bugg cinema

pants are important

I need pants [click to embiggen]

You guys. YOU GUYS. The Wikipedia description of this film is killing me: “Hardy […] is further upset by repeated incidents with the kilt. Women faint.”

Part of me really wants to watch this to see these incidents, if only to see what caused women to faint in the Twenties.

Transcript:

Mr and Mrs Bugg are dressed as silent film stars. Mr Bugg is rocking the bowler hat, his eyes half closed and a large smile on his face. Mrs Bugg, meanwhile, is quite a bit chubbier than normal. She is also rocking a bowler — with a bow — but her expression, under her Hitler ‘stache, is sad. Or perhaps angry. Or rebellious? I dunno. ANYWAY.

The text reads: “Decembug 3, 1927: “Putting Pants on Buggy”, the first Laurel and Buggy film, is released.”

 

and then the theme-park empire

mickey bugg

Aww, I didn’t know Minnie Bugg was in that one!

Transcript:

Mr Bugg is doing a glorious impression of Mickey Bugg, in his short-pantsed overalls and at the wheel of what is undoubtedly a steam bugg — he has his hand on the pully thing that blows the steam whistle. We can’t see his boppity dance in this still, but I think we can assume it’s happening. Meanwhile, Mrs Bugg is cosplaying Minnie Bugg, in a huge poofy skirt, cute mary janes and what can only be mouse bugg? ears on her head. Her hands are clasped in delight, and hearts pour from her head, indicating her love of Mickey.

The text reads: “Bugvember 18, 1928: Release of the animated short Steambugg Willie. Considered the birthday of Mickey Bugg.”

 

moonrise

moonrise

I’m really sorry this drawing got damp, because it is from one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite films, and I laughed so hard it was painful. On the other hand, now it looks old and slightly sepia’d, much like the film, so … bonus!

Transcript:

Mrs Bugg is wearing a skirt and Sunday school saddle shoes, and carrying a record player in its own carrying case, along with a purse, in which we can clearly see the blunt shape of safety scissors. Mr Bugg is wearing a coonskin cap and thick glasses, with a large pack and bedroll on his back. He is carrying a rifle and wearing stout hiking shoes. They are clearly setting off on high adventure.

The text reads: “Into the wilderness, with a coon tail hat, Sunday shoes, a record player and lefty scissors.”

 

serenade

serenade

Sometimes I’m sorry that I don’t often share the extra backstory I get when I laugh about these drawings with Loki, but this time, I couldn’t not share, because the Buggs, in typical bugg half-assed fashion, only knew that the song from the movie was a Peter Gabriel song — so the song Mr Bugg is playing is Shock The Monkey.

Transcript:

Mr Bugg stands before a house, a large smile on his face and a huge, antennae’d boombox [Kids, ask your parents -Ed.] raised above his head. In the house, Mrs Bugg smiles from a second-floor window.

The text reads: “Bugg Serenade”

 

auteurs

bugg witch

Oooh, oooh, can I help edit? I love that shit.

Transcript:

A huge, scary bugg with large, black eyes and his mouth sewn shut [ICKY TO INFINITY -Ed.], arms raised in a threatening manner, looms over a terrified Mr Bugg, whilst Mrs Bugg holds her tiny Arriflex, tongue out in concentration.

The text reads: “The Buggs tried to recreate the Bugg Witch Movie.”

 

spelunking

caving

I hope they saw bats and interesting rock formations and stalagmites and heard silly cave stories. That’s what I’d hope for if I were exploring a cave!

Transcript:

Mr and Mrs Bugg are wearing headlamps and carrying pickaxes as they approach the dark mouth of a cave, clearly about to embark upon high adventure.

The text reads: “The Buggs are going to explore a cave.”

 

and you were there, and you

wizard of bugz

I’m sure they glossed over the murder-spree aspects of the film, to better draw in parents and their children.

Transcript:

Mrs Bugg, a basket in hand and wee tofubeast at her side, is linking arms with a scarebugg, a lionbugg and a tinbugg. They will probably break into a song and dance at any moment.

The text reads: “Bugust 15, 1939: The Wizard of Bugz opens at Buggman’s Chinebugg Theater in Bugg Angeles.”

 

betty bugg

betty bugg

Remind me one day to tell you the story of the time we bought a tire in Twentynine Palms on Christmas Eve for eight dollars and a handful of Betty Boop buttons. I bet if we’d had Betty Bugg buttons, it would have been even cheaper.

Actually, now that I think of it, that’s pretty much the story right there.

Transcript:

On a television screen, a huge-headed Mrs Bugg dances, waving a glass of champagne and juggling dishes. Mr Bugg, his eyes and mouth huge Os of shock/horror/amazement, watches, arms thrown up in shock/horror/amazement.

The text reads: “Bugest 9, 1930: Betty Bugg makes her first appearance in Dizzy Dishes.”

 

go ask alice

alice

Alice is one of my favorite characters! I hope Walt Buggney captured the surreal, absurdist feel of the book.

Transcript:

Mr Bugg, as a hookah-puffing caterpillar bugg, sits atop a huge mushroom, smiling at Mrs Bugg, who is rocking the pinafore and holding a cup of what is presumably tea.

The text reads: “Bugly 26, 1951: Walt Bugney releases Alice in Buggland, their 13th animated film.”