Release Date:

April 22, 1939

Main Character(s):

Daffy Duck

Summary:

Casper Caveman (who talks like Jack Benny but is a caricature of Chuck Jones) and his pet dinosaur, Fido, go hunting Daffy Duck.

That’s Not All, Folks:

This is the first cartoon where Jones attempts to be funny rather than cute.

This is also Jones’ first Daffy Duck cartoon as well as Daffy’s last appearance in a color cartoon until “Conrad the Sailor” (1942; also directed by Jones).

Casper is a playable character in the app, “Looney Tunes World of Mayhem”.

The cartoon is in the public domain.

This is the last cartoon to have the word “Vitaphone” above the Warner Bros. shield and the last cartoon to have the title card and credits on the opening rings.

A clip from this cartoon was used in the Bill Nye the Science Guy episode, “Dinosaurs” (specifically, in the segment, “What’s wrong with this picture?”, involving dinosaurs and humans coexisting).

Clips from this cartoon were also used in the Star Trek: Voyagers episode, “Memorial”.

What I Like About This One:

The music over the opening credits as well as the opening title card which humorously reads, “For no particular reason, our story is laid in the ‘stone age’ - millions and billions and trillions of years ago- probably before any of you people were EVEN BORN” (what makes this funny now is that this cartoon is now 85 years old).

Casper saying he’s so hungry, he could eat a saber-toothed tiger before admitting, “Well, anyway, half of one” (animated by Robert McKimson).

After Fido gives Casper a large bone that knocks him down, he sarcastically says, “Thanks” before snapping at him, “Now, come on, I’m famished!” As they walk off, Casper tells us, “Well, I’ll bet you’re cranky before breakfast, too”.

Fido stepping on a stick and Casper hypocritically raising his voice, “BE QUIET!”

When Casper spots Daffy in the lake, he comments “My favorite vegetable- duck” before firing a rock from a slingshot.

Daffy acting as a traffic cop to trick the rock into going past him after letting a swan through.

The rock (which seems to have a mind of its own) realizing it was duped and going back towards Daffy before accidentally beaning Fido on the head. Dazed, Fido dances to the tune of Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song”.

Casper commenting on Daffy’s behavior, “Gosh, that duck acts like he’s crazy.” Daffy then pops up and says, “That is correct- absolutely 100% correct!” before propelling the slingshot to smack Casper in the face (animated by McKimson).

Casper attempting to go after Daffy by taking his animal skin off to reveal swim trunks and jumping into the lake, only for him to stop in mid-air when Daffy produces a “Positively No Swimming” sign. Casper then goes in reverse back to dry land and complains, “A fine thing. No swim. Other cavemen get to go swimming, but I never get to do anything” (animated by McKimson).

Daffy painting a portrait of himself on a rock to fool Casper and before running off, he comments, “Not bad for a guy that never took a lesson in his life!”

Casper’s club remaining in mid-air while he spits on his hands before swinging at Daffy’s portrait on the rock.

After Casper hits the rock, the impact causes his whole body to vibrate. He shakes a tree to stop vibrating, but when he walks off, the vibrations start up again. Daffy helps him stop for good by having him down some sort of frothy drink.

Daffy leading Casper and Fido to “the biggest, most luscious duck you ever tasted” via a ton of signs: “Duck- the breakfast of champions”, “duck is brain food”, “There is no substitute for duck”, “Worn down? No appetite? Try duck, the food supreme”, “Dr. Fierce’s Golden Duck Discovery”, “With Cavemen, it’s Duckies 2 to 1”, “There Are More Costly Ingredients in Duck”, and “For the Pause That Refreshes Duck”.

The duck Daffy was leading them towards turning out to be a large inflatable duck that Daffy has pumped up himself. Casper then stabs it with a knife, causing the explosion to kill them all. They are all seen on separate clouds in angel outfits, with Fido playing a harp and Casper angrily scowling at Daffy. Daffy admits, “You know, maybe that wasn’t such a hot idea after all”. Casper then ends the cartoon with “Goodnight, folks” (which was a phrase Jack Benny would often say).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕