Release Date:

October 26, 1940

Main Character(s):

Elmer Fudd

Summary:

Elmer Fudd makes a fool of himself when trying to go to bed, and particularly has trouble with a stubborn candle that won’t go out.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon contains a special rendition of the late 1940-early 1941 Merrie Melodies opening theme.

The cartoon has no dialogue.

This is one of animation historian Jerry Beck’s least favorite Warner Bros. cartoons (believe it or not, I actually served as the inspiration for this post). He mainly criticizes it for being very slow moving and for Elmer being very stupid. He ends his critique with, “A depressing film- far opposite of what Jones would start producing in a year or two”.

What I Like About This One:

Elmer being unable to take his jacket off due to the candle holder being on his finger. Then, he is unable to take it off via his right hand when he places the candle on one of the fingers of his right hand.

Elmer putting his candle on the windowsill where it is blown out by the wind. Had Elmer just done that right after he dressed into his night clothes, his problem could’ve easily been solved!

Now Elmer is unable to take off his jacket due to holding his hat! He then puts his hat back on his head- but that was where the candle was, so the light becomes dim due to his hat covering up the candle.

Elmer’s next problem is that he can’t remove his finger from the candle holder. After trying to flick it off a few times, it goes out (that could’ve also prevented his problem in going to sleep!), so he relights it. But it’s still stuck on his finger, but he is able to get it off.

As Elmer is in his night clothes (and still wearing his hat!), he is presented with his biggest problem in the cartoon: the candle now won’t blow out. At one point, he tries to extinguish it with his fingers, but the flame ends up on his fingers so he quickly puts the flame back on the wick.

Elmer’s attempt to put a book on top of the candle backfires when the flame burns through the book. He then attempts to avoid looking at it by turning away but the flame is reflected in the mirror. So now, Elmer piles a stack of books in front of the flame but it rises higher than the book stack.

Elmer splits the candle in two- but that only creates two flames!

Fed up, Elmer grabs an ax and chops everything in his bedroom to pieces.

By the time Elmer is able to get some rest, the sun is coming up. Elmer then cries in frustration.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕 ½