I had a chance to see this glorious film again after nearly 23 years. I was very small when I saw it for the first time, and some hint of it stayed with me all this time. I just now finished watching it again, and, for me, it has lost none of its power. I am somewhat shocked that my mum let me watch it at such a young age, considering the lusty nature of Mehitabel, and the very dark attitudes, but I'm very glad that she had enough faith in me as a child to handle it.I was quite moved by the passion and joy of life all the characters have, even in the most awful circumstances. Pride in yourself as you are, with no apologies is indeed the best way to live. Thank you,Mehitabel. Thank you,Archy.

Shinbone Alley is not like every other animated film. It brings a unique approach to animation. It is almost like viewing an animated jazz opera in some respects. The characters are well defined and quite good, and some of the backgrounds are almost works of art on the New York scene. It is true that some very small children might not understand it, but a vast majority of people who view the film will find aspects of it that they will love; like the George Herriman sequence when archy declares war on humans. Carol Channing is wonderful as mehitabel, especially when she sings Shakespeare. Eddie Bracken is great as archy. This is the type of film that can be viewed again and again, and you find something new and interesting each time you see it. It was definitely a style setter in 2D animation, and should be applauded for its unconventional approach. Throughout the years, there have been a handful of animated films that could truly be called one-off, style setting, animation treasures -- Fantasia, Yellow Submarine, Toy Story, for example. I feel that Shinbone Alley easily fits into this select group of animated films.

Marquis wrote a daily column on "archy and mehitabel" for the New York Post in the nineteen-twenties, as a defence against the bottle and a job as a sports reporter.I read the Penguin collection of his "a and m" stories in the fifties,as an animator at the Disney studio. I tried to get the studio interested, but they were not ready for the earthy humor, and the scandalous goings on of mehitabel. Later when I had started up my own studio, Fine Arts Films,I saw the Broadway production,with Eartha Kitt,which was brilliant.I had met Carol Channing,(who I saw as mehitabel,--perfect gravel voice),and she agreed to do it.With that start,I could not fail.I found a sympathetic ear of a friend,Preston(Sandy) Fleet,who was willing to invest in the production of SHINBONE ALLEY by my studio,Fine Arts Films.By 1969,we had a talented group of storymen,designers and artists,some ex Disney and Warners.Joe Darion and George Kleinsinger,(who had done the stage musical version),did the final script and music.Eddie Bracken and Alan Reed came aboard,and that was it,except we found John Carradine,a great actor,was willing to play the part of that old roue' actor-cat, Tyrone.T.Tattersall.We stuck faithfully to Marquis,and a stunning sequence,"archy declares war", in the middle of the film,we animated in George Herriman's cartoon style,(he illustrated Marquis' poems),creating a world that Marquis lived in. Our film "SHINBONE ALLEY" has been honored as one of the all-time great animated movies by The Museum of the Moving Image in New York,as well as winning the Golden Phoenix Grand Prize at the Atlanta Film Festival of 1971.

I'd disagree that this was little more than some Heinz Adelmann rip-off. This film's got real class. It's a pity so few people saw it in its original run, and so few have seen it since. It's a true rarity in today's film culture. Our cartoons are still EXACTLY what the producers of this film wanted to break away from. The colours and imagery used in this film are often quite reminiscent of this "Yellow Submarine" feature you speak of. In fact, at one time there was a blue meany involved in the "Insects of the world unite" sequence. Of course it was removed. I think it was only a joke. But, this film is a great opportunity to learn about the cinema underdogs, the films geared towards a higher audience that seldom do well in theatre. I would add the Iron Giant to this category as well.