Cinematheque: Comics to Comix

R. Crumb's Fritz the Cat was an ever-changing character on paper. On celluloid, Fritz finds himself the subject of an X-rated satire of college life and social activism. Crumb was reportedly horrified by the right-wing political bent of the film's humor, but there is no doubt that Bakshi's film was a stunning box-office success, grossing more than $100 million and bringing the comix aesthetic decidedly above ground. (Ralph Bakshi, 1972, 16mm, color, 78 min.)