Release Date:

September 14, 1940

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A beach party for celebrities is held at Jack Benny’s beach home in Malibu.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The caricatures were designed by a guy named Ben Shenkman. Shenkman would also design caricatures of movie stars for Avery’s superb “Hollywood Steps Out” (1941).

This is the first cartoon to use the 1940-1941 orange rings and the last cartoon to use the 1939-1940 Merrie Melodies opening theme.

The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance sequence is reused animation from “September in the Rain”.

Caricatures include Jack Benny (for some reason, called Jack “Bunny” here even though he is clearly a human in this cartoon), Mary Livingstone, Bob Hope, Bette Davis, Andy Devine, Spencer Tracy, Henry Morton Stanley, Kay Kyser, Robert Donat, Carole Lombard, Don Ameche, Fred MacMurray, Loretta Young, Robert Taylor, George Raft, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Cesar Romero, John Barrymore, Ned Sparks, Fanny Brice as Baby Snooks, Charles Boyer, Adolphe Menjou, Claudette Colbert, James Cagney, Alice Faye, Rochester (called Winchester here), Phil Harris (as “Pill Harris”) and His Corn-Fed Cuties, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Deanna Durbin, Mickey Rooney as his character Andy Hardy, and Cary Grant.

What I Like About This One:

Mary asking Jack if what he’s wearing his underwear, when it’s actually his bathing suit.

When Jack notices the guests beginning to arrive, he comments, “What a day! What a crowd! And what a party!” Mary adds, “Yeah, and what a suit.” Jack replies, “Mary, there’s nothing wrong with this suit! It’s the same kind Robert Taylor wears.” Mary says, “Yeah, but his had a better filling.”

George Raft flipping a coin next to a sign saying “Rafts”.

Clark Gable swimming with his big ears.

Greta Garbo surfing on her enormous feet.

John Barrymore reciting "I come to bury Caesar” as he starts shoveling sand on Caesar Romero, much to the latter’s confusion.

A crab’s response to Ned Sparks’ grouchy complaining: “Ah, shut up, you old crab!”

Sparks refusing to let Baby Snooks cover him with sand, causing her to cry. He then very reluctantly lets her do so to keep her quiet. A dump truck full of sand gets poured on him.

Rochester filling drinks with a pipette. “I don’t think that half a pint’s gonna be enough!” Jack tells him to dilute it to which Rochester tells him he’ll have a “powerful big” water bill next month.

Deanna Durbin’s rendition of “Carrisima”. This even causes Ned Sparks’ grouchy expression to slowly turn into somewhat of a smile.

Mickey Rooney getting disgusted when Durbin throws Cary Grant a rose instead of him.

The guests all leave due to being annoyed with Jack’s amateurish violin playing, so he forces Rochester to listen to it!

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕