Release Date:

February 27, 1937

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig

Summary:

Porky Pig and his two friends arrive in a Mexican town where a bullfight is happening that day. They concoct a scheme where Porky poses as the matador and the other two dress up in a bull costume in order to win the cash prize. The plan backfires when the two drink moonshine and Porky ends up fighting the real bull.

That’s Not All, Folks:

This is the first cartoon where Mel Blanc provides voices. He does the voice of one of Porky’s friends when he gets drunk and several incidental characters. Blanc would become an essential part of the success of the Warner Bros. cartoons.

The animation of the girl dancing from “The Miller’s Daughter” is seen at one point.

This is also the first Warner Bros. cartoon to focus on bullfighting. Later cartoons that focus on this topic include “Little Pancho Vanilla” (1938), “The Timid Toreador” (with Porky; 1940), “Mexican Joyride” (with Daffy Duck; 1947), “Bully for Bugs” (with Bugs Bunny; 1953), and “Mexican Cat Dance” (with Speedy Gonzales and Sylvester; 1963).

Chuck Jones animated the scene where the two friends (still drunk) wander into the arena and sing “La Cucaracha”. This is also the scene where Porky realizes he’s facing a real bull.

What I Like About This One:

The energetic rendition of “La Cucaracha” at the start of the cartoon.

The bull falling in love with the bull costume Porky’s friends are dressed in.

The friend who’s on the tail end of the costume swatting a fly.

The two hiccuping all over the cage while still in the bull costume.

Porky thinking that the bull he’s fighting is his two pals (“Take it easy, boys. That was real close!”).

Porky asking a caddy for a golf bag full of plungers that he puts all over the bull. The bull manages to get them all off except for one on his behind. He tries to pull it off but gets it stuck on his nose.

The aforementioned scene of Porky realizing he’s up against an actual bull.

The time keeper blowing a noise maker with a mallet to ring the bell. The second time he does this, the mallet hits him on the head.

The “safety zone” gag.

When the two friends come to their senses, they redress in the costume and lure the bull over to them in order to knock him out. They pretend that Porky defeated them, so that he can get the cash prize. The bull then regains consciousness and chases them all out. Porky stops only to give the bull the prize money.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½