C is for Comparison: Dynamic Duos

I stumbled upon two clips that present a fairly odd, but intriguing comparison.  Let's go chronologically in reverse.

Subject Number One: The Club Scene in Robert Zemeckis's 1988 live action/cartoon crossover Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  More specifically, the dueling piano players.  The pianists donning tuxes are manic versions of Donald Duck and Daffy Duck.  Take a look below:

Or via YouTube.

Now onto Subject Number Two: A Performance scene from Charlie Chaplin's very own 1952 feature Limelight.  Written and Directed by the Tramp, Chaplin has also cast another famous silent film comedian as his musical partner: Mr. Buster Keaton.  See their, much slower-paced, bumbling performance below:

Or on YouTube.

So what do you think?  A coincidence?  Or might Zemeckis and his producing partner Steven Spielberg be making a nod toward the great physical comedians of the past?

Who knows, but looking at the two clips side by side is a lot of fun!

***Side Note***

It has been said that Friz Frelen admittedly based his cartoon character Bugs Bunny on Clark Gable's performance as the fast-talking reporter Peter Werne in Frank Capra's It Happened One Night (1939.)  Check out the clip below where Gable is even munching on a carrot!

On YouTube.

Now compare with a 1960's Warner Brother's ad featuring the famed bunny.

On YouTube.

So what do you think?