Release Date:

November 18, 1939

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A young black cat nicknamed Blackie (not a racial stereotype) would much rather listen to a cops and robbers radio program rather than participate in his family’s singalongs of the Three Little Kittens. Upset that her son only cares about guns and shooting, his mother sends him to bed without any supper. Blackie dreams that he joins a school of gangsters, and learns that he’s too cowardly to be a gangster when the place is raided by cops.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “We’re Working Our Way Through College” (which is also sung at one point with modified lyrics) played under the opening credits:

Supervision: Ben Hardaway and Cal Dalton

Story: Jack Miller

Animation: Rod Scribner

Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling

The lead gangster, Fagin, is similar to Pete, Mickey Mouse’s nemesis, in that they are both cats who are cigar-smoking bad guys.

The cartoon’s plot is similar to the 1935 Disney Silly Symphony cartoon, “The Robber Kitten”.

A portrait resembling Friz Freleng (who would soon return to the studio) is seen on the wall next to the door to Blackie’s room.

One of the gangsters talks like James Cagney.

There are several in-jokes relating to staff member Louie Cavett. These include a poster that reads, “Do you need money? See Cavett the Clutch”, a business named “Cavett Chain Stores”, and a wanted poster for a criminal known as “Louie the Lip”.

What I Like About This One:

The closeup of Blackie’s sister singing Three Little Kittens, as animated by Rod Scribner.

Blackie dismissing the Three Little Kittens as “sissy stuff” before turning on the cops and robbers radio program, startling his family (animated by Gil Turner).

When Blackie’s mother sends him to bed, she tells him to stay there until he can behave himself before opening the door back up to add, “And none of that back talk either!”

Blackie complaining “I never get to do nothing!” before dismissing the Three Little Kittens as “kindergarten stuff” and going to sleep.

In his dream, Blackie’s bedroom changes into an alley leading to the gangster school.

When Fagin introduces himself to Blackie, he asks Blackie his name. Blackie reveals his full name as “Ambrose Wilbur Scat” before telling Fagin he goes by “Blackie”.

The gangster’s “recess” being a gambling game (animated by Turner).

After the other gangsters say hi to Blackie in unison, the latter asks Fagin if he has to go to school to which Fagin replies , “You can’t get no places nowadays, without no education” before showing Blackie pictures of some of their graduates, which are all wanted criminals: “Fat Burns” (whose aliases include “Flash Jordan”, “Smoky Snyder”, and “Holocaust Harry”), “Flute Lip Phil”, “The Claw” (a literal eagle claw), “Snort Snodgrass” the Snooper, “Cavett the Clutch”, and “Fibber McKee” the Confidence Man reading “How to Win Friends and Influnce People” (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Blackie questioning Fagin if he really teaches little boys to be criminals. Fagin acts like it’s a hurtful question and that all he does is “teach them the basic principles, then they go out educated gentlemen. Then, well, gold is where you find it” (animated by Bickenbach).

Fagin telling the other gangsters to run their “theme song” for Blackie: a rendition of “We’re Working Our Way Through College” with modified lyrics. During this sequence, one of the gangsters robs a dummy of his tuxedo and money while another attempts a pretend robbery by opening a safe where someone knocks him on the head with a mallet before he is seen in the “pen” in a prisoner outfit (largely animated by Turner).

When the cops arrive, Fagin shouts “It’s the cops!” and when Blackie asks if they’re real policemen, Fagin replies, “Well, if they ain’t, they’re a reasonable facsimile.” (animated by Scribner).

Four policemen (all of the cops are dogs) failing to break into the gangster school with a log used as a battering ram.

A cross-eyed cop repeatedly getting poked in the eyes with his pop gun.

After one of the cops shoots through Fagin’s hat, Blackie asks if those were real bullets. Fagin’s reply is, “That wasn’t done by no moth!”

The cross-eyed cop covering his face up with his hat to avoid getting poked in the eye again but when he pulls his hat up, the cork flies into his mouth.

The shootout being interrupted by a call (which Fagin politely answers) from Officer Hogan’s wife (an in-joke on storyman Rich Hogan) asking for him to bring home a pound of butter.

Blackie running away from the bullets fired from the cops’ machine gun and when he attempts to open the door, the bullets spell out, “NO NO”. So Blackie jumps out the window, taking the curtains with him.

The curtains are actually revealed to be the covers on Blackie’s bed, and when he falls off, he wakes up from his dream and immediately runs downstairs to join in his family singing the Three Little Kittens. The cartoon ends with Blackie peeking his head through the iris-out with a halo over his head.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕