here<\/a>. <\/p>\n
\nNo Mutton For Nuttin\u2019<\/strong> (Paramount\/Famous, Noveltoon<\/em> (Blackie), 11\/26\/43 – no director credits) – This was the first in Paramount\u2019s new all-color collection of mini-series and one shots, and its eccentricity and lack of director credit seems to indicate that the entire staff was requested to contribute to ensure a successful series launch. Reaching outside its usual stable of voice talent, I believe this film marks the first association with the studio of Arnold Stang, who would not only supply Blackie\u2019s voice throughout the mini-series\u2019 run, but later Herman the Mouse, Top Cat<\/em> for television, and appear every so often on camera, particularly in the memorable service station destruction sequence of It\u2019s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World<\/em>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/noveltoon-title250.jpg\")
A wolf seeks sustenance on the farm, and, listening to the various sounds from within the gates, expresses a mental preference for the \u201chigh-priced spread\u201d, so to speak, channeling his thoughts on lamb chops, currently $10 a pound. He gains entry by simply charging the fence, getting trisected into three pieces, but simply reassembling while still on the run. All the lambs flee, except Blackie, a black sheep, busy reading a book on \u201cHow To Outsmart a Wolf.\u201d Without missing a step, Blackie sticks out one foot as the wolf passes in pursuit of the flock, tripping him up. The wolf becomes aware of Blackie, and smacks his lips, remaking \u201cDark meat.\u201d A somewhat Avery-esque style chase is on, with many odd gags. As the two characters struggle behind a tree, their arms extend into view at intervals on either side of the trunk, holding an array of lethal weapons including a pistol, an axe, and a bomb. The wolf gets Blackie in a sack, yet then passes him standing next to a tree, shooting dice. \u201cHuh?\u201d, exclaims the wolf, and the letters of the word emit from his lips, separate and regroup in mid-air into the image of a pointing hand, pointing the wolf\u2019s attention back to the sheep he just passed. A slow-motion chase underwater gives Blackie the opportunity to strike a match and give the wolf a hotfoot – while underwater! A crap game has Blackie kiss the dice, one of which develops a face blushing in embarrassment. The dice turn out to be \u201cloaded\u201d, not only including flipping panels to change numbers, but dynamite to blast the loser. Blackie fills in the crater left from the explosion with dirt, assuming he is burying the wolf, remaking \u201cToo bad. I had a lot of fun with this guy. I was just beginning to like him. Oh, well. Here tomorrow, gone today.\u201d But the wolf is not in the hole, instead behind Blackie, and announces, \u201cFor you, this is curtains\u201d, reaching above the line of the screen frame to pull down a black curtain across the entire image, allowing for a fade in to the interior of the wolf\u2019s cabin home.<\/p>\n
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Blackie is all tied up on a platter, but requests a last wish – a smoke. Producing a pack with one hand miraculous free of the bonds, Blackie pops out from the carton one cigarette ten times taller than the pack, remarking \u201cKing Size.\u201d As Blackie busies himself with the smoking, the wolf steps outside to sharpen his carving knife on a grinding wheel. Behind him, the cabin is seen, black smoke billowing from every crack and door and window frame. Suddenly, the whole house ignites in flame, is reduced to charred matchsticks without even so much as a sound effect, and crumbles, leaving only an unharmed Blackie standing next to the remaining stones of the fireplace. The horrified wolf charges Blackie with his knife, lifts Blackie by the throat, and proclaims he will cut Blackie to ribbons. Blackie points out, \u201cYa ain\u2019t got time. This is the end of the picture.\u201d The disbelieving wolf still continues to verbally vent his rage, not noticing that the iris out is closing upon him rapidly. The black circle closes upon his extended arm, still holding the knife, and traps it fast on the audience side of the theater screen, also shutting out the sound of the wolf\u2019s protesting dialogue. Blackie saunters by along our side of the screen, pulling a wagon marked \u201cScrap metal drive\u201d. \u201cAre you kiddin\u2019?\u201d remarks Blackie, smacking the wolf\u2019s arm with a large mallet, causing his hand to drop the knife into Blackie\u2019s wagom. Blackie hauls away for an exit, leaving the wolf\u2019s arm hanging limply from the iris, as the scene fades out.<\/p>\n
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Who Killed Who?<\/strong> (MGM, 6\/5\/43 – Tex Avery, dir.) – With apologies for being out of chronological sequence, this often-reviewed crime classic directly spoofs a popular series of MGM live-action shorts running concurrently at the time, \u201cCrime Does Not Pay\u201d, including live-action wraparounds as an announcer promises that, from the pages of criminal files and through the medium of the animated cartoon, it will once again be proven here that the above-quoted adage still holds true. The film is abundant with Avery sign gags, including a variant in the introductory shot of the Interior of the murder mansion, reading \u201cSpooky, isn\u2019t it?\u201d The chair of the owner of the mansion includes neon flashing on the seat back, reading \u201cThe Victim\u201d. Said victim, an old dog, is well-aware of his presence in a cartoon – and how could he not be, when he quivers from reading a mystery novel entitled \u201cWho Killed Who? (From the cartoon of the same name)\u201d. He addresses the camera: \u201cIf this picture is anything like the book, I get bumped off.\u201d A dagger hits the wall, attached to which is a note reading, \u201cYou will die at 11:30.\u201d \u201cThis is terrible. I can\u2019t die at 11:30″, says the dog. A second dagger delivers a second note: \u201cOkay, so we\u2019ll make it 12:00.\u201d As midnight is announced in the manner of a telephone company time signal by the skeleton of a cuckoo bird, three shots ring out from a revolver, making metallic sounds like the musical chimes of NBC. Enter a bulldog cop. \u201cEverybody stay where ya are. Don\u2019t nobody move\u201d, he shouts to the audience. The shadow of one patron rises to cross a row of seats. The cop socks the shadow on the head with a billy club. \u201cThat goes for you too, bud!.\u201d <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Who-Killed-Who-344.jpg\")
<\/a>The array of classic Avery gags that follows has been well-penned about before. Ultimately, a hooded figure gets a pistol pointed in the cop\u2019s back, demanding that he \u201cReach for the ceiling.\u201d The cop does – although the ceiling where he stands is a good three stories above him. But the gun is empty – as depicted by a gas gauge built into its handle. The cop chases the hooded villain all through the mansion, finally faking him out by revealing effeminate-looking legs partially concealed by a curtain, which turn out to be the cop\u2019s when the curtain is opened. The cop whacks the villain with a mallet, then reaches for the villain\u2019s hood. \u201cNow we\u2019ll see who dun-it\u201d, he boasts to the audience, and lifts the hood. The shot reverts to a matching live-action shot, and the culprit turns out to be the live announcer, who confesses, \u201cI done it\u201d, and wails bitterly as the film fades out. <\/p>\n