This Swing Symphony cartoon from Walter Lantz features the sweet trombone playing (for Jackson)of Jack Teagarden and baritone Lee Sweetland as the speaking and singing voice of Jackson, the trombone-playing merchant-marine sailor who is shipwrecked in the icy wastes of the far north. His trombone playing knocks the native seals and penguins out of their sox, and his jive and jazz keeps everyone steppin', truckin' and warm, and he is crowned the Sliphorn King of Polaroo.
Reviews
Well Deserved Praise
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
This cartoon seems to have vanished from the radar screens, along with most of the Walter Lantz material, which is a shame. The basic premise is that a trombone player named Jackson falls overboard and washes up on the island of Polaroo. The trombone solos are played by Jack Teagarden, a great jazz trombonist and there is a wonderful song the denizens of the island sing about Jackson, called, naturally enough, "Jackson, Sliphorn King of Polaroo". It's all great fun and a good time is had by all and sundry. Hans Conreid's narration is just perfect and there are sight gags worthy of the master, Tex Avery. I wish I could see this one again. I don't know why so little of the Lantz output is available. If anyone can tell me, I'd appreciate the information.
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