Release Date:

December 19, 1936

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig

Summary:

Game refugee Porky Pig’s animal friends applaud him when he forbids hunting, trapping, and fishing. But a French-Canadian villain named Jean-Baptiste just ignores them. When Porky removes all the animals from the traps, Jean-Baptiste gets mad and attacks Porky for letting them out. All the animals in the forest team up to get their revenge on Jean-Baptiste and save Porky.

That’s Not All, Folks:

Tashlin shows off one of his directorial skills here when Benny Beaver gets his tail caught in a trap. The other beaver races off to get Porky’s help in a bunch of little frames (in very few seconds) then goes back and takes the apple that was used for bait. THEN he goes and gets Porky.

Jean-Baptiste is another character similar to Mickey Mouse’s nemesis, Pete, in that they are both ruthless thugs voiced by Billy Bletcher.

This is the first cartoon to give screen credit to animator Norm McCabe, who would direct a number of black and white Looney Tunes during the war years. According to animator Mark Kausler on the commentary for this cartoon on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 4 DVD set, McCabe animated the scene where Porky irons out the animals’ wrinkled parts from the traps.

What I Like About This One:

Jean-Baptiste shooting the “No Shooting” sign.

The beavers fighting each other for the apple (both having no idea what they’re in for).

The aforementioned scene of Benny Beaver’s friend running off, going back to retrieve the apple, THEN getting Porky for help.

Porky putting a clothespin on his nose before helping a skunk out of a trap.

When the animals arrive very sad with bent body parts to Porky’s first aid station, the camera then pans to the other side of the station where the animals come out happy with said body parts straightened out again with help from Porky ironing them.

When Jean-Baptiste enters the first aid station, Porky accidentally irons his hands when he puts them down on the ironing table!

One of the beavers using a moose as call for the cavalry of animals to come to Porky’s rescue.

The entire climax of Jean-Baptiste getting his much deserved comeuppance while he tries to get away on skis. The beavers are launched at him and they repeatedly whack him on the head, turtles slide down on their shells and also whack him, more beavers launch logs at him by using various antelopes as slingshots, and skunks throwing snowballs at him.

The ending shot where Jean-Baptiste ends up headfirst in a pile of snow, and the two beavers from earlier in the cartoon use his upturned skis as a seesaw.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕