TheLittleSongbird Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.'Russian Rhapsody' is classic Bob Clampett in style. This is meant in a good way, Clampett's distinctively wild and outrageous style is all over 'Russian Rhapsody' in visuals and humour and like his best cartoons a lot of the cartoon is pretty anarchic (again typical of prime-Clampett). By all means, 'Russian Rhapsody' is not one of his best cartoons overall, but it is very good and does Clampett in his prime period justice. By all means, 'Russian Rhapsody' could have been better. Some of the references may go over some viewers heads, especially if they are not familiar with what is being referenced (it was a bit hit and miss with me, some were familiar, others weren't), and the ending falls somewhat flat. However, there is so much to admire about 'Russian Rhapsody', that Clampett's style can be found all over it and that he's on top form is just one of the things. It's a very strange cartoon certainly, with a fairly positive view of Russians, gremlins and Hitler like you've never seen him before in a cartoon, and it may not be for the easily offended or historians looking for accuracy (it is a lampoon cartoon so that should be pushed at the back of the mind). It is also though a very funny, and often hilarious, cartoon, with some very witty dialogue, deliciously weird, anarchic and for the time perhaps daring sight gags and the visual humour provides a lot of the fun too. One does admire how much is gotten away with here in 'Russian Rhapsody', the gremlins come close to stealing the show and personally will admit to thoroughly enjoying this interpretation of Hitler. Stalin is even included and it's a highlight.As to be expected, Mel Blanc is outstanding as always. He always was the infinitely more preferable voice for Porky, Joe Dougherty never clicked with me, and he proves it here. Blanc shows an unequalled versatility and ability to bring an individual personality to every one of his multiple characters in a vast majority of his work, there is no wonder why he was in such high demand as a voice actor.When it comes to the animation, 'Russian Rhapsody' is very good. Much of it is fluid in movement, vibrant and very meticulous in detail, much of it also pretty imaginative. Ever the master, Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it. The song is very catchy.Overall, not one of Clampett's best and not for everyone perhaps but strange and great fun. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . comes a green-eyed master stroke of comic genius named - - Adolf Hitler (a.k.a., Der Fuhrer). At a time late in WWII--1944--when it was an open "secret" that this Charlie Chaplin look-alike had had his minions toss about half of the World's Jews into ovens, Hollywood's Jewish-run movie studios enjoyed presenting Mr. Hitler as being even funnier than The Tramp. For instance, as a goofy-looking Fuhrer rises here from the grave like some Biblical Messiah, he delivers this zany one-liner: "Nazis is the craziest people!" At this closing comment, all I could think was WWAFS (What would Anne Frank Say?). I personally lived through the 9-11 Era, but I do NOT recall ever viewing Osama bin Laden being the Toast of the Town in Springfield on THE SIMPSONS. Perhaps this is because, say what you will about him, Hitler was LESS likely to behead cartoonists than Freedom's current enemies. Possibly Hollywood is NOT exactly singing, "Hooray for Holocaust" in Russian RHAPSODY, but it's hard to believe that this cartoon was ever Politically Correct.

slymusic "Russian Rhapsody" is a most excellent World War II Warner Bros. cartoon directed by the wild & crazy Bob Clampett. It provides a wonderful opportunity to poke fun unmercifully at Adolph Hitler, which I'm quite sure helped to put a lot of Americans at ease about the outcome of the war.Here are my favorite sequences from "Russian Rhapsody" (please DO NOT read any further if you have not yet seen this film). I absolutely love Mel Blanc's hilarious vocal characterization of Hitler during his nonsensical opening speech; listen for all the various plays on words! Also watch Hitler's reaction upon spotting a face mask of Joseph Stalin. Hitler gets electrocuted to a wonderfully jazzy drum beat! One of the gremlins carries a box of "termiteskis" on the wing of Hitler's bomber, to a smooth swinging accompaniment of "Ochi Tchornya"; a termite then eats away at the wing (to a Russian kick dance) and burps. To a slower version of "Ochi Tchornya", a mustachioed gremlin sings "I'm a greeeeemlin, from the Kreeeeemlin" before he reacts hilariously to getting hit on the foot; this leads into the entire crew of gremlins busy at work in sabotaging the bomber to a fine jazzy accompaniment of the famous Song of the Volga Boatman.Carl W. Stalling did an outstanding job with his music score for "Russian Rhapsody". It seems a shame that he is such an underrated composer of the 20th Century, but for my money, he will always be ranked at the top.

TheOtherFool Hitler is concerned about his aeroplanes towards Moskou, as they all somehow seem to be missing. He decides to go on the mission himself (as he's apparently the best pilot), but in the air he has to do battle with some strange small creatures, who call themselves 'The Gremlins From The Kremlin'.This short animation story is really silly and not that fun either. It's even pretty boring. I've seen so many better propaganda films from that era; you can stop your efforts to track this one down if you'd ask me: go for a movie like 'Education For Death' instead.4/10.