Can you recognize this scene?

July 26, 2005 8:04 AM

Can you recognize this scene: two soldiers, which I remember as the last two men alive, are shown killing each other, with guns from a distance I think. It is from an *animated* film, probably meant for children, that I watched possibly 10 years or so ago, but I don't really remember--I just have this vague recollection. I think they were wearing gas masks and there was possibly a voiceover, but again, I'm not sure about anything. I am guessing that it must have been a movie about animals or something, or in any case about something non-human, where this scene was used in a kind of "oh, the naughty past" way. Any suggestions of what movie this might be from would be greatly appreciated!
posted by flavor to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Best answer: "Goodwill to Men"? 50s MGM short, about cute animals explaning who "men" were, and what happened to them after they all died in war?
posted by ipe at 8:23 AM on July 26, 2005

Response by poster: Hmm, it sounds like that is probably it. Any idea how I would be able to watch it? I've been searching around to see if it's on any kind of DVD collection, but I'm failing.
posted by flavor at 10:36 AM on July 26, 2005

This may be a longshot, but the first thing that popped into my brain was Ralph Bakshi's 1977 animated film Wizards. It's kind of an odd mix of fantasy and post-apocalyptic sci-fi...not one I'd generally recommend for kids (typical for Bakshi), but as it is animated, I wouldn't be surprised if it snuck past parents from time to time.

Some of the characters wear gas-mask like helmets, the fantasical elements may account for the "animals/non-human" recollections, and the post-apocalyptic setting and references to humanity's past could be the "oh the naughty past" bit.

Now I need to track this down and see it again...been years, but I remember enjoying it.
posted by djwudi at 12:28 PM on July 26, 2005

Best answer: Good catch, ipe. I remembered the cartoon immediately, but couldn't put a name to it. Searching around for it, I found that "Goodwill to Men" was a remake of the 1939 animated "Peace on Earth." Haven't had any luck finding an online clip, but you can get a VHS containing it at Amazon.
And it does end with two men, the last two on Earth, wearing gas masks and shooting each other. The voiceover would have been Grampa Squirrel (Mel Blanc) telling the story of Man.
posted by solotoro at 5:11 PM on July 26, 2005

Sounds like something from Aeon Flux.
posted by krisjohn at 5:32 PM on July 26, 2005

i remember that one from the 60s, seeing it in school ... there was some kind of jazz soundtrack ... i think solotoro and ipe may be right, but i remember it being as longer ... maybe a different one?
posted by pyramid termite at 9:33 PM on July 26, 2005