Classic Cartoon Critic: Porky’s Duck Hunt

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Rating:  ★★★

This one’s really important, as far as the evolution of Warner Bros cartoons goes. It introduces Daffy Duck (not yet named), and with him, a heretofore unseen type of cartoon character. One that fought back against those trying to hunt him, one that ignored the cartoon’s ‘script’, one that acted in absurd ways just for the heck of it. In other words, it introduced the ‘screwball’ character, an archetype that would prove to be one of Tex Avery’s favorites, and one that needed to exist in order to eventually have the likes of Bugs Bunny around.

This is, of course, a Tex Avery cartoon. And it’s much more like what people expect from Avery cartoons than some of his earlier endeavors – gag-heavy and fourth-wall breaking.

There’s some solid gags throughout, but the pacing still isn’t quite there. Some gags, like drunk fish rowing a boat and singing “On Moonlight Bay”, go on for entirely too long. Some gags, like a duck eating an electric eel, feel pointless. Some are references that have been lost to time, like a reference to old-school comedian Joe Penner.

It’s the gags with the duck that would be eventually called Daffy that shine the most. Switching roles with the dog in the water, helping Porky with his gun, and, most noticeably and importantly, referring to himself as “just a crazy, darn fool duck”, and doing what would become his signature ‘whoo-hoo’ hopping around. It was something audiences hadn’t seen before, and it stuck with them, more than anything else in the cartoon.

Later cartoons would do most of what this one did, but better, so it’s not entirely necessary to bother with this one. But if you want to see Daffy’s true origin point, and the introduction of the ‘screwball’ character type, then this is the cartoon for you.

 

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Classic Cartoon Critic: I Love to Singa

 

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Rating:  ★★★★

Though this cartoon doesn’t feature any of the future Looney Tunes cast we know and love today, or even any old stars like Beans, it’s still a classic.

Tex Avery directs, though you’d be forgiven for not realizing, since the zaniness he’s known for isn’t on display here. In fact, this is a rather simplistic cartoon, in terms of setting, plot, and even character design. But it tells a short story that is still relatable today, about a kid whose interests don’t align with his parents’ – basic parent and child conflict. Of course, in the end his parents end up supporting him and his jazzy singing, a conclusion that was never really in doubt.

There’s some fun gags along the way, like the guy on the radio responding to Mama Jolson, but overall it’s just a sweet, heartwarming cartoon. Also, the titular song is absurdly catchy.

Note: there is a small fat joke during the auditioning gags.

 

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Classic Cartoon Critic: The Blow Out

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Rating: ★★★★

Porky’s back, and so is Tex Avery – and this time, Beans isn’t around to weigh down the proceedings. This is, in fact, the first time Porky Pig’s been allowed to feature in a cartoon by himself, and the quality of the cartoon makes it unsurprising that after it Porky quickly became Warner Bros’ biggest cartoon star for several years.

It’s a great plot, featuring an evil bomb enthusiast, and a kid version of Porky who just wants to get a few more pennies so he can have a soda. When Porky figures out he can get a penny from people by picking up things they dropped and returning them, he starts going around the town, rushing to help everyone. Of course, when the bomb enthusiast drops a clock bomb in front of a building, he emphatically does not want it back, but that doesn’t stop Porky from trying again and again and again. Eventually, the bomber gets caught while trying to escape his own bomb, and Porky is rewarded with $2000 – and of course the lovable pig knows exactly how he wants to spend it.

A quality cartoon, and the start of Porky’s illustrious solo career that would lead Looney Tunes toward becoming the amazing series we know it as today.

 

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Classic Cartoon Critic: Gold Diggers of ’49

 

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Rating: ★★★

This cartoon is kind of big deal. It marks the return of Porky Pig, the Warner Bros directing debut of none other than “Fred” [Tex] Avery, and is animated by legends Bob Clampett and “Charles” [Chuck] Jones. It marks a bit of a turning point for WB cartoons, which had honestly almost always been mediocre before now, into something more sharply written and gag-heavy. The animation is really fluid and and enjoyable to watch, and the plot, about discovering gold and dealing with a robber, moves at a great pace and is entertainingly told.

That said, despite all this praise, there are some pretty heavy stumbling blocks in here. First and foremost, since it damages the whole cartoon, is the fact that it stars and focuses on Beans, who is still a very flat and uninteresting character. There’s also some unfortunate but predictable fat-shaming jokes at Porky’s expense and a boring and sexist ‘woman as prize’ cliche. But most damning, and something that is unfortunately not a great surprise given the director, is some really heinous racism. There’s a pair of gross Chinese caricatures that feature prominently in the first half, and just when I didn’t think it could get worse the characters are covered in dust and become a blackface joke.

So, yeah, important, historic even, cartoon, but with a real ugly side to it that unfortunately prevents it from being a cartoon that I’d consider ‘good’.

 

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