Whys and Otherwise

Plot

Felix the Cat stumbles home late at night after a night of drunken revelry at a nightclub, only to be confronted by his angry wife wielding a rolling pin. Demanding an explanation for his tardiness, Felix invents three increasingly ludicrous and fantastical tales to justify his absence. Each story grows more elaborate and surreal than the last, showcasing Felix's wild imagination and the character's trademark ability to manipulate reality. The film concludes with Felix's wife's reaction to his elaborate excuses, leaving audiences to wonder whether she believes any of his outrageous stories.

Historical Background

1927 marked a pivotal year in cinema history as the silent era was giving way to sound with the success of 'The Jazz Singer.' Felix the Cat stood at the height of his popularity, with merchandise, comic strips, and international recognition making him the first true animated superstar. The film reflects the cultural zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties, with its nightclub setting and references to drinking culture during Prohibition. Animation was still establishing itself as a legitimate art form, with pioneers like Messmer pushing creative boundaries within technical limitations. This cartoon represents the sophisticated humor and surrealism that characterized adult-oriented animation before Disney's family-friendly approach would dominate the industry. The year 1927 also saw significant social changes including the peak of the Jazz Age, flapper culture, and evolving gender dynamics that influenced popular entertainment.

Making Of

The production of 'Whys and Otherwise' took place at Pat Sullivan Studios in New York City, where Otto Messmer led a small team of animators creating Felix cartoons at a remarkable pace. The animation process involved drawing each frame on paper, transferring to cels, and photographing them one by one. Messmer's innovative animation style emphasized fluid movement and surreal transformations that set Felix apart from contemporaries. The film's score would have been created by theater organists during exhibition, using cue sheets provided by the studio. The domestic themes reflected common situations in 1920s life, while the surreal elements allowed for creative freedom impossible in live-action films. This cartoon was produced during a transitional period in animation, just before synchronized sound would revolutionize the medium and ultimately contribute to Felix's decline in popularity.

Visual Style

As an animated film, the visual style of 'Whys and Otherwise' represents the sophisticated black and white cel animation techniques of the mid-1920s. Messmer's animation emphasized fluid movement and expressive character animation that brought personality to every gesture. The film makes creative use of negative space and minimalist backgrounds to focus attention on Felix's antics and transformations. The limited animation techniques of the era required careful planning of movement to maximize impact while minimizing production time. The contrast between the domestic setting of the frame story and the fantastical environments of Felix's tales creates visual variety within the short format. The animation demonstrates remarkable sophistication in timing and squash-and-stretch techniques that would become standard principles of animation.

Innovations

The film demonstrates the sophisticated character animation techniques developed by Messmer and his team at Pat Sullivan Studios. Felix's ability to transform his body and interact with his environment was technically innovative for the time, requiring complex planning and execution. The film's use of metamorphosis and surreal effects pushed the boundaries of what was possible with 1920s animation technology. The timing and pacing of the gags show an advanced understanding of comedic rhythm that was ahead of its time. The nested narrative structure within a short format required careful editing and pacing to maintain clarity. The animation achieves remarkable expressiveness despite the technical limitations of the era, with Felix's personality conveyed through movement rather than dialogue.

Music

As a silent film, 'Whys and Otherwise' had no synchronized soundtrack, but would have been accompanied by live music during theatrical exhibition. Theater organists or small orchestras would provide musical accompaniment, typically improvising based on cue sheets supplied by the studio. The nightclub scenes would have suggested jazz or popular dance music of the Roaring Twenties to accompanists. The confrontational scenes with Felix's wife might have been scored with dramatic, staccato music to heighten the tension. The fantastical tales would have allowed for creative musical interpretation, with accompanists using their full range of sounds and effects to match the surreal visuals on screen.

Memorable Scenes

• Felix's drunken return home, stumbling and weaving as he navigates back to his house
• The confrontation scene where Felix's wife confronts him with the rolling pin, her anger building through expressive animation
• The first tall tale where Felix creates an elaborate story involving fantastic adventures
• The increasingly surreal second story that pushes the boundaries of reality
• The final and most outrageous tale that showcases Felix's wildest imagination
• Felix's desperate attempts to convince his wife of his increasingly unbelievable excuses

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reviews of individual cartoon shorts were rare, but Felix cartoons were generally praised for their cleverness, animation quality, and sophisticated humor. Animation trade publications of the era consistently rated Felix cartoons highly for their innovation and entertainment value. Modern animation historians recognize the series as groundbreaking in its surrealism, character animation, and adult-oriented content. The film is appreciated today for exemplifying the unique qualities that made Felix popular before being overshadowed by Disney's technical innovations. Critics note how the cartoon demonstrates the sophisticated understanding of timing, movement, and visual storytelling that Messmer brought to animation.

What Audiences Thought

Felix cartoons were extremely popular with theater audiences throughout the 1920s, often drawing crowds specifically to see the latest adventures of the mischievous cat. The character's rebellious nature and surreal humor resonated with audiences of all ages, making Felix one of the few animated characters with genuine cross-generational appeal. The domestic themes in films like 'Whys and Otherwise' struck a chord with adult viewers while the fantastic elements entertained children. Audiences particularly enjoyed Felix's ability to outsmart his adversaries and bend reality to his will. The cartoons were so popular that theaters would advertise Felix appearances prominently on their marquees, sometimes billing them above the feature films.

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