Back Alley Oproar:
In this short we find Sylvester as he does his best to sing loudly much to Elmer Fudd's dismay. This is one of many opera/stage shorts that we will be coming across from Warner Brothers, though it's not quite one of the best. The gags are fun, and Sylvester is always a favorite to watch which is a bonus.
Book Revue:
A bit of an odd one. This short is mostly a series of random jokes about book titles as we see the characters on the cover come to life and interact with each other. However this short is actually quite similar to one that will be reviewed a little further down which acts as a hamper to both shorts in the end. While it's not one of the best Warner Brothers has to offer, it's certainly an entertaining one just given the varied titles used in the jokes.
A Corny Concerto:
Elmer Fudd leads this short as he acts as the conductor for a corny concert in which we watch two stories unfold to music. This is similar to some Disney shorts and keeps in theme with the idea of operas that this disc has. It's alright, though we've seen Elmer Fudd do better and is rather lacking without Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck to play off of.
Have You Got Any Castles?:
This is the short that is very much like 'Book Revue' though it's still a bit early to decide which does the general story better. I am tempted to say this one though since there are so many fun references shown in this. Also, one reason I'm tempted to say it's better is due to the fact we see Dr. Jekyl, Fu Man Chu, the Phantom of the Opera and Frankenstein dance together. Though that is just four book references seen here among quite a large number.
Hollywood Steps Out:
This short follows in the same vein as 'Book Revue' and 'Have You Got Any Castles?' though this time is more directed at Hollywood actors and actresses at the time. Sadly a lot of stuff in this short probably falls a bit short for those of us who don't get the references being made, but for those that do get it (or have more knowledge on this time period) will probably enjoy it quite a bit. Bette Davis is mentioned though not seen, along with Bing Crosby, Dagwood and Blondie and a host of other well known as they sit around eating and drinking at a restaurant.
I Love to Singa:
The final short tonight, this one is about a tiny owl who is born into a family of singers and music enthusiasts. However, his parents are not all that happy about the fact that their son is a crooner. After being forced to try his parents type of music, the young owl is kicked out and wanders off to the nearby radio station. Upon arriving there he finds a music contest and decides to enter immediately becoming the most popular person with his crooning song. The parents decide they were too harsh and rush off to apologize to their son and all join in with him for one last verse of the song as he's handed the prize.
As far as Looney Tunes shorts go, these probably wouldn't be ranked among the most memorable or best, at least not compared to some of the ones that will be seen in Part 2 of this disc. However that's not to say that they are terrible either. All of them have had a lot of care in being made, and back during their hey -day were probably popular for the references and inside jokes but have dated a bit.
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