Release Date:

April 27, 1940

Main Character(s):

Elmer Fudd

Summary:

A grandfather complains about a radio story on the courtship of John Alden and Priscilla and tells his grandson how it really went as Miles Standish wrote a singing telegram to Priscilla having John Alden (played by Elmer Fudd) sing it to her, and only Elmer could help her when Indians attack her home.

That’s Not All, Folks:

Miles Standish is a caricature of Hugh Herbert while Priscilla is a caricature of Edna May Oliver.

The cartoon contains a joke that would obviously be inappropriate today: in one scene, a cross-eyed Indian accidentally hits another in the back of the head. The injured Indian rubs his head in pain and silently mouths, “G******, son of a b****!” Embarrassed, the cross-eyed Indian says, “Pardon me!” But the Indian’s silent cussing was so subtle even the Hays Office (the censorship office) failed to notice it!

Freleng would later use the “If that ain’t the truth, I hope lightning strikes me!” end gag in “The Trial of Mr. Wolf” (1941) and “His Hare Raising Tale” (1951), only in both cases, the line is instead, “If that ain’t the truth, I hope I’m run over by a streetcar!”

What I Like About This One:

A Pilgrim shown in a stockade labeled, “Do Not Open Till Xmas”.

Standish’s window having a windshield wiper.

Standish wolf-whistling at the pin-up on his calendar two times when he sees an advertisement for the “John Alden Messenger Service”.

The various people named John listed in the phone book with the funniest being “John E. Jumpup”, “John Q. Public”, and “Johnny Onenote”.

Elmer’s rendition of “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”, showing how much Arthur Q. Bryan was a natural fit for him (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Elmer yelling “INDIANS!” after his telegram gets pinned to the house by an arrow (animated by Bickenbach).

Priscilla rushing out to collect her laundry (although she puts one piece of clothing back because it wasn’t dry yet), seemingly avoiding arrows. When she brags, “You didn’t even touch me!”, her backside is full of arrows.

Elmer getting a gun out of a glass case labeled “In case of Indians, break glass”. He then breaks the glass after getting the gun.

The grandson arguing that the Indians were ballplayers instead of Indians. The grandpa’s reply is, “They were too Indians! They were the Cleveland Indians!”. An Indian with a shirt labeled “Cleveland Indians” is then shown.

Every time Elmer gets his hat shot off, it’s replaced with another piece of headwear.

One of the Indians accidentally shattering Priscilla’s window with his arrow, causing Elmer to angrily come out and tell them that one of them will have to pay for the broken glass. The Indians all retreat at this.

Priscilla declaring Elmer her hero and kissing him. Not wanting to be the lover of an elderly woman, Elmer says, “But Miwes Standish wants to mawwy you!” She replies, “Speak for yourself, John!” and continues kissing him (animated by Bickenbach).

The grandpa finishing the story by saying “If that ain’t the truth, I hope lightning strikes me!” All of a sudden, a lightning bolt zaps the living room, destroying it. Both grandpa and grandson are unharmed, but the grandpa is hanging on to the destroyed ceiling, saying “Anyhow, that’s the way I heard it!” and sticks his tongue out at the audience (animated by Gil Turner).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½