Release Date:

April 14, 1956

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A mild-mannered man named Harry brings home a little shaggy dog named Robert, despite the objections of his snooty wife, Alice, and their equally snooty Pekingese dog, Chang. By the time spring comes around, Robert has grown to be a very large dog with Alice and Chang still not liking him, but the former deciding Robert can stay only if he’s a kind of thoroughbred dog. Harry decides to find out what kind of thoroughbred Robert is, with Robert literally imitating each possible breed.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 1398 and was released as a Looney Tune.

This is a very UPA-influenced cartoon, judging by the backgrounds and the character designs of Harry and Alice (the latter of whom lacks a visible nose).

Robert is clearly named after McKimson.

This was one of several cartoons I had not heard of prior to getting “That’s All Folks! The Art of Warner Bros. Animation” for Valentine’s Day 2015 and I had learned of the plot of this one when receiving the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons for my birthday in November 2015. I was very intrigued by this one’s wonderfully bizarre plot, and the cartoon’s title actually helped me remember what a mixed economy was prior to when I first saw it online in December 2016 (it was restored for HBO Max in 2020, but is currently not on disc. Hopefully, it will be one day).

This is the first cartoon where George Grandpre is credited.

Strangely, the dog in the title card is a Scotty, which is not the breed of either Robert or Chang.

The music over the opening credits is the same as in “Red Riding Hoodwinked”, but arranged slightly different.

The animator draft for the cartoon can be viewed here.

Favorite Scene:

The entire scene with Harry on the telephone getting pestered by Robert’s literal imitations of various breeds.

The twist ending is also great.

What Happens in This One:

One winter evening, Alice is washing dishes when Harry is heard arriving home (animated by Ted Bonnicksen). “Home already, Harry?” Harry calls out, “Hey! Come see what I got for ya!” She goes over to look (animated by George Grandpre) before Harry, holding a leash, instructs, “Stay right there now!” He tugs on the leash, urging, “Come on! (grunts) Come on, Robert! (grunts)”, which pulls in Robert as a little shaggy puppy. “How do ya like him, Alice? Isn’t he cute?” Alice snootily asks, “What is it?” Harry answers, “Oh, what do ya think it is? It’s a dog!” (animated by Bonnicksen)

During a close-up of Robert, Alice is heard saying, “We already have a dog. Remember Chang?”, while Robert snarls quietly at the idea of there already being another dog residing in his new home. Harry explains, “That’s just the idea, Alice! I got him for a playmate for Chang!” Alice replies before Chang himself is shown on the couch looking just as snooty as her, “I doubt that a pedigreed thoroughbred toy Pekingese like Chang would relish the idea. He might be a little choosy about a playmate” (animated by Grandpre). Harry then assures, “Aw, they’ll get along swell, Alice. Robert’s a toy, uh-, a toy uh-, uh- uh-, well anyway (animated by Russ Dyson), the man assured me he wouldn’t get any bigger!” (animated by Keith Darling)

The following spring, Harry walks into the house and is knocked down by Robert, who is now very large. Startled, he yells, “Alice! Hey, Alice! Call Robert, will ya!?”, not realizing that this IS Robert, who barks two times and licks Harry affectionately (animated by Darling). Alice does so, “Alright. Come on, Robert. Come here, boy!” Robert comes over to her, proving to Harry that what he was told about Robert not getting any bigger turned out false. After instructing, “Lie down, Robert” (animated by Bonnicksen), Alice calls out sarcastically, “Did your toy horse greet you at the door again, Harry?” (animated by Grandpre) Unfazed, Harry removes his coat as he replies, “Eh. So he grew a little”. He then asks, “Hey, uh, how’s he getting along with Chang, honey?” (animated by Darling) Alice answers, “Oh, just like Damon and Runyon. Observe. Robert?” (animated by Grandpre) Robert lets out a questioning bark before Alice instructs, “Go play with Chang, Robert. Play with Chang”. Robert excitedly runs off to do so (animated by Dyson), and plops down on the couch next to him, panting and wagging his tail happily (animated by Darling). Harry initially figures, “Say! Robert really goes for Chang, huh, Alice?” This is proven contradictory when Chang snarls at Robert, who clings onto Harry while whimpering. Alice asks sarcastically, “Does that answer your question?” (animated by Bonnicksen)

From outside the back door, Robert listens in on a conversation between his owners. Harry: “But- Alice-” Alice: “I’m sorry, Harry, but if they don’t get along, Robert’s just got to go back”. Robert makes a few horrified gasps upon hearing this. Harry: “Aw, Alice-” Alice: “It would be different if he was a thoroughbred”. Harry: “How do ya know he ISN’T a thoroughbred?” Listening to this as well, Robert smiles at this and then nods as Harry continues, “A-as a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure he’s some kind of a bird dog. Uh, where is he?” (animated by Bonnicksen) Robert runs off as Harry goes out the back door, calling, “He- hear, Robert! Robert! Here, Robert! Here, Robert! (whistles)” He passes a tree and hears what are seemingly birds tweeting before looking up and exclaiming in shock at what he sees, “Robert!” Robert is imitating a literal bird by sitting in a nest in the tree and using a pipe with a bird on one end to make tweeting noises. He then flaps his arms and attempts to fly only to land on top of Harry, who is not amused (animated by Dyson).

Back inside, Harry finds a certain book, “Ah, here we are!” and tells Robert, “Now, Robert, my boy! I’m gonna find out once and for all what kind of a dog you are!” The book is revealed to be titled “Thorobred Dogs”. While he’s looking through the book, the phone rings, so Harry goes over to answer it. Robert looks at the page Harry stopped on, which is a page on “The Boxer” (animated by Darling).

As it’s revealed that Harry is talking to his boss, Mr. Simmons, Robert runs out of the room (animated by Darling), and into the bedroom to pull out a pair of boxing shorts from a bottom drawer. Harry is then seen talking on the phone, “Leave tonight? Oh, yes, I guess I could” (animated by Grandpre). Robert, wearing both the boxing shorts and a pair of boxing gloves, comes up behind Harry as he continues, “What? Oh, oh, yes, yes, sure I can!” Robert then barks loudly, causing Harry to scold him, “Pipe down, you nincompoop!” With it clearly indicating that Mr. Simmons thought it was him Harry said that to, Harry nervously assures, “Oh, no! No! Not YOU, Mr. Simmons! I-I was talking to-someone here was making a noise! (chuckles nervously) Yeah!” Robert then moves along while putting up his dukes, obliviously going up to the couch where Chang resides and punching his pillow without looking. Angered (animated by Darling), Chang snarls at Robert and lets out a small angry bark, scaring Robert into running off (animated by Grandpre) and clinging around Harry again, muffling him. After pushing Robert off, Harry asks in annoyance, “Are you off your rocker!?” Realizing he said this while still on the phone, Harry again assures nervously, “No, no! N-not you, Mr. Simmons! The-the TV! (chuckles) The TV’s on too loud! Y-yeah! (chuckles nervously) Yeah!” He then lets out a silent sigh of relief as Robert leaves (animated by Bonnicksen).

Robert goes back to look at the book and flips to the page of a “Doberman Pinscher”. He goes back up to Harry, who’s still on the phone, and prepares to pinch him on the rear. “Uh huh? No walking plan, huh? (animated by Darling) Seems to cre-” Harry gets interrupted whenever he gets pinched by Robert, “Who did you-”; “Why, no, Mis-”. He then explains (animated by Grandpre), “No, I haven’t got the hiccups!”, while moving his foot towards Robert as a gesture for him to go away. Robert then sees Alice putting plates on a table and goes over to pinch her instead (animated by Darling). Answering on the phone, “Yes, Mr. Simmons!”, Harry hears Alice scream and drop several dishes from Robert pinching her, so he attempts to create a reason for that noise, “That? Oh, THAT! Oh, yeah! (chuckles nervously)” (animated by Grandpre)

Looking at the book a third time, Robert sees the page of an “Irish Setter” (animated by Darling). While Harry’s trying to explain on the phone, “Mr. Simmons-”, Robert brings in a record player playing the music for an Irish jig, which Robert dances to like an Irishman. Unable to hear from Mr. Simmons’ end thanks to the music, Harry literally throws a book at Robert, who falls on top of the record, stopping the music. Harry then clarifies for Mr. Simmons, “What? A party? W-we’re not having a party!” He then nods as he continues, “Oh, well, I’d better hurry! Goodbye!”, before hanging up. Harry goes to the bedroom as he calls out, “Gotta hurry and pack, Alice!” (animated by Bonnicksen) Short notice, but it’s a swell break!”, before taking out a suitcase (animated by Dyson).

As Harry is getting a few shirts from the closet to take with him, Robert comes in with the book and gets his attention. Harry sees the page Robert’s opened up to and tells him, “Huh? Oh! Hey, that DOES look like you, Robert! Say, I’ll bet that’s (animated by Dyson) just what you are! A thoroughbred sheepdog!” Robert nods enthusiastically and runs out (animated by Bonnicksen). Harry goes out the door on his trip, telling Alice, “Bye, hon. See ya in three weeks”. The second he opens the door, he gets trampled by a flock of sheep, brought in by Robert, entering the house and wrecking several things offscreen (animated by Dyson). Fed up with Robert’s shenanigans, Alice warns, “Harry! This is the last straw! You’ll (animated by Grandpre) just have to get rid of Robert!” Having gotten up, Harry answers, “Alright, alright! But don’t do anything til I get back! Bye!”, and then leaves (animated by Dyson).

After the three weeks, Harry returns home, “Alice! I’m back!” Alice, who’s far more cheerful than she was before he left, asks, “Nice trip?” Harry answers, “Fine, fine”, before asking, “Uh, how’s Robert?” (animated by Dyson) Alice begins to reply, “Robert? Well, um- you see, dear, I-” Thinking she got rid of him without him knowing, Harry asks in horror, “Alice! You didn’t!?” (animated by Grandpre), only for Alice to reveal that’s not the case, “No, dear, I didn’t. But I DID find out what Robert is”. Harry becomes excited at this, “You did? What is he?” Alice opens the door and reveals the answer as Robert comes in followed by a litter of three pups that look like him- proving “he”’s actually a female, “Robert is a mother! Aren’t you, Roberta?” The litter also has a fourth pup, which looks exactly like Chang, who gives a sly eyebrow raise at the camera for the iris-out (animated by Dyson).

Where Can I Watch It?

At toontales.net!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕