Dumb Patrol
| Dumb Patrol | |
|---|---|
_title_card.jpg) Title card | |
| Directed by | Gerry Chiniquy |
| Story by | John Dunn |
| Produced by | David H. DePatie William Orcutt |
| Starring | Mel Blanc (all voices)[1] |
| Edited by | Treg Brown |
| Music by | Bill Lava |
| Animation by | Virgil Ross Bob Matz Lee Halpern Art Leonardi |
| Layouts by | Bob Givens |
| Backgrounds by | Tom O'Loughlin |
| Color process | Technicolor[1] |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures Vitaphone[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6 minutes[1] |
| Language | English |
Dumb Patrol is a 1964 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon short directed by Gerry Chiniquy.[2] It was released on January 18, 1964, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam.[3] Director Gerry Chiniquy was a longtime animator in Friz Freleng's unit. The cartoon is set during World War I opening 'somewhere in France' in 1917, and it also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the war.[4]
Plot
[edit]Set amidst the backdrop of World War I in France in 1917, the French Air Force convenes to address the threat posed by the formidable German pilot, Baron Sam Von Shpamm. A decision is made through the drawing of straws, with Captain Smedley emerging as the chosen aviator tasked with confronting the enemy. Things take an unexpected turn when Bugs Bunny, disguised as Captain Smedley, incapacitates the real pilot, Porky, to assume his identity. This subterfuge is driven by Bugs' concern for Porky's familial responsibilities.
Meanwhile, in Germany, Baron Sam Von Shpamm expresses disillusionment with his military accolades and yearns for respite. He receives a taunting message from Bugs, further provoking his ire.
As aerial confrontations ensue, Baron Sam's ineptitude is highlighted through a series of mishaps, including failed attempts to engage his aircraft and futile pursuits of Bugs. Despite his persistent efforts, Baron Sam's endeavors are consistently thwarted by Bugs' cunning evasion tactics. Baron Sam ultimately resorts to increasingly desperate measures, culminating in his demise amidst a calamitous explosion.
Production
[edit]The title is an allusion to The Dawn Patrol, a 1930 movie by Howard Hawks that also deals with World War I pilots. The same title was also used for an unrelated early Looney Tunes short starring Bosko, released in 1931.
Reception
[edit]Animation historian Jerry Beck considers Dumb Patrol to be among the worst Bugs Bunny cartoons.[5][6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Webb, Graham (2011). The Animated Film Encyclopedia: A Complete Guide to American Shorts, Features and Sequences (1900-1999). McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7864-4985-9.
- ^ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 346. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60-62. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Flights of Fancy (Part 22): Here, There, In the Air
- ^ Herald, Brian (January 18, 2024). "DUMB PATROL". Facebook. Meta Platforms, Inc. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
One of the few truly awful Bugs Bunny shorts.
- ^ Beck, Jerry (April 12, 2021). "My Least Favorite Warner Bros. Cartoons". Cartoon Research. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Dumb Patrol at IMDb
- 1964 films
- 1960s English-language films
- 1960s Warner Bros. animated short films
- 1964 animated films
- 1964 short films
- American aviation films
- Bugs Bunny films
- Films directed by Gerry Chiniquy
- Films scored by William Lava
- Films set in 1917
- Animated films set in France
- Films set in Germany
- Looney Tunes shorts
- Military comedy films
- Porky Pig films
- Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short films
- Western Front (World War I) films
- Yosemite Sam films
- Films with screenplays by John Dunn (animator)
- American World War I films
- English-language short films