Release Date:

September 15, 1945

Main Character(s):

Beaky Buzzard

Summary:

Like in “Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid”, Beaky Buzzard and his siblings are sent to bring home something for dinner. This time, as Beaky’s siblings bring home everything possible, Beaky proves again to be an inept predator as he mistakes a weather vane for a real rooster, strips a sheep of her wool, gets stung by the parent of a baby bumblebee, and picks a fight with a seemingly little creature he calls “Shorty” not realizing it’s actually an enormous dragon.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 4-15, the 4th Looney Tune in the 15th release season.

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. The original title cue was used as a bonus feature on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5 DVD set in 2007. Although the title cards and credits were recreated as the MPAA number is missing (the credits were actually shown on the opening shot of the cartoon), it was revealed that this cartoon actually used the short credits system with only Robert McKimson credited for animation.

Having died in a training accident in 1944, this was Kent Rogers’ last ever voicework he recorded. Rogers may have had a short life but he certainly did some very memorable voicework in the Golden Age.

The storyboards for this cartoon are also available as a bonus feature on Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5.

Even though they only have one line of dialogue (“Okay, mama” in unison), Beaky’s siblings are much prominent than they were in “Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid” as is Mama Buzzard who only appeared in the opening and ending scenes of that one. Beaky is also again referred to as “Killer”.

As a kid, I actually thought “Shorty” was some sort of winged dinosaur instead of a dragon, considering he doesn’t breathe fire.

This is the first Warner cartoon released after the end of World War II.

What I Like About This One:

The Beaky Buzzard theme over the original titles.

Again reluctant to hunt for dinner, Beaky is told to “at least go out and get a butterfly, or a little worm or something” before he is kicked into the air. It’s only when Beaky realizes he’s in mid-air that he begins to fall before flying back up and dorkily scatting to the “Arkansas Traveler” (animated by Robert McKimson).

Descending on a farmyard (animated by Manny Gould), Beaky’s siblings grab a rooster about to crow, a hen as well as her nest of eggs, and an angry geezer rooster (animated by Bill Melendez).

Attempting to catch “that great big rooster” (animated by Rod Scribner), Beaky smashes into it as it’s actually a weather vane. Mama drops in, pulls him out (animated by Gould), and remarks, “My little Killer. The spitting image of his Papa. Ptooey! Come, Killer! Smack! (while slapping him) Stop making foolishness! Why can’t you be smart like your brothers?” Embarrassed upon seeing said brothers carrying three oblivious sheep (animated by McKimson), Beaky declares, “I’ll show ‘em, by gum!” and swoops down on another sheep, accidentally stripping her of her wool and causing her to scream like a showering woman. Thoroughly embarrassed, Beaky attempts to give her wool back, but she hits him into the ground with a hair brush (animated by Scribner).

Meanwhile, Beaky’s siblings bring home more animals: a cow who the farmer is in the middle of milking and singing, “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” but making spitting noises instead of saying, “E-I-E-I-O”. Walking away with a full bucket, the farmer starts to realize he’s in mid-air. “With a moo-moo here and a moo-moo there, here a moo- (realizes something’s not right) there a moo- (touches air with his foot)- everyplace a- (touches air before yelling in horror) MOO!” (falls), a dog clinging to a fire hydrant (animated by Gould up to here), a horse carrying a buggy with two lovers aboard and with the man panting, “Darling, when I’m with you, I feel like I’m way up in the clouds!” (animated by McKimson), a circus parade of elephants with a little one in tow with a sign informing us, “I Am NOT Dumbo” (animated by Gould).

Mama wondering if Beaky is bringing home something big. Beaky is actually “bringing home a baby bumblebee” which he sings to the tune of “Arkansas Traveler” (animated by McKimson). The bee’s angry parent comes along and stings Beaky in the behind (animated by Melendez). Beaky races down to a small puddle of water to relieve the pain. A little creature pops its head out from behind some rocks and laughs at Beaky, who greets him with “Hello there, uh, Shorty”. After seeing he’s taller than him, Beaky picks a fight with him while punching him (animated by Scribner). As he attempts to pull him out, it’s revealed that the “little shriveled-up piece infinitecimal piece of shoe leather” is actually a very large dragon (animated by Melendez).

Attempting to pick him up from the chest and then by the tail (animated by Melendez), Beaky is suddenly confronted by “Shorty” roaring ferociously at him. Not realizing this is the same creature, Beaky informs him, “Shh, easy there, bub. You’re liable to scare Shorty here” (animated by Gould) but upon seeing his whole body and confronted with another ferocious roar, realizes the dragon and “Shorty” are one and the same (animated by Melendez) as he looks into his mouth and yells in horror, “SHORTY!?” (animated by Gould) Beaky is chased into a cloud where he is presumably beaten up (animated by Melendez).

That night, Mama is calling for Beaky to come home (animated by Melendez). Beaky suddenly shows up (animated by Gould) and although she is glad to see him, she scolds him for always coming home with empty fingers and never bringing home one, teensy weensy piece of meat. “Shorty” is in Beaky’s hands and draping below the mountain responds, “Well, now I wouldn’t say THAT!” (animated by McKimson)

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕