Cat-Tails for Two

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Cat-Tails for Two
TC Cattails2.png
Directed by Robert McKimson
Story by Tedd Pierce
Produced by Edward Selzer
Starring Mel Blanc
Stan Freberg [1]
Music by Carl Stalling
Animation byHerman Cohen
Phil DeLara
Charles McKimson
Rod Scribner
Keith Darling
Harry Love
Layouts by Robert Givens
Backgrounds byRichard H. Thomas
Color process Technicolor
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • August 29, 1953 (1953-08-29)
Running time
6:40
LanguageEnglish

Cat-Tails for Two is a 1953 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, directed by Robert McKimson and written by Tedd Pierce. [2] The short was released on August 29, 1953. [3] It was the first appearance of Speedy Gonzales, in a prototype form. [4] Because this cartoon's rendition of Speedy Gonzales looked rather coarse, they redesigned him for future cartoon releases.

Contents

Plot

Early prototype of Speedy Gonzales before redesign Early-Speedy.jpg
Early prototype of Speedy Gonzales before redesign

George and Benny, two dim-witted cats, are searching for food on a pier when they discover a Mexican ship. Hoping for Mexican mice, they board the ship and encounter Speedy Gonzales, who declares himself "The Fastest Mouse in All Mexico."

George and Benny go through numerous attempts to capture Speedy, who always outwits them. Speedy comes to think of them as private entertainment, at one point declaring "I like those fellows. All the time having fon (fun)!" The cats' failures include setting a crate of anvils as a trap, trying to use dynamite-laced cheese without a match, and using a pipe and mallet setup.

In their final attempt, the cats try to channel dynamite through a pipe into Speedy's hiding place, but Speedy bends the pipe back toward them. George's lit dynamite results in an explosion that sends both cats flying into the harbor. As they fall, George admits he has lost his appetite for Mexican food, while Speedy remarks on their silliness.

Voice cast

Reception

The cartoon has been criticized for its stereotypical and insensitive depictions of Mexicans. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ Scott, Keith (2022). Cartoon Voices from the Golden Age, 1930-70. BearManor Media. p. 85. ISBN   979-8-88771-010-5.
  2. ↑ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 252. ISBN   0-8050-0894-2.
  3. ↑ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 104–106. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Behnken, Brian D.; Smithers, Gregory D. (24 March 2015). Racism in American Popular Media: From Aunt Jemima to the Frito Bandito: From Aunt Jemima to the Frito Bandito. ABC-CLIO. p. 112. ISBN   978-1-4408-2977-2.
  5. ↑ Behnken, Brian D.; Smithers, Gregory D. (2015). Racism in American Popular Media: From Aunt Jemima to the Frito Bandito. ABC-CLIO. pp. 112–113. ISBN   9781440829772 . Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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