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      Shinbone Alley

      G 1971 1h 26m Fantasy Animation List
      Reviews 68% Audience Score 500+ Ratings Suicidal poet Archy (Eddie Bracken) tries to end his life by jumping off a bridge, but awakens to find he has assumed the life of a cockroach and has become a part of a community of creatures living in a newspaper office. He also discovers that he can still write poetry, using a typewriter, and begins to enjoy his new life. Archy develops deep feelings for the lovely but self-destructive cat Mehitabel (Carol Channing), but will have to fight to win her from bad-boy tomcat Bill (Alan Reed). Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Stefan Kanfer TIME Magazine I especially liked two songs flotsam and jetsam and the title number they seemed to catch what you called the golden nonsense of the heart. Feb 8, 2018 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Surely one of the most striking and surprising pieces of American animation from the dead zone between Walt Disney's death and the late '80s. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 13, 2022 Full Review Richard R. Harmetz Los Angeles Free Press Visually, John D. Wilson's movie is one of the most exciting animated films ever made. Jan 10, 2020 Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat It is a production that is constantly at odds with itself in regard to both style and substance. Rated: 2/5 Oct 29, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Stephen C LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review jon c Dying and coming back shifts one's view of things. Based on the musical books of the same name by Mel Brooks. Starring the late Carol Channing and the late Eddie Bracken and directed by John David Wilson it stars a man Archie who tries to commit suicide but comes back. The thing is he's resurrected as a cockroach of all things. This is called transmigration. As a human he was a poet acting like a cockroach but now he's a cockroach who has the heart of a poet. He looking at things much more differently now and being more appreciated. He also falls in love with a cat who sings named Mehitabel. Archie can write poetry with a typewriter. But a bad-boy tomcat Bill also wants Mehitabel's affections. Archie will have to confront him while fulfilling his new dream. Archy spend his time writing about politics, philosophy etc. He also reaches his breaking point wanting to start a species revolution against all humans who look down on all insect-kind. But Mehitabel might have a hard time letting go of her upscale lifestyle to be famous and talented. The whole movie is animated with walking talking animals. It's also part musical. One of the those early 1970s stencil creations with monochrome backgrounds and sketchy shades. Artistically it's a nice work of art. The movie does have a bleak urban air of desperation, rot, and impending death. It's more adult than for kids mind you. Even a cockroach can change the life of an alley cat. Nothing too spectacular but a nice diversion for animation and musical enthusiasts. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review todd a So the story is about a man who commits suicide, becomes a cockroach poet and then falls in love with a cat.....Who was this made for?! It's too mature for kids and too stupid and nonsensical for adults. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member People who diss this film basically have no class The film is in a way for kids because there's was no sex scenes to be known The film is a tad dark due to the orgins of Archy which was shown in the film of he was human who commited suicide in the river and for some reason he was reincarnated as a cockroach. The material is bit adult but the adult material is often light and not as obvious like Fritz The Cat was. The main characters have likeable personalities and the music is great This animated film is most overlooked and underrated film ever made, give it a look. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member What was this? Imagine if the guys who did the short introductions for the Pink Panther cartoons were dropping acid, had a tight deadline with 83 minutes to fill and wanted to make a musical. There you have the moderately psychedelic and aggravating experience that makes up "Shinbone Alley". It's a film that I'd swear I saw as a child and blacked out of my memory because it was so traumatizing. People who commit suicide and are reincarnated as cockroaches, a blue dog with the voice of Fred Flintstone who wants to get it on with Carol Channing the cat, -it's a drug inducing seizure, that is an unsettling experience definitely not for children and probably not even for adults. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member now i read the other reveiw for this movie posted and in someways i agree but i think this movie has its place in the world of people like myself those who are old enough to uderstand these type of things yet are still young enough or young enough at heart to love the animation presented now im no professional but i thik they should maybe look the movie over again and see it for what it is an underated antique but yes i do think there were some scenes that could have been taken out like part where archy declares war that was completely pointless scene and does hurt the movie but i think this is one movie that like mahitabel herself should be left out of high society and not be bothered by serious reviews yes the movies bad from the reveiwers eye but its worth watching at least once to develop an opinion of those who can seperate themeselfs from the reveiwer and enjoy a movie without over analyzeing it 70 for a 70's movie for being boged down by the unessicerry scenes but having characters and music that catch you in and make this movie if anything negative a guilty pleasure Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Shinbone Alley

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Suicidal poet Archy (Eddie Bracken) tries to end his life by jumping off a bridge, but awakens to find he has assumed the life of a cockroach and has become a part of a community of creatures living in a newspaper office. He also discovers that he can still write poetry, using a typewriter, and begins to enjoy his new life. Archy develops deep feelings for the lovely but self-destructive cat Mehitabel (Carol Channing), but will have to fight to win her from bad-boy tomcat Bill (Alan Reed).
      Director
      John Wilson
      Rating
      G
      Genre
      Fantasy, Animation
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 24, 2005
      Runtime
      1h 26m