Release Date:

December 7, 1940

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

While on a fox hunt with other dogs, a dumb dog named Willoughby is constantly misled by a wise guy fox named George.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “A Hunting We Will Go” played under the opening credits (which contain the draft numbers for crew members rather than their names):

Supervision: Draft No. 412 (Avery)

Story: Draft No. 1312 (Dave Monahan)

Animation: Draft No. 6102 (Charles McKimson)

Musical Direction: Draft No. 158 (Too bad).

The original title card also exists, albeit in poor quality.

158 was Carl Stalling’s draft number and “Too bad” refers to the fact that he would be unable to serve in World War II due to his age (he was born in 1888).

This is the first Warner cartoon to spoof John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. Willoughby is obviously based on Lennie while George is named after the character of the same name. Avery would introduce similar bear characters named George and Junior during his tenure at MGM.

The opening animation of this cartoon would later be reused at the start of the Bugs Bunny cartoon, “Foxy by Proxy”, 12 years later in 1952.

George speaks in a voice similar to Bugs Bunny.

What I Like About This One:

The way Willoughby runs (the animation and music are both funny).

Willoughby bragging that he’s going to be the one to catch the fox as he knows every single tree in the forest- such as one that he bashes into due to not paying attention.

George’s directions of where the fox apparently went lead to Willoughby jumping over a fence and off a cliff every time. The first time causes him to realize that the character who led him there was indeed a fox.

As Willoughby gets back up, George disguises himself as a dog and gives Willoughby (who has to be reminded of his name!) the same directions.

After falling off the cliff a second time, Willoughby tells the still disguised George “he wasn’t down there. I was down there once before”. So George leads Willoughby to get his “fox”. But his disguise comes off due to George being unable to go through a hollow log with it on. Seeing the fox run out the other end, he tries to get “George” to come with him to catch the fox, until he realizes it was a costume. “Y’know? George was spoofing us. He was the fox all the time.”

The chase accidentally disturbs a bear who goes after them in anger.

As Willoughby puts a rock over the cave where George hides in, he is chased up a tree by the bear, who attempts to attack him from the ground.

Fortunately, George gets out, and seeing the danger Willoughby is in, gives the bear a hotfoot.

Willoughby bragging to George that he wasn’t afraid of the bear at all, before fainting in shock from the whole thing.

“Came another day” and George is shown to be in Willoughby’s doghouse. Getting the same directions once more, Willoughby this time lands on a mattress at the bottom. “Y’know, I ain’t so dumb!”

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕