Ben White (Member # 3124) on June 01, 2012, 05:43 PM:

A totally, utterly fantastic piece of animation / filming....

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