First up is one of the all time classics. This is Porky Pig's Feat (1943). This cartoon is directed by Frank Tashlin. Tashlin began directing cartoons for the Warner Bothers studio in 1936. However in 1938, he would leave the studio to work at Disney. Soon he would leave Disney to direct cartoons at Columbia, where he would introduce the characters of the Fox and the Crow. Porky Pig's Feat was the first cartoon he directed after briefly returning to Warner Brothers. Tashlin would later become a live action director, directing such films as The Son of Paleface (1952), Artists and Models (1955), The Girl Can't Help It (1956) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter (1957). Porky Pig's Feat is a very fast paced and funny cartoon, that is an absolute delight. Spoiler Alert: This film features the only appearance of Bugs Bunny in a black and white theatrical short, unless you think of the rabbit in Porky's Hare Hunt (1938) as Bugs.
The following is what an exhibitor wrote about the cartoon to the Motion Picture Herald.
"Porky Pig's Feat: Looney Tunes Cartoons - It's black and white but it's fast and furious and full of laughs. That's what counts. - W. Varrieck Nevins, III, Alfred Co-op Theater, Alfred N. Y."
The next short is one of my favorites. This is The Daffy Duckaroo (1942). The jokes are extremely funny, and the film is full of a really addictive sense of energy. This cartoon was directed by Norm McCabe. McCabe started directing Looney Tunes in 1940. However after being drafted in 1943, McCabe would leave the studio, and the returning Frank Tashlin would take over his unit. Though Norm McCabe only directed Looney Tunes for a short while, his films were excellent and had their own wise guy style that was different from any other director. This film is a great highly entertaining example, so enjoy.
The next short is a much later one. This is The Spy Swatter (1967). Around this time, Daffy was being pitted against Speedy Gonzales in a series of cartoons. The original studio had closed by this time. The cartoons continued production first under DePatie-Freleng studios and then Warner Brother's Seven Arts. Because of this the budget is much smaller and the animation much more limited than the previous cartoons. This cartoon was directed by Rudy Larva who was mostly directing Coyote and Roadrunner shorts at this time. This is one of his only two, Daffy and Speedy cartoons (the other being The Music Mice-Trio (1967)). So enjoy this off-beat strange cartoon.
If you are wondering what to get Daffy for his birthday, this song should give you some advise.
-Michael J. Ruhalnd
-Michael J. Ruhland
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