Top Ten Looney Tunes of the Late 1930s
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Top Ten Looney Tunes of the Late 1930s List
As is the case with Merry Melodies, Looney Tunes also significantly became better during the late thirties as evidenced by a lot of instant classics. A large part to that newfound success and quality is due to its new classic characters with Porky Pig and Daffy Duck both being outstanding creations. The pig himself populates almost the entirety of this list. So here are ten of the best Looney Tunes from this period with honorable mentions as well.
10. Porky the Rain-Maker
This film has its problems in terms of logic as some pills do not make sense, but most do and truly the premise where Porky Pig gets the pills that bring him rain is a winning one which is also very well brought to life thanks to solid animation, great sound effects and some very funny, memorable scenes with the chicken one stealing the show as it makes fun of their constant hunger so well.
9. Pied Piper Porky
The only problem in this funny short is the lack of Porky himself which is frustrating and I dislike the choice to put him in the film and not use him almost at all. But other than that, the film is fantastic as this interesting Tom and Jerry influenced cartoon where a cat has to get rid of the mouse but the mouse ends up tormenting the cat actually. There are many hilarious scenes here with the ending being the funniest, incredibly dark highlight.
8. Porky & Daffy
Again Porky is entirely underutilized and useless here, but this is a great showcase of Daffy Duck and how hilarious he can be. His crazy antics here are priceless with the pelican one being the standout. He is crazy, energetic and a lot of fun from start to finish. The action here is non-stop but phenomenal in execution and humor. It is a rare boxing cartoon which I absolutely loved and I find very entertaining.
7. The Case of the Stuttering Pig
Porky and his brothers and sister Petunia learn from a lawyer that they are about to inherit some money from their deceased uncle but the lawyer than transforms into a monster and attacks the pigs. Needless to say, this cartoon features a very original story with one of the best villains so far in the series with a perfectly delivered transformation. The gag directed at the audience is terrific as well.
6. Porky’s Romance
In another 1937 entry, we follow Porky who is in love with Petunia, but she is horrible to him and once he tries to hang himself in a very dark turn, he enters a dream where he sees how horribly she would treat him if they ended up together so he runs away from her after waking up. This is one of those shorts that treat their protagonist horribly but it works in terms of melodrama as it is so well executed and the highlight was Porky finally punching that awful dog.
5. Porky’s Duck Hunt
This is one deservedly fifth placed short which is very funny and superbly executed across the board. The importance of Porky’s Duck Hunt is not to be underplayed as it not only is the first ever turn from the great Mel Blanc but it is also the first ever portrayal of Daffy Duck who killed it in his first cartoon and is instantly unforgettable. It’s the first film which finally brought us the ‘Looney’ in the series’ title.
4. The Daffy Doc
This is by far the best Daffy Duck entry so far as he is at his craziest and most dangerous here. The crazy duck plays a doctor in this film and the patient is Porky. The end results are incredibly dark as he basically tries to cut his stomach until the poor pig runs away. Another winning scene is the consultation sequence which is unexpectedly sophisticated and of course very funny. This is the best of the two’s pairing thus far.
3. A Cartoonist’s Nightmare
This classic Looney Tunes entry actually does not feature Porky but rather Beans as the star given that it is from the year of 1935. Although naturally lacking in star power, its storytelling is undeniably impressive and highly influential. It is deep and open to interpretation but it is also superbly crafted thanks to an incredibly conveyed atmosphere and fantastic quality animation at display.
2. Porky in Wackyland
This ‘Alice in Wonderland’ influenced cartoon is also influenced by Salvador Dali’s works and it shows as the animation truly is spectacular and very artistic. The Daffy Duck-like crazy bird is very amusing while the ending is of course the most memorable and funniest part with a great reveal. The entire storyline is very adventurous with a mysterious side to it and I wish that more Looney Tunes are as interesting as this one.
1. The Blow Out
In this classic cartoon, it is up to Porky Pig to chase and stop the mad bomber. The juxtaposition of the bomber and Porky’s childlike persona definitely led to such a great scenario perfectly played out for terrific laughs. The villain is very memorable and of course the ending stole the show for me. This film is perfectly executed from start to finish and is the best emphasis on Porky himself so far which is why it gets my vote as the best Looney Tunes entry from this late thirties period.
Honorable Mentions:
Milk and Money – The darkening effect in animation and the traffic regulations are the highlights in this regular story which is upped by its stellar animation and terrific humor.
Porky’s Hare Hunt – This is a very important short that finally introduced us to Bugs Bunny. Yes, it’s only a prototype and the film is flawed, but a fun and necessary one.
Gold Diggers of ’49 – This early 1935 entry lacks in terms of humor, but it is a serious, plot heavy film that rose miles above most of its contemporaries.
Porky’s Party – This hilarious party film features the highlights such as the creamed dog being mistaken for a crazy one and the penguin slicing the cake and eating the large part.
Porky in Egypt – Porky is underutilized here, but that Camel certainly isn’t as he is so funny and crazy. Couple that with a great Arabian setting and score and you’ve got one strong flick.
