Porky's Romance

Last updated
Porky's Romance
Porkysromance-TC.png
Title card
Directed by Frank Tashlin
Produced by Leon Schlesinger
Starring Joe Dougherty
Shirley Reed
Mel Blanc
Narrated by Alan Reed
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Robert Bentley
Joe D'Igalo
Nelson Demorest
Don Williams
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date
  • April 3, 1937 (1937-04-03)
Running time
7:46
LanguageEnglish

Porky's Romance is a 1937 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Frank Tashlin. [1] The short was released on April 3, 1937, and stars Porky Pig and Petunia Pig, in her debut appearance. [2]

Contents

Plot

The cartoon opens with an introduction of Petunia Pig; Petunia is shown as nervous, tripping on her lines and being unable to pronounce them correctly while on stage, leading an off-screen announcer (voiced by Alan Reed) to quietly tell her not to get excited. This causes her to go into an explosive rant and then the curtain closes on her and the main part of the cartoon starts.

Porky is shown buying some flowers, candy, and then eventually a diamond ring. He proceeds to go over to Petunia's house and knock on the door, then Petunia goes to answer the door with her spoiled dog, Fluffnums. When she sees Porky, she is disgusted to see him so she disdainfully tells him to go away. This causes him to leave crying out of sadness and he then walks away, but Fluffnums sees the candy Porky has and alerts her to this fact.

Petunia proceeds to run out after Porky and take him into her house, where she rips open the candy container and starts eating the candy. Porky tries to help himself to the candy several times but is constantly harassed by Fluffnums, who snarls and growls at him each time he tries to reach for the candy box. Porky finally gets a piece of candy, winks at the audience, and then finds out that Fluffnums ate it. He eventually tries to propose to Petunia, but as he is starting to do so, Fluffnums pulls a mean-spirited trick on Porky by pulling the rug out from under him. The fickle and selfish Petunia laughs at him, causing Porky to leave the house and walk off in shame. He proceeds to write a suicide note and tries to hang himself from a tree, but the branch the rope is on snaps due to Porky's weight, knocking him out and causing him to go into a dreamlike state.

Porky dreams that he is at a church marrying Petunia. After the ceremony, they head off on their honeymoon and the couple get together there as a message "Time... munches on!" is displayed on screen, and sounds of Petunia eating candy can be heard. The screen then shows Porky having to do all the housework while Petunia is essentially a couch potato; she has become fat and lazy, and Fluffnums has done the same thing. Eventually, Porky's kids (all of whom are named "Porky Pig Jr.") are woken up when a stack of dishes accidentally falls over on him from the kitchen counter. He tries to put them back to sleep after Petunia yells at him to "shut those kids up". He meekly tells her he is trying his best to do so, but Petunia yells at him for back-talking her and she beats him over the head repeatedly with a rolling pin while the kids cheer her on.

Porky awakes from the dream by Petunia gently brushing him, apologizing for her earlier demeanor, and accepting his proposal. When he remembers Petunia's horrid treatment of him in his dream and fears what his future could hold for him if he marries her, he proceeds to take his gifts and runs off. He returns to punish Fluffnums for his ill behavior toward him by kicking him in the rear, making the dog yelp in pain while Porky runs off again, leaving a dazed and confused Petunia behind.

Production notes

Porky's Romance is significant in that it is the last cartoon that had Joe Dougherty as the voice of Porky Pig before Mel Blanc got the job and exclusive voice credit contract. Dougherty's uncontrollable stutter had made it extremely difficult for the producers to work with him; such frustrations were evident in the cartoon's production, much of which has Porky either as a silent character or one who only speaks with his face turned away from the view of the audience.

Petunia's rant ("Excited?! Who's excited?! I'm not excited!!") was done by Mel Blanc, and was reused and sped up in a later Porky cartoon Porky and Gabby .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Blanc</span> American voice actor and radio personality (1908–1989)

Melvin Jerome Blanc was an American voice actor and radio personality whose career spanned over 60 years. During the Golden Age of Radio, he provided character voices and vocal sound effects for comedy radio programs, including those of Jack Benny, Abbott and Costello, Burns and Allen, The Great Gildersleeve, Judy Canova and his own short-lived sitcom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porky Pig</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Porky Pig is a cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators created many critically acclaimed shorts featuring the character. Even after he was supplanted by later characters, Porky continued to be popular with moviegoers and, more importantly, the Warners directors, who recast him in numerous everyman and sidekick roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvester the Cat</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic cat in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. Most of his appearances have him often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hopper. He appeared in 103 cartoons in the golden age of American animation, lagging only behind superstars Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Daffy Duck. Three of his cartoons won Academy Awards, the most for any starring a Looney Tunes character: they are Tweetie Pie, Speedy Gonzales, and Birds Anonymous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petunia Pig</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Petunia Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. She looks much like her significant other, Porky Pig, except that she wears a dress and has pigtailed black hair.

<i>Porkys Duck Hunt</i> 1937 film

Porky's Duck Hunt is a 1937 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Tex Avery. The cartoon was released on April 17, 1937, and stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, the latter making what is considered his first official appearance.

Beans (<i>Looney Tunes</i>) Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Beans the Cat is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Cartoons series of cartoons from 1935–1936. Beans was the third Warner Bros cartoon character star after Bosko and Buddy. He was voiced by Billy Bletcher. He was created by director Friz Freleng. The character was featured in nine cartoons made in 1935 and 1936.

<i>Scaredy Cat</i> 1948 film by Chuck Jones

Scaredy Cat is a 1948 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on December 18, 1948, and stars Porky Pig and Sylvester the Cat. The cartoon is notable in that it marks the first time the name "Sylvester" is used for the popular feline character. In previous shorts, the cat is unnamed, except for in the 1947 cartoon Tweetie Pie in which he is referred to as "Thomas".

<i>You Ought to Be in Pictures</i> 1940 Warner Bros. animated short starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck

You Ought to Be in Pictures is a 1940 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes short film directed by Friz Freleng. The cartoon was released on May 18, 1940, and stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

<i>The Case of the Stuttering Pig</i> 1937 animated short film by Frank Tashlin

The Case of the Stuttering Pig is a 1937 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animated cartoon directed by Frank Tashlin. The short was released on October 30, 1937, and stars Porky Pig and Petunia Pig.

<i>My Little Duckaroo</i> 1954 film

My Little Duckaroo is a 1954 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoon short directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. The cartoon was released on November 27, 1954 and stars Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.

<i>A Pest in the House</i> 1947 film by Chuck Jones

A Pest in the House is a Merrie Melodies animated short film released on August 2, 1947. It is directed by Chuck Jones and stars the characters of Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd.

Nasty Canasta is a cartoon character and antagonist of the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes series who made appearances in three cartoons. Created by animator Chuck Jones, Canasta is depicted as a tough, hulking, and brutish-looking outlaw. Like other similar antagonists in Looney Tunes, he is a typical 'dumb muscle' but is relatively more criminal in his personality and much more intimidating, especially in his nearly superhuman physique and threatening use of his revolver pistols. He was originally voiced by Mel Blanc, with Daws Butler voicing him in Barbary Coast Bunny.

<i>Porky & Daffy</i> 1938 film

Porky & Daffy is a 1938 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. The cartoon was released on August 6, 1938, and stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

<i>Porkys Pooch</i> 1941 film

Porky's Pooch is a 1941 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. The short was released on December 27, 1941, and stars Porky Pig.

<i>The Henpecked Duck</i> 1941 film

The Henpecked Duck is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett and written by Warren Foster. The cartoon was released on August 30, 1941, and stars Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnyard Dawg</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Barnyard Dawg is a Looney Tunes character. A feisty anthropomorphic basset hound, he is a friend and the archenemy of Foghorn Leghorn. He was created by Robert McKimson, who also created Foghorn, and was voiced by Mel Blanc. Dawg also feuds with other notable Looney Tunes characters as well, such as Henery Hawk, Daffy Duck and Sylvester. He appeared in 23 Golden Age–era Warner Bros. shorts.

<i>Bugs Bunnys Overtures to Disaster</i> 1991 TV special

Bugs Bunny's Overtures to Disaster is a Looney Tunes television special directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon. In new animation, Jeff Bergman voiced Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Elmer and Sylvester. The special first aired on April 17, 1991 on CBS.

<i>The Looney Tunes Show</i> 2011 American animated series and sitcom

The Looney Tunes Show is an American animated sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and aired on Cartoon Network for two seasons from May 3, 2011, to November 2, 2013. The series featured characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoon shorts in a sitcom format with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, who live a surburban life together within a neighborhood of fellow cartoon neighbors, dealing with various issues in their own way. Many episodes also include a musical short under the Merrie Melodies name, and the first season also includes computer-animated shorts involving new antics between Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

Porky's Picnic is a 1939 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes animated cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. The short was released on July 15, 1939, and stars Porky Pig and Petunia Pig.

Porky's Midnight Matinee is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on November 22, 1941, and stars Porky Pig.

References

  1. ↑ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 55. ISBN   0-8050-0894-2.
  2. ↑ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 124–126. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.