Flies
Also known as: Koko Swats 'Em (Reissue)
- Studio
- Inkwell Studios
- Distributor
- Winkler Pictures
Synopsis
The Clown and his animator are annoyed by flies.
Characters
The Clown, Flies.
Live-Action Characters: Max Fleischer
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Dave Fleischer
Producing
- Producer
- Max Fleischer
- Executive Producer
- Alfred Weiss
Writing
- Writer
- Max Fleischer
Animation
- Animator
- Max Fleischer, Roland Crandall
Crew
- Created By
- Dave Fleischer
Production notes
Silent cartoon.
A series combining live action and animation created by Max Fleischer, this was one of the most popular short subjects of the 1920s. The films started with the artist, Max Fleischer drawing "The Clown," who would eventually be known as Koko. The "Clown" would challenge his creator, exhibiting a will of his own, and eventually break away from his existence on paper, crossing "the fourth wall" into reality, seeking some sort of pay back for being controlled by his creator, only to be returned to the inkwell before things got too far "out of hand."
A series combining live action and animation created by Max Fleischer, this was one of the most popular short subjects of the 1920s. The films started with the artist, Max Fleischer drawing "The Clown," who would eventually be known as Koko. The "Clown" would challenge his creator, exhibiting a will of his own, and eventually break away from his existence on paper, crossing "the fourth wall" into reality, seeking some sort of pay back for being controlled by his creator, only to be returned to the inkwell before things got too far "out of hand."
Reviews
Flies
This is a theme that is explored many times in the Fleischer filmography. The first time, was in 1919's THE TANTALIZING FLY. As in the earlier film, Max is attemtpting to draw the clown when a fly pesters him, causing him to smear the ink. This time Max places flypaper around the room, for it's not one fly, but a whole swarm. They gang up on the clown and eat the ink off from the seat of his costume. The clown tries to make his own flypaper, which ends up getting stuck on him. He finally creates a fly "lure" out of a barrel, and one by one the flies enter the hole on the side. But when he picks the barrel up, the bottom falls out, and they are right back where they started. Max accidentally backs into the fly paper, and when he turns around, the clown ducks back into the ink bottle, amused by the sight of flypaper stuck to the seat of Max's pants. Intricate and meticulous use of stop motion with the flies. They are so convincing your flesh will crawl. Very entertaining.