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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Morning, Noon and Night remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you watch Morning, Noon and Night? If you have a soft spot for the absolute madness of early 1930s animation, absolutely. It’s perfect for people who like their cartoons slightly unhinged and dripping with jazz. If you need a coherent story or find high-pitched squeaky voices grating, you are probably going to hate every second of it. 🍸
The whole thing kicks off with this weirdly jaunty soundtrack by Rubinoff and his orchestra. It sets a tone that is equal parts charming and ominous. Betty Boop is here, obviously, but she feels almost secondary to the sheer chaos happening in the background.
The baby bird situation is essentially just an excuse to get us inside the Tom Kats Club. And man, that club is something else. It is basically a booze-soaked den of feline delinquency. I kept thinking, why is this baby bird even in there? It’s like a noir film made by someone who had clearly eaten too much candy.
There is this moment where the cats are just hanging out, drinking and being generally menace-like, and the animation gets so frantic it almost blurs together. It reminded me a bit of the frenetic energy in Mickey's Master Mind, though this feels way more sinister. The way the cats move—it is all sharp angles and lazy, drunken glares.
The rescue mission is honestly kind of a blur. One second Betty is trying to be the hero, the next there is a full-blown musical riot happening. It is not exactly a masterclass in pacing, but who cares? You don't watch these for the script.
I found myself staring at the background details more than the characters. The way the club looks, the smoke, the weird shadows—it has this gritty, hand-drawn texture that you just don't see anymore. It feels like it was put together in a basement while the lights were flickering. It’s got that imperfect charm.
Maybe it’s not as emotionally heavy as The Oath of Stephan Huller, but it’s definitely more fun to look at for five minutes. It just exists. It’s a snapshot of a very specific, very weird time in Hollywood history.
Some random thoughts I had while watching:
It’s a strange, disjointed experience. Sometimes it feels like a fever dream that you just stumbled into. You don't have to think about it too hard, and honestly, you probably shouldn't. Just let the jazz wash over you and enjoy the bird-saving antics. 🎷
IMDb 8.4
1917
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