# Movies based on old cartoons/comics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267 "2004-06-08T12:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/1 "2004-06-08T12:39:51Z")
Movie producers have turned nearly every old cartoon and comic strips into a feature length movies. Where did it start? Superman? Anyway there is the Flintstones, every superhero, Scooby Doo, Casper, X-men, Richie Rich, Ginger Meggs, Footrot Flats, Mr Magoo, Inspector Gadget … What comic/cartoon do you think would make a good movie? Which one will be done next? My money is on **The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers**. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/2 "2004-06-08T12:47:01Z")
Well, there was [Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0000546/), the big box office smash (such as it was) of 1906. Don’t know if that’s the first, but it’s up there. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/3 "2004-06-08T12:57:20Z")
As **Reality Chuck** has indicated, comics turned into movies have been with us from the start (Winsor McCay, who drew the comic strips Little Nemo in Slumberland and Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend turned out cartoons based on both, with several based on “Fiend”. But there was also at least one live-action Rarebit Fiend short. Back in the thirties and forties there were series of Dagwood and Blondie, and Dick Tracy films, and at least one Joe Palooka film, not to mention all the serials based on Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and so forth. To tell the truth, I can’t think of any comic-based movies from the twenties, but the thirties were really the big age for newspaper comic popularity, ansd comic books were just getting started then – Batman and Superman didn’t appear until the late thirties. But comics and comic strips are pop art forms, just like the movies. As has been pointed out, they use a lot ofvthe same techniques, too – setting up shots, moody lighting, weird angles. It’s not surprising one should be copied into the other. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/4 "2004-06-08T13:11:27Z")
**antechinus** : Funny you should mention **The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers**. I read a magazine article some time ago about the Brothers, and apparently an animated feature has been optioned several times by several companies. However, none of them have actually done anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/5 "2004-06-08T15:01:06Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > To tell the truth, I can’t think of any comic-based movies from the twenties. [Ella Cinders](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0016822/) (1926) and [Bringing Up Father](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0018722/) (1928) And it looks like “Rarebit Fiend” was beaten by [The Yellow Kid](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0214310/) (1897), [The Katzenjammer Kids in School](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0236382/) (1898), and [Happy Hooligan](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0000307/) (1900). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/6 "2004-06-08T15:04:15Z")
> [@](#): > > And it looks like “Rarebit Fiend” was beaten by The Yellow Kid (1897), The Katzenjammer Kids in School (1898), and Happy Hooligan (1900). Someone made a Yellow Kid movie? And in 1897? I’m flabbergasted! ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/7 "2004-06-08T15:30:18Z")
If you go to the Library of Congress’ “American Memory” site, you’ll find a lot of old movies from the turn of the last century, including the [Happy Hooligan](http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr:160:./temp/~ammem_VBFj::) short **RealityChuck** mentioned. Also [one](http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/varstg:@field(NUMBER(1343))) or [two](http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/varstg:@field(NUMBER(1342))) with Foxy Grandpa, another popular cartoon character of the time. Nothing on the Katzenjammer Kids or the Yellow Kid, however. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/8 "2004-06-08T16:28:25Z")
The creative cribbing went both ways. There were comic strip features based on the Mack Sennett comedies (Keystone Cops, Ben Turpin). I think some of the old Tijuana Bibles featured film stars, but that’s a whole 'nother topic. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/9 "2004-06-08T16:50:24Z")
_L’il Abner_ had a movie and stageplay. There was a Broadway play based on _Superman_, too. _The Shadow_ has appeared on the big screen, & in comics. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/10 "2004-06-08T17:23:40Z")
Silent shorts based on [Frederick Opper’s Alphonse and Gaston comic strips](http://www.toonopedia.com/alphgast.htm): [The Polite Frenchman](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0231127/combined) (1902), [The Lamp Explodes](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0375908/combined) (1902), [Alphonse and Gaston, No. 3](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0331835/combined) (1903). [Tillie the Toiler](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0018487/combined) (1927), with Marion Davies, from [Russ Westover’s comic strip](http://www.toonopedia.com/tillie.htm). [Skippy](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0018487/combined) (1931), from [Percy Crosby’s comic strip](http://www.skippy.com/), with Jackie Cooper, who garned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for it, still the record for youngest nominee in that category. [Sooky](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0022414/combined) (1931), sequel to _Skippy_. [Little Oprhan Annie](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0023142/combined) (1932), with Mitzi Green. [Tailspin Tommy](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0025856/combined) (1934), with Maurice Murphy as the flying ace created by Glenn Chaffin and Hal Forrest; the first in a series of six Monogram pictures. ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/11 "2004-06-10T22:40:06Z")
How come nobody has done “The Archies” Jughead, Archie…mmmBetty, Veronica… ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/12 "2004-06-11T01:43:23Z")
Berke Breathed has been saying for years that an Opus movie is in the works. Short of a _Calvin and Hobbes_ theatrical feature, which will never, ever freakin’ happen, I can’t imagine a bigger strip making the leap to the big screen (the current Garfield project excepted, of course). ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/13 "2004-06-11T03:03:00Z")
I LOVE Bill Murray…but GARFIELD? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/14 "2004-06-12T14:10:32Z")
I forgot [American Splendour](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305206/). Maybe there is a chance for the Freak Bros. after all. I’d much rather see an animated Fat Freddies Cat than Garfield. ---
**Author:** ![Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirt_Ninja_13)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/15 "2004-06-12T15:19:51Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > There was a Broadway play based on _Superman_, too. This wouldn’t be _Poor Superman_, would it? _bamf_ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/16 "2004-06-12T17:05:43Z")
_It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman_ Produced and directed by Hal Prince, who would later do _Cabaret_, _Evita_, and _Sweeny Todd_. Written by Robert Benton and David Newman. Music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, famous for _Bye Bye Birdie_. Bob Holiday as Superman. Patricia Marand as Lois Lane. A then-obscure Linda Lavin in a supporting role. Opened on March 29, 1966. Closed on July 17 after 128 performances. Got some good reviews, some bad reviews. Made into a TV movie on ABC in 1975 starring David Wilson. Got many bad reviews. In 1989, Superman’s 50th anniversary spawned 20 revivals in theaters around the country. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/17 "2004-06-12T17:11:39Z")
> [@Shirt Ninja 13](#): > > This wouldn’t be _Poor Superman_, would it? Not to be confused with _Rich Superman, Poor Superman._ ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/18 "2004-06-13T00:00:26Z")
> [@DrMemory](#): > > How come nobody has done “The Archies” > Jughead, Archie…mmmBetty, Veronica… To my knowledge, the closest we’ve gotten is the 1990 “high-school reunion” TV movie _[Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0099054/)_. Looking at the cast list now, Lauren Holly (Betty Cooper) and Sam Whipple of _[Seven Days](http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0167720/)_ (Jughead) are the only actors I’m familiar with. Only Holly and two actors with nameless roles actually have a photo for their IMDb bios. Evan Katz, who writes for the series _[24](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285331/)_, wrote the screenplay. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-based-on-old-cartoons-comics/249267/19 "2004-06-13T01:19:47Z")
Well, the OP did specify “old”, so… Newspaper strips: Brenda Starr, Popeye, Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Prince Valiant and the three, no, make that 4 full length Peanuts movies. Notorious: Barbarella.