warehouse movie department presents mr. b natural

-
Since the Warehouse knows you love vintage educational films with modern humourous commentary, we are proud to bring you one of the loopiest representatives of the genre, 1957's Mr. B Natural.

Here's how Ken Smith described today's presentation in his book Mental Hygiene: Classroom Films 1945-1970:

C.G. Conn, a manufacturer of musical instruments, sponsored this film - and what a film it is. Mr. B Natural is an elflike character played by a middle-aged woman named Betty Luster, who was probably a summer-stock Peter Pan. As Mr. B Natural, she wearts a powder blue Robin Hood cap and blazer covered with musical notes and delivers every line as if it were punctuated with three exclamation marks. Mr. B Natural represents "the spirit of fun in music" and has come to earth to help twelve-year old Buzz Turner discover that being in a school band (stocked with Conn musical instruments) can be "fun, fun, fun!!!"

Buzz certainly needs help. He's a shy bookworm who wants to get to know Jeanie, "the cutest girl in school," but lacks any skills to help him "fit in with the gang". Then Mr. B Natural appears in his bedroom and tells him he can be popular by joining the school band. "Wait'll you see the kicks you get out of it, Buzz! The glamour of the uniform! The thrill of traveling for band competition! Just like being a member of a football team!!!"

Buzz swallows Mr. B Natural's argument, and several minutes later he's playing lead trumpet at a romantic school dance, with Jeanie looking on admiringly.

This strange film has many unreal moments, but nothing tops Betty Luster for pure, inescapable insanity. She is a shrieking, grimacing menace, squealing lines such as "a clarinet's not just a clarinet, it's a happy smile!!!" (186)


For your enjoyment, here's part 1 of Mystery Science Theatre 3000's take on it...


...and part 2.


The Warehouse takes no responsibility in any sudden increase in the sales of G.C Conn instruments or anyone who decides to take up the mantle of "the spirit of fun in music" and roam the streets of out fair city decked up in musical notes (Halloween excepted, maybe). - JB

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

past pieces of toronto: knob hill farms

-
Image
From November 2011 through July 2012 I wrote the "Past Pieces of Toronto" column for OpenFile , which explored elements of the city which no longer exist. I've republished all but two of those pieces on this website.  Here's the first of the final pair, both of which provided good lessons for future writing. Prepare yourself for a lengthy preamble.
Read more

big v: once upon a time, it was an amazing part of your life

-
Image
While dodging back alley drunks in downtown Kitchener a month ago, I noticed that the back door to a Shoppers Drug Mart bore the mark of its previous identity as part of the Big V pharmacy chain. Years of hearing their slogan "an amazing part of your life" have burned it into my brain, along with images of their comical crusading knight mascot, 25 cent cans of Coca-Cola and the free lunch cooler bags sometimes offered up with the latter. Big V was started in the mid-1960s by a group of Windsor pharmacists who joined together to pool their purchasing and marketing. Most locations were pharmacist-operated, with names reflecting the owners (DeRe, Pond's , Cornett), the neighbourhood (Seminole in Windsor) or town. The chain grew to 135 stores by the time it was purchased by Shoppers in 1995. Amherstburg's store was originally Haslehurst's Big V, then switched to the more generic "Amherstburg" by the time I started shopping there with my parents. Loc...
Read more

past pieces of toronto: albert britnell book shop

-
Image
From November 2011 through July 2012 I wrote the "Past Pieces of Toronto" column for OpenFile, which explored elements of the city which no longer exist. The following was originally posted on December 2, 2011. The Starbucks at 675 Yonge Street isn’t your typical branch of the corporate coffee giant. The walls are lined with sturdy old wooden bookshelves while the floor is a checkerboard of black and white. Why this location is not like the others is hinted at on the façade. Look up to the second floor and you’ll notice a legendary name in Toronto bookselling: Albert Britnell. The quality of the literature on the shelves inside doesn’t always match the standards the Britnell family maintained for over a century of book retailing, but it’s a nod to the building’s past that comes in handy while waiting for a friend or first date. English native Albert Britnell entered the book trade by working in his brother John’s bookstore in London. Both brothers moved to C...
Read more