Release Date:

September 20, 1941

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig

Summary:

Porky Pig is kept awake by a singing alley cat.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon’s premise would be reworked into a cartoon that is actually even better than this one, “Back Alley Oproar” (1948) with Elmer Fudd in Porky’s role and Sylvester in the unnamed cat’s role.

The title is a pun for the phrase “Nuts to you”.

This is the first cartoon to use the 1941-1942 Looney Tunes intro. This intro featured Porky leaning on a fence and this was also the last intro that was exclusive to black and white as the Looney Tunes started being in color, beginning with Clampett’s “The Hep Cat” (1942) with only a few still being in black and white (all color cartoons so far have been Merrie Melodies).

What I Like About This One:

Porky being so tired that he falls asleep before the rest of his body can get into bed and before he shuts off the light (animated by Cal Dalton).

When the cat begins with singing “Largo El Factotum” from the Barber of Seville, Porky throws a shoe, a clock, and a box at him all of which miss. The cat then has to dodge a vase with each “Figaro” he utters. When the vase finally flies past, the cat lets out a long and loud “FIGARO!” before the vase suddenly comes back to hit him (animated by Gil Turner).

The cat now sings “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” so Porky throws the book “Dr. Fu Manchu” at him. Porky gets the book “The Return of Fu Manchu” thrown back at him (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Porky then shuts the window but then the phone rings. It’s the cat finishing the song! (animated by Bickenbach).

Porky leaving out a saucer of milk as bait but falling asleep while waiting to shoot the cat. The cat drinks it and leaves a note: “Please leave two quarts- Grade A- tomorrow” (animated by Manuel Perez) before waking Porky up by banging the empty saucer (animated by Dalton).

Gerry Chiniquy’s animation of the cat sneaking around the fence only to be met by Porky’s gun.

Now cornered, the cat sings “Rock a Bye Baby” (animated by Perez) despite Porky protesting him not to (animated by Dalton). Porky falls asleep anyway so the cat puts him in bed (animated by Perez) only for the cat to wake Porky up by imitating an orchestra conductor in front of the radio playing “Frat” (animated by Herman Cohen).

The cat walking across the fence with a tiny umbrella while singing “The Umbrella Man” (animated by Bickenbach).

After Porky shuts the window again (animated by Bickenbach), the cat bursts in to sing “Jeepers Creepers” and emphasizes on the line “Where’d you get those eyes?” when Porky’s eyes become bloodshot after he closes the door but the cat opens it on him again (animated by Turner).

Annoyed at the cat’s refusal to shut up, Porky shoots him (animated by Bickenbach). The cat dies a dramatic death (animated by Dalton), but before Porky can regret killing him (animated by Bickenbach), the cat’s ghostly nine lives start singing “Sextet” from “Lucia di Lammermoor” in unison! (animated by Turner)

Where Can I Watch It?

On YouTube!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕