The Soldier’s Tale
(Animated)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B
R.O. Blechman is one of animations great, unsung
heroes. You have likely seen his work,
maybe as you were growing up or casually without knowing it, but there is now a
fine new DVD of his work built around his 1980 program for PBS’ Great
Performances as a tribute to Igor Stravinsky on his 100th
birthday. The Soldier’s Tale is
an abstract work that also includes the voice work of the likes of Max Von
Sydow and narration by Andre Gregory.
The title character is taken through all the creative ups and
destructive downs of the world, which he walks through figuratively and
literally.
Unlike Forest Gump, he is affected by this history, but
does not go violent like Michael Douglas’ D-Fens in Joel Schumacher’s
ever-amazing Falling Down (1992), but he does interact to the absurdity
of it all in amusing and human ways.
Very little in this tribute has dated and it remains one of the most
remarkable hours of animated TV we have seen to date. It is smart, mature, has depth, and anyone of
any age can get something valuable out of it.
There is no other way to summarize the work, except to say it does go
after the proliferation of technology, from weapons to conveniences, and shows
how both are often too pitted against the individual. Its message has only been vindicated by time,
which itself echoes earlier key Russian works.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 image is the frame Blechman always
used and much of the material throughout looks good for such a presentation on
DVD. The main program is from a clean
analog master, while the extra shorts vary a bit, but are as remarkable as the
work the disc is centered around. Since
these are in both the pencil sketch style and implementation of solid shapes,
color is sometimes limited, but to call any of this monochrome would be very
misleading. The main feature certainly
uses color well. The Dolby Digital 2.0
sound is monophonic, but has a fine realization of the music from 1918 based on
classic Russian Folklore to begin with by conductor Gerald Schwartz with The
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The
combination is seamless. The same sound
is offered for a great audio commentary by Blechman that I wish would have
lasted even longer. Other extras include
a live-action biography of Stravinsky that bears the title of the main
program. The other animated shorts,
including great TV advertisements, are as follows:
1)
The Hand Of R.O. Blechman
2)
Alka-Seltzer
3)
Season’s Greetings From CBS
4)
Volvo
5)
Flix Flick
6)
Perrier
7)
Angelica Theaters
8)
“oa” (children’s grammar lesson)
9)
WQXR 96.3 FM
10) The Golden Ass
11) The Medical Dilemma
12) Exercise
13) No Room At The Inn
The
section concludes with a montage set to music of his drawing and sketch work in
a reprise of the first segment. Like all
the great animators from Chuck Jones and Winsor McCay to Ralph Bakshi and Ub
Iwerks, Blechman’s work comes from the heart and soul and that makes The Soldier’s Tale DVD a must for all
serious animation fans and those who want more than just a succession of
feature films spinning in their DVD player.
Highly recommended!
- Nicholas Sheffo
