Release Date:

March 6, 1937

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

An all-bird cast. A spoonerism-speaking iceman (someone who delivers ice) tries to avoid the affections of an old maid who wants to win him over with her cooking. He has his heart set on Katie Canary, who is only interested in marrying a crooner (a term used for a popular singer back then). He is hopeless since he can’t sing (due to his spoonerisms), until he comes across Professor Mockingbird, a professional voice imitator. After impressing the iceman with his demonstrations, the iceman learns he can croon, so he sticks him in the back of his truck and pretends to sing the title song while driving off with Katie. The ruse backfires when the professor becomes so cold that he sneezes the truck apart. In the end, Katie is taking care of the sick professor, while the iceman is finally won over by the maid.

That’s Not All, Folks:

According to ink and paint artist Martha Sigall, the cartoon was originally titled “I Only Have Ice for You” (which would have made a good pun).

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. The title song played under the opening credits. Additionally, the original title card has been found, albeit in poor quality. The credits are as follows:

Supervision: Fred Avery

Animation: Bob Clampett and Virgil Ross

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

Katie’s voice sounds like Katharine Hepburn.

According to production art, the iceman was going to be named “Sammy Sparrow”.

What I Like About This One:

The iceman not being able to speak without saying spoonerisms.

The iceman trying to escape the old maid and trapping her in a bed in the wall.

The iceman driving away from the old maid’s house, only coming back to breathe a sigh of relief.

When the iceman tries to get Katie’s attention while she’s listening to Bing Crosby sing, Crosby stops his song to tell the iceman, “Don’t lean on the radio, son. You bother me”.

The iceman struggling to sing “Let It Be Me”.

Professor Mockingbird’s imitations which include a duck, a dog, a car, a cow, a rooster, a yodeler, an organ being played, a donkey, and a zooming airplane.

When the iceman takes the professor to his truck, the professor doesn’t even question what he’s doing with him.

When the iceman pretends to sing the title song, we can see that he’s unknowingly imitating the same gestures as the professor.

The iceman’s scheme being exposed when the professor starts shivering from the ice in the back of the truck, so his crooning starts to decline.

The iceman finally being won over by the old maid’s cooking, but puts on a pair of shades before kissing her.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕