Release Date:

November 22, 1941

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A cat tries to catch a canary but the lady of the house tells the canary to whistle if the cat tries to catch him while she’s asleep so she can throw him out. So the cat makes several schemes to prevent the canary from whistling.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. “Yankee Doodle” played under the opening credits. Additionally, the original title card does exist and can be viewed here.

Avery is once again not credited due to having left the studio.

The cartoon serves as a precursor to the Tweety and Sylvester cartoons (the first of which, “Tweetie Pie”, would be released six years later in 1947, and would be the first Warner cartoon to win the Academy Award).

In one scene, the canary attempts to trick the cat into whistling by showing him a sexy picture. This foreshadows Avery’s MGM cartoons with the character of Red Hot Riding Hood.

What I Like About This One:

After the woman goes to bed, the cat uses his fingers like two legs to sneak up on the canary and grab him. When the canary suddenly whistles, the cat immediately zooms back to the rug and fakes being asleep.

The animation of the cat looking up with an annoyed look on his face while continuing to fake snoring.

The cat then attempts to sneak off with the birdcage very quietly. The canary wakes up to find that he is somehow moving, and lifts up the green sheet covering his cage to find the background moving. He flies out of the cage while the cat isn’t looking, and opens the door. The cat absentmindedly gives him a “thanks” sign before realizing who it was that opened the door for him.

The cat’s next scheme is walking behind a corner and having his tail give a “come here” gesture to the canary (animated by Virgil Ross) . He then traps the canary in a jar to prevent him from whistling only to get distracted by a fly buzzing to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”. The cat takes his paw off the jar to get the fly off of his muzzle giving the canary a chance to whistle (animated by Rod Scribner). After putting the canary back in his cage, the cat hides under the rug.

The canary tricking the cat into whistling by showing him a sexy picture. The fly also “wolf-buzzes” at it.

The cat then decides to snack on some crackers and offers some to the canary so he can’t whistle. Eventually, the canary manages to swallow them, enabling him to whistle (animated by Robert McKimson).

The canary antagonizing the cat by pulling his tongue out and having it roll up like a curtain shade. After hitting the cat with a mallet, he flies back to his cage, only to find the cat there with his mouth wide open.

The cat placing earmuffs on the woman’s ears and then whistling to ensure she can’t hear him.

Seeing the cat chase him unafraid, the canary turns on every noise-making device in the house.

After getting hit by the ironing board twice (animated by Ross), the cat sees to his horror that the canary is holding the earmuffs. Afraid of the woman’s wrath, the cat runs outside and retreats into a barrel. Thinking he’s now safe, the canary realizes he is standing on the woman’s foot tapping on the ground and sees her offscreen angry expression indicating he is also in trouble (animated by Scribner).

With both sheltering in the same barrel, the canary asks the audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, would any of you in the audience be interested in a homeless cat and canary?” (animated by McKimson).

Where Can I Watch It?

At toontales.net!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½