Release Date:

October 20, 1951

Main Character(s):

Three Bears

Summary:

It’s Father’s Day, but Pa Bear isn’t the type who appreciates someone doing nice things for him. Junyer’s stupidity also makes matters worse for him.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 1173 and was released as a Looney Tune.

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. Inexplicably, in the reissue, the opening and closing themes are replaced with the incorrect ones.

This is the final Golden Age appearance of the Three Bears as well as their only appearance in the 1950’s.

The cartoon’s inspiration served from Jones’ daughter’s failed attempts to honor him on Father’s Day.

Ma’s tap dance in this cartoon (animated by Ken Harris) has been stated by Jones to be the greatest piece of animation ever done, in his opinion. The dance itself was inspired by Michael Maltese, who actually could dance like that (I myself am also a great dancer, for those of you who don’t know, and I practically was a life of the party at every homecoming and prom in high school).

This is the only Three Bears cartoon that doesn’t begin with them the introduction of “Once upon a time there were three bears. Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear”.

The cartoon confirms Junyer’s age as 7 and a half, although he still sleeps in a cradle and wears diapers.

The title is a play on words for the phrase, “be a bear for punishment”.

The gunpowder being spelled and misinterpreted as tobacco gag would be reused by McKimson in “Cat Tails for Two” with petrol being spelled and misinterpreted as “a funny way to spell water”.

This is Billy Bletcher’s last role in a Warner cartoon.

Due to Mel Blanc not voicing any characters in the cartoon, there are no voice credits.

The cartoon is in the 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons book.

Junyer is shown to have a large comic book collection with a few of them being Looney Tunes ones.

Pa is shown to have a copy of the controversial 1948 report, “Sexual Behavior of the Human Male” (labeled “Kinsey Report”). Yet more proof that Warner cartoons were never intended for children.

I absolutely adore the rendition of “It’s a Great Feeling” over the opening credits, especially the ending notes.

Favorite Scene:

The shaving scene as well as Ma’s tap dance.

What Happens in This One:

In their house-cave, the Bears are shown to be still asleep before about 21 alarm clocks go off at once, to which Pa’s eyes turn into clocks, upon waking up from the tremendous noise. It turns out Junyer set them up, “Oh, boy! At last! The great day has come, at last! Oh, boy! Oh, boy!” Pa attempts to silence them to no avail, before yelling to Junyer, “How do you turn these blasted things off!?” Junyer gets the clocks to stop making noise by shushing them. After one lets out a small ring, Pa gets enraged and shoves another clock in Junyer’s face (animated by Ken Harris).

Ma starts to say, “But, Henry…”, before he zooms up to her, fuming, “Well, what do YOU want!?” She pulls out a small present, “It’s Father’s Day, dear”. Pa briefly morphs into a “First Class Heel” upon realizing this, and very reluctantly decides to let his wife and son honor him (animated by Harris).

In his bed, Pa protests, “But I don’t WANT breakfast in bed! I HATE breakfast in bed!” “Father’s Day, Henry”, Ma reminds. Junyer comes in with the breakfast tray, “Breakfast in bed for Pa. I am, duh, doing a good thing on Father’s Day”. Seeing that Junyer is about to slip on a roller skate on the floor, Pa gives the audience a nervous chuckle. Junyer does indeed slip on the roller skate, which causes him to lose his balance and for the tray to fly onto Pa, getting the coffee all over him. In tune to “A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich, and You”, a dazed Pa starts pouring the sugar on his head. Junyer gets up and pours the cream atop Pa’s sugary head (animated by Phil Monroe).

Later, Pa is seen with his blanket as a cape and shaving cream all over his mouth area while Junyer is sharpening a straight razor, “A good old shave for good old Pa on good old Father’s Day!” Junyer pulls out one of the hairs on his head to test how sharp the razor is but also inadvertently slices part of the arm off a wooden chair as well, leaving the razor dangerously smashed. Pa notices this and becomes horrified, before Junyer instructs, “Okay, Pa. Eh, make like this. And I will shave you”. Pa begins to run away with Junyer chasing him with the razor and with the bubbles from the shaving cream on Pa’s face popping on Junyer’s stomach, “Wait, Pa! Wait! Wait, Pa, and I will shave you good!” The chase occurs through several rooms as Ma is seen preparing a Father’s Day cake. After a crash is heard offscreen, Junyer quietly informs Ma, “Duh, Ma, Pa won’t talk to me. I nudged him and I nudged him… but he’s awfully still”. Believing Pa’s been badly hurt, Ma puts a cover over the cake. Suddenly, a disheveled Pa grabs Junyer and pulls him into the room where he begins beating him up offscreen. Junyer calls out, “Pa is alright now, Ma!” before he is pulled back in again for the beating to continue (animated by Ben Washam).

In a robe and fez and sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace, Pa complains, “But I don’t want to read a good book in front of an open fire, all nice and cozy!” (animated by Monroe) Ma starts to remind, “Henry…”, before Pa irritably finishes, “I know, I know. Father’s Day!” and also blows the fez’s tassel out of his face. Junyer offers, “I will fill your favorite pipe for you, duh, dear old Dad Pa” (animated by Harris). Junyer spells out the label on the can he finds and misinterprets it as tobacco, “G-U-N-P-O-W-D-E-R. Duh, tobacco!” He then becomes proud of himself as he fills the pipe with gunpowder: “I am a good speller, I am! C-A-T, dog. B-A-T, Rhode Island”. Seconds after Junyer lights the gunpowder-filled pipe, an explosion occurs and sends Pa flying all the way across the cave, with his charred head sticking out of the stove. Ma can only comment, “Henry, what will the neighbors think?” (animated by Lloyd Vaughan)

With Pa having been made to sit down in a chair in front of a makeshift curtain, Ma announces, “Presenting a Father’s Day poem, Henry”. Dressed in a polka-dotted bow tie, Junyer raises the curtain himself and announces the title, “My Pa. By Junyer Bear. Age 7 and a half. My Pa”. As Ma accompanies by playing “My Buddy” on the piano and Pa looks on in disgust, Junyer recites an overly mushy poem, “When the nasty old bogeyman fills me with fears, and my little old pinafore is all wet with tears, and my cute little pug nose is all red from cryin’, who is it that saves me and keeps me from dyin’? My Pa! When my little pink cheeks are pale with fright, who is it that lifts me and holds me tight and says, ‘There, there, little man. Everything is alright’? My Pa!” (animated by Harris).

Ma then does a brilliantly-animated tap dance sung in tune to “I’m Just Wild About Harry” and all the while keeping her deadpan expression: “Oh, who’s your best friend, it’s Father, cause Father is your best friend! And who’s your best friend to the very end? Nobody else but Pa! He is the only friend bestest. North, south, and east, and westest. Who is your best friend? Father. Cause Father is alright, morning, noon, and night! Pa! Pa! Pa!” (animated by Harris)

Ma and Junyer are then dressed as soldiers and start singing in tune to “Frat” about how great Pa is: “Oh, who do we love the stars above? It’s Father. Father. Who’s the bravest of the brave? Father. Father. Who’s the one who fills our lives completely? And ever sweetly will remain. Let’s give a cheer for Father. Let’s make his life a joy”. Ma and Junyer then sing the next two respective lines separately, “I’ll be his loving wifey!” “And I’ll be his darling boy!” They then carry him off and dunk him in a barrel of flour in order for him to resemble Lady Liberty: “Let’s all look up to Father. Worship him near and far. He never is a bother…” Too shell shocked to say anything, Pa is seen posing as Lady Liberty bewildered. Ma is dressed as George Washington and Junyer is dressed as Abraham Lincoln with both saying, “Pa” and then concluding with a long “Paaaaaa” and with flags and fireworks as the finale (animated by Harris).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕