Perhaps that is why Barnaby has been the influential publication whilst Karlsson has been the popular one. Barnaby is an intellectual cartoon with a sophisticated take on the politics of the period, (which is not to say that it was always political). That is not to say, however, there is no difference in output. Same physical qualities, though they fly by different methods, and same character. Different ones, of course - Cushlamochree - an exclamation of surprise meaning 'pulse of my heart'. Mr O'Malley even has the stock phrases that are so important to the nature of Karlsson. It has prompted me to write to an expert on Johnson, curious to know what he had to say about Lindgren's take, a word I use advisedly. Here Astrid Lindgren has taken the figure of Mr O'Malley in a way that one could say is nothing short of brazen. However much Flook may have been inspired by Mr O'Malley, however, and despite its subversive role as a cartoon for adults read by children, Flook is different enough in looks and character that one needs to have the inspiration pointed out. This led to the creation of Flook, an indispensable part of the cartoon scene in the UK for over forty years. When the editor of The Daily Mail in the UK saw it, he wanted one like it. The influence of this cartoon was, however, by no means limited to that country. Johnson was a cartoonist's cartoonist, original - perhaps radical - in his technical vision of the strip and highly influential on those who came after him in the US. It was a cartoon strip for adults that kids read. It was syndicated - not a big syndication by US standards, but nonetheless to newspapers which had a combined readership of 5.5M or so. He even wrote a letter to the editor of PM to say so. Dorothy Parker adored it, Duke Ellington was chuffed to be part of one of the strips. The cartoon was a big hit within the Left intelligentia in the US. This should definitely be on Top 250.In 1942, Crockett Johnson created the cartoon Barnaby, in which we see Mr O'Malley through the eyes of a boy who wishes for a fairy Godmother, but instead is presented with a short, fat, flying, conceited and not altogether competent fairy Godfather.
Our beloved "Skorpan" (or "Lillebror", in this case), Lars Söderdahl, couldn't be better, he always proved to be a fine Swedish child-actor. Mats Wikström is perfectly convincing as Karlsson. The scenario is very nice and complete, in good old Scandinavian tradition. More than that, "Lillebror" can also fly by sitting on Karlsson's back and see unique vistas of Stockholm. Now "Lillebror" has found the friend many children aspire to. Well, cute little "Lillebror" has just found the kind of friend that could only exist in children's fantasies, except that he isn't fruit of a child's imagination, he is real! That new friend is Karlsson, an eccentric and peculiar boy with a propeller on the back which gives him the power to fly. When children, most of us certainly had our imaginary friends. This is a light comedy type of movie, pure, magic, with nothing to insult anyone and no bad stuff, just innocent and captivating. That's not to say that they aren't appropriate for older audiences - they are, depending on the public. As so many of these books were adapted into movies, then swedes have a rich and complete history on movies especially for children.
#Karlson who lives on the roof how to#
Astrid Lidgren surely knew how to captivate children with her books. I like this movie, it's childlike but utterly charming.
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