May 9 - 16, 1 9 9 6

Frank and Ollie

First we had Crumb, a documentary about the veteran cartoonist Robert Crumb. Now we have Frank and Ollie, a documentary about veteran Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Similar themes, but the two films share about as much in common as eating an ice cream does with sitting on a red-hot poker. Crumb delved into the muck and rancor in the depths of its subject's genius. The darkest moment in Frank and Ollie is a discussion of the death of Bambi's mother.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is the question of how a working relationship can be maintained over 64 years, which is how long Frank and Ollie have been at it. The two men complement each other: Frank is analytical, his drawings bold and deliberate, whereas Ollie is more of a gut-feeling guy, a disposition reflected in his delicate, ghostlike sketches. Between them they represent the interaction between heart and head.

Written and directed by Frank's son, Theodore Thomas, Frank and Ollie is a loving look at the friendship and collaboration between two very talented artists. But Frank and Ollie, unlike R. Crumb, are also very sweet. You'd have to be, wouldn't you, to come up with characters like Thumper, Pinocchio, Baloo and Mowgli? This is a good film to restore your faith in human nature. At the West Newton.

-- Chris Wright