Saturday Afternoon Cartoons: Cats, Rats & Co.

Director: Multiple Dirs

1950 / 60min / 16mm

Saturday Afternoon Cartoons is New York City’s prime theatrical showcase of early and classic animated cartoons, shown in vintage 16mm film prints from the personal archives of historian Tommy José Stathes. Beginning more than 25 years ago as a casual effort to find and see early cartoons that were unavailable on home video, Stathes’ collection has grown to become one of the largest of its kind. It includes many titles and ‘orphan films’ that are difficult to access or view elsewhere. Stathes joins Metrograph in late February with Cats, Rats & Co.; a selection of vintage animated shorts centering around fantastic rodents, fanciful felines, and some of their friends from other species. Come enjoy a tale of mice who 'spin' for a living; an already-famous cat becoming an amateur filmmaker; ; a famous mouse's steamship adventures, a pampered pussycat's posh Park Avenue pad; a furry-friendly sing-along for the entire audience; and other unusual tales. Spanning the 1920s through the ’50s, this assortment showcases classic characters such as Felix the Cat, Babbott and Catstello, Porky Pig, Krazy Kat, Michael Rodent, and others.

Introduction and Q&A with curator Tommy José Stathes on Saturday, February 28th