Release Date:

September 11, 1943

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

Wellington the cat and Roscoe the dog hate each other and are constantly fighting. Fed up, their mistress lays down the law: if they fight once more, they will be thrown out in the snow. The two then try to frame each other to get the other thrown out. In the middle of the feud is the house canary who becomes increasingly sick of their violence.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 20-12; the 20th Merrie Melodie in the 12th release season (remember that the first Merrie Melodie was released a year after the first Looney Tune).

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “It Can’t Be Wrong” played under the opening credits. Additionally, cels of the original title card and credits were found in June 2021.

The title is an obvious pun for “kiss and make up”. The lady actually makes Roscoe and Wellington do this near the start of the cartoon which they do but immediately spit in disgust afterwards.

The cartoon was originally titled “Ship Symphony”.

“Huckleberry Duck” plays during the scene where Roscoe sets dozens of mechanical mice loose around the house while “Powerhouse” plays during the scene where Wellington uses a flower pot to stamp dirty paw prints all over the living room (and even on the canary’s behind).

The cartoon uses several elements that would be seen in later Freleng cartoons such as “Hare Force” (1944), “Kit for Cat” (1948), and “A Street Cat Named Sylvester” (1953).

What I Like About This One:

When the lady comes in to the living room and sees the fight, she orders them to stop. When they do, it’s revealed that Wellington is holding a dagger and Roscoe is holding a meat cleaver! (animated by Ken Champin)

After scolding them for fighting like cats and dogs (animated by Champin), the lady scolds them for other things as well: she scolds Wellington for being lazy and not chasing the mice that have apparently been around the house, warning him that if one more mouse is found in the house, he’s going to be looking for a new home. Roscoe nods happily at this, but he isn’t let off easy either. The lady scolds him for tracking mud all over her nice clean floors (animated by Manuel Perez). The two are then forced to kiss and make up. They reluctantly do so, and spit off each other’s kisses in disgust (animated by Gerry Chiniquy).

While the lady is sitting in her rocking chair and singing “Carolina in the Morning”, Roscoe maneuvers Wellington’s tail to where it will be in the way of the rocking chair. Hearing Wellington yowl in pain, the lady sees Wellington angrily point at Roscoe but she only says, “Roscoe, if I thought” (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Wellington imitating a fly buzzing as an excuse to hit Roscoe with a fly swatter (animated by Chiniquy).

After the lady goes to bed reminding them of her warning of being thrown out (animated by Bickenbach), Roscoe sets up dozens of mechanical mice and then bangs a metal pot to alert the lady into coming down stairs. Wellington puts all of the mice under his feet, which fools the lady, despite the mice sending him crashing into the basement (animated by Gil Turner).

Using the dirt from a flower pot, Wellington then stamps hundreds of dirty paw prints all over the living room, even on the canary’s behind! (the rendition of “Powerhouse” in this scene is also a delight) Once he’s finished, Wellington gets Roscoe’s attention, who walks in a happy, carefree manner before this turns to horror, as he sees the mess. As Wellington rings for the lady, Roscoe tries to clean up the mess, but this proves to be futile. So he goes outside and imitates an air raid warden who yells to the lady to “PUT OUT THAT LIGHT!” so she won’t spot the mess (animated by Perez)

Roscoe putting glue on the sleeping Wellington’s mouth and sticking a few of the canary’s feathers on him. He also hides the canary in a vase and imitates noises to make it sound like Wellington consumed the canary. Believing the false scenario, the lady hits Wellington with a broom (animated by Jack Bradbury up to here) before the canary pops out of the vase and whistles to the lady (animated by Perez), who is relieved to see him alright and also endearingly scolds him for scaring her like that (animated by Bickenbach).

Wellington then gets his own back by covering Roscoe’s face with shaving cream, making him look like a mad dog (animated by Chiniquy). As the lady puts the canary back in his cage, Wellington tugs on her nightgown to get her attention, acting worried about the “mad dog” (animated by Turner). The lady then attacks Roscoe with the broom (animated by Chiniquy).

The two later fight again with the sleep-deprived canary taking an aspirin over this. They only stop when they hear the lady coming (animated by Champin).

Having had absolutely enough, the canary starts trashing the living room and imitates cat and dog sound effects (animated by Chiniquy). Wellington and Roscoe attempt to stop him, but it’s no use as the lady throws them out in the snow (animated by Bickenbach). Once they’re outside, however, Wellington looks rather pleased. Completely bewildered by Wellington smiling, Roscoe asks him, “How can you sit there and smile while we’re out here in the cold and that double-crossing canary’s in THERE!?” Wellington shakes his head as if to say “No, he isn’t” and opens up his smiling mouth to reveal the canary trapped inside as if behind bars! The canary’s cursing is also punctuated with xylophone-like noises (animated by Champin).

Where Can I Watch It?

At toontales.net!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½