Release Date:

May 18, 1940

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig, Daffy Duck

Summary:

Daffy Duck convinces Porky Pig to quit cartoons and try features. After a few mishaps around the studio, Porky comes back and realizes that Daffy was trying to take Porky’s spot as the number one star.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon combines live-action and animation, predating “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” by 48 years. All of these locations were filmed on the actual studio lot.

Leon Schlesinger appears as himself and speaks in his real voice. Storyman Michael Maltese plays the studio guard who refuses to let Porky in to the studio, animator Gerry Chiniquy plays the director of the ballroom dancing scene that Porky unintentionally disrupts the filming of, Henry Binder is the first stagehand who yells “QUIET!” and the one who throws Porky out, while staff member Paul Marron is the other stagehand who yells “QUIET!”, and animator Fred Jones (no relation to the Scooby-Doo character and he is also not related to Chuck) is the animator seen drawing Porky at the beginning. However, Mel Blanc dubbed all of their voices (except Schlesinger’s) due to the footage being shot silent.

As Freleng had been away doing the Captain and the Kids cartoons for MGM, this cartoon was his way of saying “Thanks for having me back, Leon”, as he was more than happy to return to Warner Bros. after the Captain and the Kids cartoons were unsuccessful.

When talking to Schlesinger, Porky mentions that he has been in cartoons for a long time, which is very true as it had been 5 years since he made his first appearance in “I Haven’t Got a Hat” and this is Porky’s 74th cartoon overall. Amazingly, this was also the first time since his debut that Freleng directed a cartoon with Porky.

This was also Freleng’s first Daffy Duck cartoon as well as the first time Daffy’s jealous side has been seen in a cartoon. Most people think that Daffy’s jealous and mean personality began when he started being paired up with Bugs Bunny, but it actually started here.

The cartoon was voted number 34 of the 50 greatest cartoons and is also in the 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons book.

When the crew members rush out to lunch at high speed, this is footage from one of the Christmas blooper reels. If you look closely, two of the people running out are Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones.

This is one of the longest Warner cartoons, clocking in at 9 minutes and 45 seconds.

The rendition of “You Ought to Be in Pictures” at the start of the cartoon would later become the music that plays on the main menus for volumes 3-6 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection.

What I Like About This One:

The aforementioned rendition of “You Ought to Be in Pictures” at the start of the cartoon, as it shows you you’re in for something truly special.

When Porky and Daffy first come to life, Porky mentions that he has a good job of working in cartoons (animated by Gil Turner).

As they walk up to Schlesinger’s door, Porky timidly knocks on the door but Daffy demonstrates the correct way to do it by knocking as loudly as possible (animated by Cal Dalton).

Porky’s conversation with Schlesinger (who rips up a fake contract). After Porky and Schlesinger shake on it, Schlesinger confidently tells us, “He’ll be back!” before going back to reading the paper (this entire scene is animated by Herman Cohen).

When the guard (Michael Maltese) orders Porky to “come back here!”, this whole conversation is an absolute gem (animated by Cohen): “Who do you think you are driving through here like that?” “Why, I’m Porky Pig.” “Oh, so you’re Porky Pig” (Porky nods his head) “And you wanna go in there?” (Porky nods) “And you want me to be a nice guy and let you go in there?” (Porky nods) “So I can lose my job?” (Porky nods before catching himself and shaking his head) “Well, I’m not a nice guy. And I’m NOT gonna let you in. And I’m NOT gonna lose my job. But I AM gonna throw you out!” He picks Porky’s car up and throws it out into the parking lot (presumably Maltese actually picked up a box and Porky and his car were drawn over it).

Porky getting back in disguised as Oliver Hardy, with the guard greeting him with, “Morning, Mr. Hardy”. But the guard gets wise (“Hardy? Hardy? Hey, you! You can’t come in here like that!”) and chases after Porky (animated by Cohen).

Porky hiding from the guard by entering a closed ballroom set. The guard runs right past it, since he didn’t see Porky go in. Filming of a ballroom dancing scene is in progress and Porky accidentally disrupts the filming by sneezing, causing several film cans to fall on to the floor and make a loud crashing noise (animated by Turner). The director (Gerry Chiniquy) furiously throws his script on the ground and yells, “CUT! CUT! THROW THAT GUY OUT OF HERE!” A stagehand (Henry Binder) throws Porky back outside where the guard spots him and resumes the chase (“Say! I thought I told you to stay out of here!”).

As Porky decides to get his old job back, Daffy is hamming it up for a clearly uninterested Schlesinger, singing “I’ll Be Famous on the Screen” to the tune of “Concert in the Park” (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Porky beating Daffy senseless for all the trouble he’s put him through. In addition, a chair is thrown into Schlesinger’s office.

Porky retrieving the fake contract from the trash and telling Schlesinger he didn’t really want to get out of his contract (“April Fool”). A chuckling Schlesinger reveals to Porky that he didn’t tear up Porky’s real contract which is still intact (animated by Dalton).

After Porky goes back to the drawing board, a bandaged Daffy still hasn’t learned his lesson, and tries to convince Porky to quit again, only to get a tomato thrown in his face, much to his disgust (animated by Dalton).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕