175. Get Rick Quick Porky (1937)

Warner cartoon no. 174.
Release date: August 28, 1937.
Series: Looney Tunes.
Supervision: Bob Clampett.
Producer: Leon Schlesinger.
Starring: Mel Blanc (Porky Pig), Earle Hodgins (Honest John Gusher) and Cal Howard (Gabby Goat).
Animation: Chuck Jones.
Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling.
Sound: Treg Brown (uncredited).
Synopsis: Porky and Gabby try to get rich quick by striking oil which was initially a scam trick by a hustler.


I think that it is Cal Howard that voices Gabby in this cartoon as his voice sounds a little different but I'm  not sure. At this point; after 'Porky's Badtime Story' Clampett and his peers were writing their own stories for the Porky Pig cartoons. This cartoon is also the final appearance of Gabby Goat.

The cartoon begins as we find the backgrounds for the title cards done in silhouette. The silhouette then fades away in which we find that there are city backgrounds but a sign in a ditch that reads: GET RICH QUICK - FOR SALE THIS LOVELY LOT CONTAINING LOTS AND LOTS OH! ~ JUST OODLES OF OIL! The word "oil" then starts to drip down as we find an oil land hustler standing next to the sign dressing rather dandy, rather rich and uses a cigarette holder to smoke.

A car full of oil then starts to drive past as the driver asks the hustler, "Hey chief, where do I deliver this oil?" The hustler then replies, "Right along here my good friend" as he points with his stick to the direction of where the oil needs to go at. I'm not sure if the oil hustler is meant to be a reference to someone but the fast toned voice sounds like as though it could be referencing a celebrity of the time but maybe it's just a voice of what a hustler would just sound like. The oil hustler then grabs out a hose in which he places the hose for the oil to go inside the sprinkler system which is a way to cheat his way of getting rich quick. 

As the oil hustler turns on the hose; his way of getting rich quick being a cheat then happens as oil squirts from the grounds for where oil is delivered. The oil hustler rubs his hands gleefully and speaks, "Now for a couple of suckers, speaking I should make prospects - someone with a little money to invest". The hustler then looks over to his opposite in which he glances at the bank.

We find that Porky and Gabby are walking to the bank as Porky is holding a bag of their money. Gabby then starts to yell at Porky on why taking money to the bank and not buy a new car or travel to Europe. Porky replies, "No, I'm going to stock my dough and get 2%". As they walk up the steps to the bank; they are stopped by the oil hustler who introduces himself to both of them. Gabby sounds much more different than he did in Porky and Gabby or Porky's Badtime Story as he was voiced by Blanc in those cartoons but here I don't think he is voiced by Blanc here but I think it was probably by story man Cal Howard but I'm not too sure - does anyone have evidence on this? Keith Scott? Anyone?

The oil hustler who speaks very quickly with is voice still introduces him as he convinces Porky and Gabby that he's "just the man you want to see". He then shows out his card just like any any hustler or manager would do to introduce people by shouting "My card" in which he quickly shows it to them and tosses it back. Some nice quick timing of the card being shown. The hustler introduces himself as Honest John Gusher who convinces them to dig for oil.

Honest John Gusher as he's been identified speaks too fast like 24/7. Honest John Gusher then convinces Porky and Gabby as he pushes them away from the bank and over to the ditch where he convinces them to dig for oil in which they'll get rich quick. Honest John Gusher then goes to say they don't have to take his word but I can't tell exactly so I'm not going to go through everything he says but I get the gist of what is being said. Honest John Gusher then proves to Porky and Gabby as he prods his walking stick to the ground as a small fountain of oil flows out to show the soil has enough for them to get rich quick.

Honest John Gusher continues to convince Porky and Gabby with his fast talking mode that the oil grounds are exaggerated with oil that you would "ring it out with your fingers". He grabs hold of the soil and rings it like doing so with a towel and oil is squirted out. At least Clampett is presenting it as it keeps the audience interesting as you see him ringing the soil with his fingers which is rather cartoony.

The hustler then hand over the deed to Porky and Gabby for them to sign the deal to get rich quick. Porky is a little unnerved about signing the contract but Gabby convinces Porky to sign it stating, "We'll never get a chance like this". The hustler then points to where it ought to be signed. Porky Pig then makes a mark on the deed which is an 'X' mark which is a rather funny gag that probably suggests they can't write or too lazy to write their full name as he would just write a simple 'X' symbol. After the deal has been made; it meant that the hustler took their bag of money in order to strike oil in which would supposedly be a cunning trick to scam their money to strike oil - what a bastard!! Porky and Gabby are rather excited to start with the job as they grab out digging tools in order for a huge oil strike.

Gabby Goat then starts to begin the goal to strike oil in which he drills to the ground. He continues to drill deeply to the ground but then tugs out something from the ground and shows a tank that has the word oil labelled inside it; Gabby shouts "Hey Porky look,  oil". Personally I find that the way Cal Howard (or whoever) voices Gabby a bit degrading.

Meanwhile as they are starting to dig for oil, a dog then walks into the area where they are still digging rather curious as to what is being seen. As the digging still continues; Porky is digging the soil off-screen but you find once he's digging that a bone pops out which eagers the dog. There is some pretty solid character animation of the dog watching what is being dog as you feel he has got the personality of a dog; like Pluto in the Disney cartoons. The dog then starts to walk off with the bone and then does what all dogs would do - bury their bone. So the dog then buries the bone underground for safe keeping.

After the dog has the bone underground and scrapes it under the soil but finds that he bone then starts to squirt from oil which scares the dog. Then the bone starts to move from the flowing oil up in the air and then hits the dog on top of the head. The dog then starts to bury the soil under the oil but then the oil ends up squirting the dog in the face in a different position. There are then action scenes following on the dog being squirted by oil even including on his head which makes the cartoon action fun to watch.

There are multiple tiny oil squirts that happen in which the dog tries to stop the oil in which the dog starts to go into these interesting swirls which makes the pacing and comic timing much more fun to watch as Clampett is making his cartoons fun to watch and you can tell he's committed to animation even when he first started directing. After the dog believes that he has solves the problem by standing on each oil flow with arms and legs; the dog starts to pant happily. The oil is so intense that it starts to squirt and the dog is standing on air with the dog having a bit of a worried face wanting to get back down.

In the next sequence following after the bone sequence; Gabby Goat is standing on a drill that would drill to the ground. Gabby Goat then shouts over to Porky Pig but finds that he drills to the ground rather deeply that the timing is rather funny. Gabby Goat continues to dig even deeper believing me knows how to dig and Porky Pig walks over to the scene to see what has happened. Porky looks under the hole looking for Gabby and stutters, "Gabby, where are you?"

Some very funny animation pops up as the drill then drills it's way out of the soil from the other side and floats on air as the drill is in control of Gabby and the 'Merry-Go-Round Broke Down' is heard in the background. The drill then stops drilling once it touches the ground again in which he starts to shout at the drill to Porky. The drill continues again as Gabby continues to dig deeper to the ground burying the soil. Porky then starts to worry about Gabby underground asking, "Are you alright?" Gabby is underground as he replies; "What do you think?" which is of course a direct "no".

After that bit of fun with Gabby and the drill; we return to the dog again who is seen in the ditch slouching rather bored. The dog is sitting down fiddling with the bone with his hand. That is some very solid character animation of the dog moving the bone - good to study if you're learning to be an animator or studying animation.

Meanwhile a gopher from underground then starts to whistle to the dog and hides underground to get the dog's attention. The dog then starts to stand up rather happy there is a hole buried to place the bone as the dog couldn't find any area to bury the bone safely. The dog then drops the bone to the ground but the bone throws itself up. The dog throws the bone back into the ground but then the dog starts to move weirdly (and that animation is rather enjoyable). The dog covers the bone to the ground so that the gopher wouldn't have luck in throwing the bone back to the surface. The dog looks over to check but the gopher whacks the dog in the nose.

After being whacked on the nose the dog then starts to pant happily as the gopher pops back with the bone. The gopher decides to perform some magic tricks with the bone. The gopher then starts to push the bone down so that it disappears. The dog is rather curious of the tricks and finds that the bone has disappeared from the gopher's hand. The gopher then grabs out the bone out of the dog's ear as the trick has been finished.

Although that magic is rather typical; but the animation of that was rather appealing. The music for the magic scene in the background is of course; She Was an Acrobat's Daughter. The dog is rather surprised as to find the bone inside the gopher's ear. The gopher then buries the bone under a small pile; the dog points to himself whether he can pick up the bone and the gopher nods. The dog digs to the ground to grab his bone but is conned by the gopher as some oil squirts straight to the dog's face. After the dog's face is covered in oil; the gopher then opens the dog's mouth and takes the bone out. The dog has been tricked once again. The dog is annoyed again for being tricked by the gopher and ends up breaking down into tears. All the clever things that gopher does.

After that rather length sequence that went on for roughly a minute - Porky is seen digging to the ground and ends up striking a bit of oil. Porky Pig starts to fill up some of the oil in a bucket gleefully shouting "Oh boy". As Porky has managed to dig up quite a lot of oil. Honest John Gusher; the sneak has turned off the sprinkler system in which the amount of oil then starts to flow down which disappoints Porky. No wonder he's probably rich - just ripping off people's money.

Porky Pig continues to dig for more in which suddenly finds that he has bit a bar in which oil is squirted at his eye. Honest John Gusher then walks over to Porky Pig trying to act as though he knows nothing of the problem

Honest John Gusher: What's the matter, sonny boy? You aren't discouraged, are you?
Porky Pig: You're just a crook and I want my money back!
Honest John Gusher: Well, if that's the way you feel about you just give me back the deed.

Porky Pig has already realized of the hustler's crooked scheme which was to rip off his money as a trick to get rich quick.

Honest John Gusher continues on as he offers a dollar note to Porky, "...and I'll give you this crispy one dollar bill". What a ripoff; no wonder this character is such a weasel which is a good portray of  the hustler. We continue to go under ground where there is a good amount of oil. The words then scream "OIL" which is also a small Clampett trademark but he only uses that sometimes in this cartoon to make the climaxes exciting.

Underground we find that Gabby Goat has got the drill and is very close to struck the amount of oil. Porky Pig is just about to return the deed to the hustler which is another part of the crooked scene; as he's only given a dollar. I like how Clampett has organized the shots and climaxes for this part: Gabby is very close to be striking oil and Porky is very going to be giving away the deed. Once the hustler just touched the deed in return - UREKA! Oil strikes. There is a huge amount of oil shooting straight up to the sky even reaching as tall as the city buildings. They're rich now. You can hear a little bit of 'We're in the Money' in the background with the shot of oil striking.

Porky and the hustler are standing on oil but both are still holding onto the deed. Now there is a fight that goes on which means Porky has to try and fight the deeed back as he immediately changes his mind. Porky shouts "I'm a billonaire" still holding onto the deed. They then try to snatch the contact from each other fighting over it.

As the fighting still continues; Gabby is still being controlled by that powerful drill in which he ends up moving at weird and funny positions. The drill then moves inside. Honest John Gusher is in pain as he screams from the drill that is hitting his rear end. Porky and Gabby are trying to stay on top of the oil but are about to slip and slide down which would be rather dangerous. They end up slipping from the oil as they land and hit the ground. Porky thinks he is holding the deed as he shouts, "Look I got it, I got it!" but instead Porky is holding a bone by mistake. Porky continues to point but ends up pointing slowly realizing that he's holding a dog's bone and not the deed which is also good character animation.

Porky and Gabby are now in a little shock as they can't find the deed so they have evidence on where they could sign the oil. Immediately after that shock there is a dig under the ground that features the same gopher that performs magic tricks. The gopher then pushes the bone down but forms it back to form the deed. Porky is about to take the deed, but the gopher hides it back asking, "Partner?" Porky accepts in which the gopher then rips up the deed so they get their share. The gopher then ends the cartoon looking at the audience - and that's the cartoon, folks.

Overall comments: With a cartoon that has good solid character animation, as well as funny gags and good personalities I find that this makes a good cartoon and this certainly adds to that effect on that cartoon. Bob Clampett was only 23 or 24 years old but he has certainly made some appealing cartoons in the first year he started directing - 1937. While there were quite a lot of bland designs in the cartoon (but that's my opinion) - the Clampett cartoons shown here have a distinctive feel to it through Chuck Jones' character layouts on the early Clampett cartoons which makes the cartoons fun to watch.

The dog however in my opinion is another ripoff to Pluto but at least the dog has character personality which is interesting to watch; and that watching the dog getting conned by the gopher makes the sequence also interesting. I wonder if the gopher was created to try and appeal to an audience; like the way it happened to Daffy Duck in Porky's Duck Hunt - I may be wrong but just a theory. This is the final appearance of Gabby in this cartoon; and I feel that it would be enough we would've seen of Gabby Goat as he may have an annoying voice but was rather funny being grouchy but I feel that 3 cartoons starring would be enough and of course Porky Pig would continue to be a star for many years - but I feel so far in the 1930s Clampett has made the best Porkies but that doesn't mean I'm an immediate Clampett fanboy just because of that. Each director has got their own unique style back then which I do appreciate in some ways.

171. Porky's Badtime Story (1937)

...apparently originally titled It Happened All Night (pun title of It Happened One Night) as it was altered because the title would be sexually suggestive.

Warner cartoon no. 170.
Release date: July 24, 1937.
Series: Looney Tunes.
Supervision: Bob Clampett.
Producer: Leon Schlesinger.
Starring: Mel Blanc (Porky Pig / Gabby Goat / Boss).
Animation: Chuck Jones.
Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling.
Sound: Treg Brown (uncredited).
Synopsis: Fear of being late again; Porky and Gabby try to sleep well during the night as they end up disturbed all night.


This is Bob Clampett's first cartoon where he's credited for supervision; or if you say so the first cartoon he directed. Clampett would go on and direct many Porky Pig cartoons up to 1941 and become a big influence to the humor and pacing of the Warner Bros. cartoons with his sharp timing, gross-out gags and very wacky cartoons. In the first few cartoons directed by Clampett; Chuck Jones is the only credited animator but I don't know if that meant he helped Clampett with directing or not. At that time Clampett didn't have his own story writer or gag man so it's safe to assume that he made up his own gags for this cartoon.

The cartoon would be remade later seven years later into Tick Tock Tuckered which is practically the same cartoon except Daffy Duck replaces Gabby Goat. Mike Barrier writes in Hollywood Cartoons that Clampett got the director's chair in May 1937 - two months before the cartoon's release; did this cartoon really get finished in those two months or was it started by Iwerks and finished by Clampett?

The cartoon begins with a still-frame of Porky Pig and his friend Gabby Goat asleep but the motion begins as we find them sleeping. The alarm clock is ringing by Porky's bedside as the time reads 6 o'clock in the morning. Porky slowly turns around to check the time but falls back to asleep deciding it's too early to get up. The clock continues to ring as Porky and Gabby are still asleep. Some pretty solid character animation of Porky slightly moving. The music in the background is called When My Dreamboat Comes Home which is one of my favourite Stalling cues.

There is a very interesting montage shot that shows the clock's arms in close-up moving forward an extra four hours so the sign reads 10 o'clock. Around that time Porky suddenly wakes up from under the blankets and reads the time on the clock. Porky Pig then shakes Gabby who's sleeping next to him; "Gabby, come on. It's time to get up!" Gabby then awakens in a grumpy attitude as they have overslept. Porky and Gabby then dash to the floor to throw on their clothes in such a hurry that they almost end up wearing the same sweatshirt. They dash out of the house and outside to their garage to get into their car as they are late for work.

 The car then drives out of the garage as they are in such a hurry and the speed being shown is so believable. You see the garage been sucked inside out because of the incredible force and speed the car makes. Very sharp timing of the garage turning inside-out as it must've been difficult to animate; here Clampett was only about 23 when making this cartoon and he's already ambitious at his age.

Porky and Gabby are on the road as they drive as fast as they could so they can arrive to work on time. Porky and Gabby then do parallel parking but considering that the parking space is too small; they park in there on time but the car gets so squished up that Porky and Gabby bounce off their motor car and onto the pavement. Some very rubbery and cartoony animation of the squished up car bouncing Porky and Gabby off. Porky and Gabby run across the street but slow down as they reach their work placement. They're occupation is at a building called "Peter Piper Pickled Peppers" which is just a play on to the nursery rhyme "Peter Piper" in which it's such a tongue-twister to recite. Porky Pig then opens the door quietly and whispers to Gabby; "the coast is clear; come on". Porky Pig enters the building quietly and Gabby follows Porky behind him.

Porky Pig and Gabby Goat then tiptoe through the room of their department room in which they have to sneak in quietly so their boss won't see them, as Porky whispers "We're okay if the boss doesn't see us come in". Porky and Gabby then sneak over to the punch clock so that they'll be seen working so it won't look so obvious they're late.

Porky Pig then whispers to Gabby; "We'll punch it easy so it won't make too much noise". Porky pushes it very carefully and delicately. Gabby then attempts to pull the slot and struggles to do so as it's jammed; which turns out just to be bad luck for Gabby (and Porky too). The punch clock then ends up making such a din after Gabby pulled the slot which means bad news. Porky and Gabby find that the boss is standing just beside them knowing that they've turned up to work late. The manager chuckles happily holding his cigar in his hand, "If it isn't the Rover Boys; and only two hours late, too". The manager then continues with his cigar attached to his mouth, "It's a shame you boys had to come to work today. Why I would've been glad to bring out your work to you". After the manager has spoken very calmly towards them; his emotions immediately changes from calmness to anger as he warns Porky and Gabby, "NOW GET THIS! If you're late one more time, you're fired! GET TO WORK!" I love how the manager was rather calm at first and changes his anger. Porky and Gabby then rush into the room to go to work; as they slam the door as the glass reads the letters "Employees Only" falls down from the glass which is a very interesting gag that is so Clampett.

 After a day at the office and being given a bollocking from the boss; the title card now reads "THAT NIGHT" as we find Porky and Gabby are in their nightwear ready for bed. Porky is standing outside his bed winding his clock to set the alarm. Gabby grumbles:

Gabby: "8 o'clock! That's a fine time to go to bed!"
Porky: Well, you heard what the boss said. If we're late again; we'll lose our j-j-j (stutters) we'll get canned.

Porky Pig then turns off the lights as the time reads 8 o'clock and they have to be at work early in the morning which is why they're having an early night's sleep. Porky Pig then goes to sleep after turning off the lights but just about a second after about to fall asleep; he hears the sounds of a baby crying outside which of course disturbs Porky Pig as he climbs out of bed to hush the baby outside.

Porky Pig then walks over to the window carrying a slipper as he is annoyed of listening to the baby crying. Porky Pig is now listening to the sounds of the baby making suckling sounds which annoys Porky in which he throws the slipper out of the window to hit the baby in order to keep it quiet. Porky Pig then walks out of the scene in which he pats his own hands as though he's done good effort and stutters "Well, that's that". The slipper is then thrown back into the house and hits Porky at the back of his head. 

Porky turns around to see what has happened and finds that he got hit. Look at that swish effect of Porky turning his head; very nice and sharp animation there which is very interesting to look at or even study. Porky Pig then steps by the window again and throws the slipper out of the window. Porky throws the slipper out of the window and slams it shut.

Porky doesn't realize the other window is open in which the slipper just slides through and hits Porky on the head as it returns to him like a Boomerang. Now that is a funny gag considering Porky is having problems with a slipper which would waste his sleeping hours. Porky Pig opens the window again as it's the last straw for him. After throwing the show out; Porky ducks to the ground as the coast appears to be clear he stands back up and walks back to bed. Porky ends up with a slipper whacked at his head again but before he throws anything more slippers and shoes are thrown straight at his face. I love how the animation of Porky here is very fluid, especially with the head turning as Porky's face swishes. Whoever animated it  - it's very good.

Porky then dashes straight back into bed before any more slipper throwing will occur to him again and to try and get some peace with his sleep. After Porky Pig has dashed back into bed; he finds that he is disturbed once more again as the cartoon gets even more fun to watch as Porky is getting even more disturbed. Porky Pig is now being disturbed by a fly that flies into the room and flies near Porky's face. Porky is annoyed of the fly in which he grabs out his pillow and tries to attack it not realizing that trying to attack the fly will make it angrier.

Gabby Goat is disturbed of Porky trying to whack the fly as he shouts "Hey, pipe down! How do you expect a guy to sleep with all that noise?!" The fly then lands on top of Gabby's head in which Porky's pillow flies into the scene and hits Gabby on the head breaking the pillow as the center is torn because of Gabby's horns. The feathers of the pillow then fly out. At least Gabby dealt with the fly better than Porky as he didn't appear to react rather badly after Porky whacked him with a pillow.

After a few antics that has happened during the night; the clouds then drift apart from each other slightly as the moonlight is shining. Porky Pig is in bed already asleep but is woken up by the reflection of the moonlight. Boy it sure must be a strong moonlight out tonight considering I don't see how it could bother Porky badly.

Porky is however disturbed with the moonlight reflection as he walks over to the window to pull down the blinds so he can get back to sleep again. After Porky has pulled down the blind and gone back to sleep; the moon is playing a trick on Porky by moving at a different position of the house where Porky will feel the moonlight reflection again. Porky Pig is disturbed with the moonlight as he steps out of bed to pull down the blinds again. As Porky is about to go back to bed again; the blinds just unroll itself to annoy the hell out of Porky in which Porky every-time Porky turns his head around; the blinds play tricks on him in which as Porky turns his head the blinds will be closed but as he turns it will be open. As Porky goes back to bed; the moonlight reflection still shines but each time he opens his eyes the moonlight reflection is gone. Porky then ends up getting terribly annoyed that he ties the blinds all the way to the end of the leg of his bed. The sequence concludes with the bed slamming the door; the bed flats disappear and Porky hits the ground.

After Porky has suffered grief (looks like Gabby hasn't even had a bad effect yet) there is a storm that occurs during the night. The storm is pretty bad during the night that it's shaking the blinds and Porky has to make the effort of walking all the way to close the window so it wouldn't be wet inside the bedroom. Porky Pig then walks over to his bed as he appears to be rather depressed, "Boy it's 2 o'clock; what a night". After Porky goes back to sleep in his bed; there is a bit of a leak from the top part of the ceiling in which it drips down to the bed making a small puddle on top of the bed. Gabby Goat makes up when he feels something wet under the blanket in which he finds a puddle next to him and Porky.

He begins to suspect as he turns around looking at Porky. Now THAT is a dirty gross-out joke that Clampett put in this cartoon where Gabby insists that Porky is a bed-wetter. A drop of rainwater then lands on Gabby's nose as he looks on top of the ceiling shouting "Why don't somebody fix these things" which is a little parody reference to the Listerine advert. Gabby then grabs out an umbrella in which he places on top of his head to stop the rain dropping on him. Porky wakes up, who believes in superstition tells Gabby:

Porky Pig: Hey, don't open up an umbrella in the house. It's bad luck!
Gabby Goat: Aww, that's phoney. You're too super, err. (trying to pronounce "supersitious"). What ya afraid of?

A lightning then strikes the inside part of the house in which Gabby is electrocuted as his umbrella is zapped; in which Gabby has already been cursed from superstition. After Gabby is zapped he starts to complain, "I may as well be sleeping under Niagara Falls". Water that is enough to fill up the Niagara Falls then lands on Gabby and Porky.

After such a terrible night for Porky and Gabby for being disturbed all night; they finally get some rest in which they're sleeping in a chest of draws avoiding sleep on a wet bed; and have found themselves cozy. The alarm clock then rings on top of the draw in which it reads 6 o'clock in the morning. Porky then opens up his pupil to see the time but finds that it's time to wake up. Gabby is awoken up as they jump out of the chest of draws. I don't know who the animator is but I know it's the same animator from the slipper throwing sequence.

Porky and Gabby then start to get ready as they throw on their set of clothes; and I believe that this is a reuse scene of then changing quickly to get to work. Although I do say why are they in such a hurry to get to work since I thought that they don't begin work until 8am; and they're already 2 hours early. Porky and Gabby then rush down the stairs as most of the next quick scenes are pretty much reused animation from earlier on in the film which I feel is suitable to use considerig it shows they're speeding to get to work on time. 

Although I don't understand why they're in such a hurry but they arrive at their office and find that their work is closed considering it's a Sunday. This must be terribly annoying for Porky and Gabby considering that they forgot tomorrow was Sunday and instead they could've had a long lie-in but got disturbed all night. A bunch of question marks pop up from Porky and Gabby's head with a "what the hell" type attitude as they rush out of the scene.

They drive back home into their car as fast as they could to get back home so that they can sleep in extra. They dash upstairs to their bedroom sleeping on the chest of draws again. The alarm clock rings again as the time reads 6.15am but this time Porky Pig destroys his own alarm clock with a hammer so he can rest all Sunday. The cartoon ends as Porky and Gabby continue to sleep and the alarm clock staggers.

Overall comments: Bob Clampett was only 23 or 24 years old at least when making this cartoon and I feel that he's done a pretty good effort in his cartoon. He has already shown some ambitions with director's timing and I believe that this cartoon was still made separate from the Schlesinger Studio before Ray Katz took Clampett's unit in a building separate from Leon's which lasted for a few years. Chuck Jones was Clampett's main animator back then and I believe that Jones drew character layouts for Clampett's earlier cartoons because you can find that distinctive drawing style even in Chuck Jones' earliest cartoons when he started directing. I feel that the story for this cartoon actually makes a very good cartoon considering that Porky and Gabby go through bad luck when trying to have a good night's sleep and I believe that formula has been used often many times in cartoons; but I feel the gags in this cartoon in particular were very enjoyable. 


Clampett's timing here I'd say is cartoonier than the Tex cartoons already made as Clampett had a good team with him; and I'd say he developed the story for that cartoon. Of course; Porky Pig looks like the normal version that we know of the character today and Clampett would even keep Porky like that which I think is great while the other directors appear to be indecisive over Porky as he would just vary from being a child or an adult and it doesn't appear to be completely settled until at least 1938. Overall I find that this was a decent cartoon to watch; and with Clampett now being a director of the Warner Bros. Cartoons; he would go and change the humor of the WB cartoons even putting the word "looney" in 'Looney Tunes' but for a few years he'd be making nothing but Porky Pig cartoons but afterwards he really would change the cartoons around.

163. Porky and Gabby (1937)

Warner cartoon no. 162.
Release date: May 15, 1937.
Series: Looney Tunes.
Supervision: Ub Iwerks. Clampett and Jones uncredited.
Producer: Leon Schlesinger.
Starring: Mel Blanc (Porky Pig / Van Driver / Gabby Goat).
Animation: Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett.
Musical Direction: Carl W. Stalling.
Sound: Treg Brown (uncredited).
Synopsis: Porky and Gabby go on a camping trip which becomes a crazy expedition.

This is the first of the two cartoons to be "supervised" by Ub Iwerks as this was made from his studio and sold over to Schlesinger. Jones and Clampett went over to his studio to work for Iwerks as they were basically co-directors on the cartoon. First appearance of Porky's friend Gabby Goat who was pretty unpopular and didn't last long in the series.

The cartoon begins with Porky Pig and his friend Gabby Goat inside the car with Porky driving. At the back there is an awful lot of luggage tied up for the pair of them as they are going camping. Porky comments, "Sure is a swell day to go camping isn't it, Gabby?" The tire of the car hits a rock with the luggage jumping out of the back before landing back.

Gabby Goat who is a rather grouchy goat has a frying pan landing on his head after the bump from the rock.  He ends up with a lump on his head as he replies back to Porky's comment, "Yeah!" grumpily. Meanwhile while Porky and Gabby are driving in the countryside road; they are behind a van called "Star Van" that is moving rather slowly and Porky honks the car to get the man's attention but no response. It turns out that it was Gabby Goat who is honking the car too often as he shouts, "Move over! We haven't got all day, etc." as he continues to shout. I love the animation here where Gabby seems to move freely. Looks like Clampett probably filled in exposure sheets and shows sharper timing than what Tex Avery is turning out. You can see a bit of Iwerks' traits here like Gabby shaking around with these shock lines coming out.

 The car then starts to make a move next to the van on the side of the road as Gabby is shouting at the driver to drive faster or let them overtake. The way the van driver responds to that is by pulling the rope as a pad on the van slaps Gabby causing to spin around in these twisted speedlines. Gabby continues to try and pick a fight on the driver as the driver responds:

Van Driver: Take it easy, little fella. Don't get excited, don't get excited.
Gabby Goat: (exclaiming) EXCITED? Who's excited?! I'm not excited!!

This is another reference featured here in the radio show 'Community Sing' and the gag was also used in Porky's Romance which came out a month earlier. The van driver then dumps Gabby into a pile of mud as Gabby stands back up trying to pick a fight. Gabby Goat then starts to jump back up trying to pick on a fight again as it appears to only want to do. Porky Pig hears the sounds of Gabby who seems to only realize now he's not in the car with Porky and Porky stops his car.

Porky Pig finds that Gabby isn't with him as he appears to be too busy driving. Porky Pig drives back in his car but finds that he is smacked by the paddle attached to the van that the driver used to Gabby. As Porky Pig drives past; he lands on the pile of mud and doesn't notice Gabby is under the car.

Porky Pig: Hey Gabby, where are you?
Gabby Goat: Where am I? Where am I? Now ain't that a smart question?! I'm under the car you fathead!

Porky Pig steps back into his car and drives forward to try and find his friend Gabby. "Wait a minute, I'll pull up". Gabby Goat jumps up shouting "A fine friend you turned out to be, etc!" moaning as usual. Here's something what makes me dislike Gabby - he complains too much and just wanting to pick a fight. Ahh; this is before the days of when Porky Pig would team up with a friend; Daffy Duck most of the time as Clampett made Porky Pig an appealing character as he had a sidekick around most of the time. I have to say I love the timing of Gabby jumping around which is very unique for the 1930s.

After Porky Pig has collected Gabby in the next sequence; they are not driving up a steep hill. The water in the engine appears to pump up water every time the car tries to make some effort. The fumes inside the car start to blow before going into exhaustion as it turns out the car has ran out of gas.

Porky Pig and Gabby are on top of the hill but Porky suggests on other ideas which may be tiresome.

Porky Pig: Looks like we'll have to push.
Gabby Goat: Now ain't that somethin'!

Gabby Goat steps out of the car to walk down the end part of the car while Porky Pig walks down to the front parts. Porky Pig is struggling to take the front part of the car down the hill as well as Gabby. Gabby moans, "I'd rather much stay at home. I don't like camping!"

Porky is still tugging the template part of the car and ends up being unattached as Gabby pushes the car down again as it ends up falling. Porky and Gabby end up running down the hill trying to chase after their car. It's a rather bumpy ride for the car as it rolls down the hill and because of the force - it runs up the hill. The car gets slower and slower while ascending up the hill but ends up pausing before rolling back down. Porky and Gabby arrive at the bottom part of the hill as they run off from their incoming car.

There is a little sequence that focuses on Porky and Gabby running away from the car and chasing after it once it leaves trying to grab the car firmly on time. Porky and Gabby end up being hit by the car as they fly up high in the air before landing on the car in time. The flip scene was pretty good timing. The car then starts to drive up the hill again (but I thought it was low on gas) as the exhaust pipe appears to be working.

Porky Pig and Gabby then park their car in their camping site. "Well here we are", says Porky; "I'll put up the tent". Gabby Goat is given the job to "unload the car". Gabby goes again moaning about the job he's given to complaing, "I get all the hard work!" Gabby then attempts to pull the other parts at the back of the car off but struggles. Look at that weight given in the animation as it looks solid. All of the luggage then starts to pile on top of Gabby.

Meanwhile Porky is busy trying to put up the tent. Is it me or is Porky just animated very weirdly as he appears to be drawn much taller and weirdly angular. Meanwhile Porky Pig is having some trouble with a fly that is flying around. The swish-lines of the bee flying is beautiful in my opinion. The fly then starts to fly around near Porky's head and eventually starts to fly around near Porky's head causing his head to rotate monotonously. Porky Pig is rather annoyed of the fly as he tries to get the fly to "Shoo! Get away!" The fly then starts to knock Porky down and into the tent.

There is a very crazy, bizarre scene where it involves Porky Pig inside the tent being harassed by a fly and the movement is extremely solid and wild. It really feels like watching an Iwerks cartoon in some ways with that sequence or even an early  Clampett cartoon with exaggerated comic timing. I think that this hasn't been topped before that in a Warner Bros. cartoon.

Porky Pig then starts to call for help ans asks Gabby Goat to catch a flyswatter. He goes around looking for it but doesn't seem to find one unless confusing a shovel with a flyswatter. Porky Pig is still shouting "Gabby, get me out of here!" Gabby then whacks the shovel on the tent whacking Porky by mistake. The screams of Porky done by Mel Blanc are funny to listen to and yet Mel always performs funny and great screams as well as voices. After Gabby has hit Porky with the shovel by mistake; he is rather concerned as he opens up the tent to check if Porky is alright but finds that now Gabby is being harassed by a wasp.

Gabby Goat is now trying to catch the fly that has flown out of the tent. This may not be proper airbrush speed line effects but the movement of it is very appealing and incredible. It's a shame I don't know who the animator is but (admittedly) this must have been more fun to work on than with Tex since his timing was toned down if you compare this scene but this was Tex before he made sharper timing. I wonder if there was more than just Chuck and Bob animating in this cartoon but I'm not sure if other animators like maybe Bobe Cannon could've provided some animation. It looks like there was one animator on that whole fly sequence.

The fly continues to fly around until it lands on top of an exhaust pipe Gabby Goat finds that the fly is standing still at a position for Gabby to try and whack the fly with the shovel impulsively. Gabby whacks the exhaust pipe and on the front part of the car ends up with a radiator sticking out. Which was another epic fail  for Porky and his buddy Gabby.

Porky Pig is fixing up the tent after the wasp incident. There is a stake dug to the ground that Porky tries to pull the rope towards the stake but finds that the rope is too small to reach the stake. Porky calls for Gabby, "Hey Gabby; bring me a piece of rope".

Gabby Goat starts to murmur looking for rope. Gabby then manages to find a piece of rope long enough for Porky to have tied to the stake. Gabby tries to pull the rope a number of times but struggles and it turns out that piece of rope is from an out-board motor. Gabby continues to pull really hard until a number of objects start to fall out and the out-board motor starts to fly around in perspective. The motor then starts to dig itself to the ground as Gabby looks down the hole to see what is going on. The out-board motor  then shoots up forming another hole and hits Gabby down the hole. Gabby's head pops out watching to see the out-board motor losing control.

Porky's tent is in damage as the motor-type plane is tearing it up into pieces as Porky and Gabby will have nowhere to camp. Gabby Goat grabs out his shotgun to try and shoot the out-board motor down. As he shoots he flies back from the gunfire reaction but lands on a horn and the gag is repeated each time he blasts.

As the gag continues; Gabby then lands on a mattress with springs sticking out that causes him to bounce. There is a spring stuck on Gabby  that causes him to bounce high but is left dangling on top of a branch in a tree. Gabby Goat then starts to shout "Porky, get me out of here!" rather worried. The outboard motor then spins Gabby around leaving him to spin around 360 degrees a couple of times. Gabby Goat then lands down rather dizzy which means Porky wouldn't need to help him down. Porky ducks down trying to hide from the out-board motor crashing him until he grabs out a piece of rope (not knowing the end part is attached to his leg) as he shouts "I got it!"

Porky Pig is left flying as Gabby Goat is in trouble again as he runs away from the outboard motor that leaves Gabby to run up the two thin trees that have no leaves on it. The motor then tears up the trunk in which Gabby has to use it as stilts which we can see in this long shot. I like how wobbly the animation of the stilts is being presented. Porky and Gabby then suddenly land back onto the ground again.

As they are about to walk back; they hear the sounds of the outboard motor flying near them as they turn to crash into each other but duck in time from an incoming outboard motor. Both Porky and Gabby decicde to leave the campsite as they plan to leave and go home away from menace and trouble.

While Porky and Gabby are running home; the outboard motor is still chasing after them and it appears to be that the outboard motor must have a type of signal that follows Porky and Gabby everywhere they go. Porky and Gabby are still trying to ride away as fast as they can. They continue to speed fast until their encounter the Star Van again which is a slow-moving van very reluctant for Porky and Gabby to overtake. Gabby shouts; "Hey, get out of the way; we're comin' through!" Both turn around in a scared take as the outboard motor is striking closer and closer (great point of view shot). The outboard motor then shoots straight at Porky and Gabby's car to the van with the vehicles exploding. After the explosion; the van driver is rather weary wearing a tire around his neck. Gabby Goat then laughs at the driver to try and humiliate him. The driver responds to that by whacking Gabby again with the paddle on the van.

Overall comments: With Ub Iwerks only being credited as "supervisor" you can see some parts where it looks as though it had his involvement in the cartoon. Clampett and Jones were more than animators on that cartoon and I imagine that Clampett did most of the timing and Jones probably worked on character layouts.  The timing is much more sharper in this cartoon than the other directors have attempted and I have to say I enjoyed this cartoon as it reminds me of an early Clampett cartoon who did use the character Gabby Goat. Everyone says that  Gabby Goat was voiced by story artist Cal Howard but I think that he only voiced Gabby in Get Rich Quick Porky and this would be Mel voicing Gabby; I think. The animation here is done top notch where Clampett and Jones appeared to have a lot of fun trying out unique ideas for their cartoons and it must've been fun for them to animate it. This is sort of the first Porky Pig cartoon where he has a sidekick character with him while so far when becoming a star; it all focused on Porky and I think Porky with a sidekick made the cartoons probably more interesting and funny which is why Daffy Duck was the perfect side character for Porky Pig in later cartoons.