Release Date:

October 17, 1942

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

A Shakesperean wolf disguises himself as a sheep to steal some sheep from a flock guarded by a dopey sheepdog.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue. The William Tell Overture (most likely the last few cues from the “Storm” movement leading into the “Ranz de Vaches” movement since the latter is the cue that opens the cartoon) played under the opening credits. In addition, cels of the original title card and credits were found in June 2021.

This is the first Warner cartoon to introduce the concept of a rivalry between a wolf and a sheepdog. When he returned to the studio, Frank Tashlin gave this premise a go with “I Got Plenty of Mutton” (1944). Jones would later do a whole series of cartoons with the characters of Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog, who have jobs to steal and protect the sheep respectively. However, they are only enemies during working hours and are good friends outside of working hours.

The cartoon is in the public domain.

The wolf resembles the one in the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing gag from “Foney Fables”.

What I Like About This One:

Watching the sheep hungrily (and visualizing them as “mutton pie”, “lamb stew”, “leg of lamb”, “lamb cutlets”, “lamb chops”, and “lamb curry”), the wolf recites “To eat or not to eat” before getting an idea. “Eureka! I have it. I’ shall disguise meself as a sheep and mingle with the flock” (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

The wolf tripping over a twig when sneaking back to his cave.

Now in his sheep disguise, the wolf comes out of his cave and hops on all fours to the tune of Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” before going into sneaking position (animated by Phil Monroe).

The wolf attempting to catch a lamb with a carrot and then to get him in between two large pieces of bread.

Having supposedly managed to catch the lamb in the bread, it turns out the wolf caught the sheepdog who tells him off for wandering away from the flock and asides to the audience, “Gee, what an ugly looking sheep!” (animated by Monroe)

After the sheepdog kicks him into the flock, the wolf becomes angry (“Why that dirty no good-”) but stops his rant upon realizing he’s in the middle of the flock and starts examining the sheep for a potential meal (animated by Gil Turner).

The wolf then gets tattled on by a literal black sheep with Rochester’s voice (animated by Bickenbach). Running down to the flock, the sheepdog initially faces the wrong way before realizing his error and turning around to where the flock actually are. Hearing the word “wolf”, the other sheep naturally run away. Realizing they’ve all gone, the wolf asks “Wolf?” in his regular voice before switching to a feminine voice: “Wolf?”

The sheepdog attempting to lure the wolf to him via a moose call labeled “wolf-mating call”. The wolf does a Charles Boyer-like lover routine before realizing he’s holding the sheepdog (animated by Turner).

Getting chased back to his cave (animated by Monroe), the wolf disguises as Red Riding’s grandma (animated by Bickenbach). The sheepdog disguises as Red Riding Hood and they do the “what big eyes you got” routine, but the wolf distracts the sheepdog by telling him he has pretty eyes himself. The sheepdog believes him upon looking in the mirror only to find a note on the bed saying “So long sucker”. The sheepdog realizes, “Y’know, I don’t think he meant a word he said about my eyes!” (animated by Turner)

The sheepdog’s attempt to confront the wolf by posing as a haystack backfires when he gets loaded into the hay baler.

Finally catching the wolf and beating him up, the sheepdog brags to the other sheep about the wolf’s capture. But the sheep are actually revealed to be other wolves in disguise! “Well, how do you like that?”, they ask in unison (animated by Bickenbach).

Where Can I Watch It?

On YouTube!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕