Wet Blanket Policy: Difference between revisions
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| cartoon_name = Wet Blanket Policy |
| cartoon_name = Wet Blanket Policy |
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| series = [[List of Woody Woodpecker theatrical cartoons|Woody Woodpecker]] |
| series = [[List of Woody Woodpecker theatrical cartoons|Woody Woodpecker]] |
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| image = |
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| caption = |
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| director = [[Dick Lundy (animator)|Dick Lundy]] |
| director = [[Dick Lundy (animator)|Dick Lundy]] |
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== Plot == |
== Plot == |
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[[Confidence trick|Confidence man]] Buzz Buzzard ([[Lionel Stander]]) is looking for a fresh [[sucker]] to swindle. Looking off in the distance, Buzz sees happy-go-lucky Woody Woodpecker, whistling down the street. The cunning buzzard quickly assembles a makeshift insurance office, and then greases the sidewalk, causing Woody to slide directly into office. |
[[Confidence trick|Confidence man]] Buzz Buzzard ([[Lionel Stander]]) is looking for a fresh [[sucker]] to swindle. Looking off in the distance, Buzz sees happy-go-lucky Woody Woodpecker, whistling down the street. The cunning buzzard quickly assembles a makeshift insurance office, and then greases the sidewalk, causing Woody to slide directly into office. |
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Buzz then convinces Woody that he needs an insurance policy, with the fine print clearly stating that Buzz receives a lucrative payment should Woody accidently die. The buzzard then actively tries his best to eliminate Woody. |
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[[Image:Woody-wet-blanket-policy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|''Wet Blanket Policy'' introduced new adversary Buzz Buzzard and featured Woody's [[Academy Award]]-nominated theme song, "The Woody Woodpecker Song."]] |
[[Image:Woody-wet-blanket-policy.jpg|left|250px|thumb|''Wet Blanket Policy'' introduced new adversary Buzz Buzzard and featured Woody's [[Academy Award]]-nominated theme song, "The Woody Woodpecker Song."]] |
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== "The Woody Woodpecker Song" and Buzz Buzzard == |
== "The Woody Woodpecker Song" and Buzz Buzzard == |
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''Wet Blanket Policy'' is notable for several debuts. First, the film was the first appearance of Woody Woodpecker's theme song, "The Woody Woodpecker Song." |
''Wet Blanket Policy'' is notable for several debuts. First, the film was the first appearance of Woody Woodpecker's theme song, "The Woody Woodpecker Song." by [[ ]] [[ ]], the was by [[ ]] and [[ ]]. The song was a smash hit, leading to [[Walter Lantz]] hastily inserting the tune into his latest film in production at the time, which was ''Wet Blanket Policy''. As a result of including "The Woody Woodpecker Song" in the film, the song became first and only tune from an animated short subject to be nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Song]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040958/trivia imdb.com]</ref> Lantz adopted the song as Woody's theme music from then on. |
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Secondly, ''Wet Blanket Policy'' prominently featured Woody's new adversary, Buzz Buzzard. Buzz proved to be a more popular foil for Woody than [[Wally Walrus]]; as a result, the buzzard would appear with the famous woodpecker steadily until 1955's ''[[Bunco Busters]]''. [[Lionel Stander]] provided the voice of Buzz Buzzard for his first four appearances. When Stander was blacklisted, [[Dallas McKennon|Dal McKennon]] |
Secondly, ''Wet Blanket Policy'' prominently featured Woody's new adversary, Buzz Buzzard. Buzz proved to be a more popular foil for Woody than [[Wally Walrus]]; as a result, the buzzard would appear with the famous woodpecker steadily until 1955's ''[[Bunco Busters]]''. [[Lionel Stander]] provided the voice of Buzz Buzzard for his first four appearances. When Stander was blacklisted, [[Dallas McKennon|Dal McKennon]] the of Buzz, for the remainder of the series. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 15:59, 11 June 2008
| Wet Blanket Policy | |
|---|---|
| File:WetblanketTITRLE.jpg | |
| Directed by | Dick Lundy |
| Produced by | Walter Lantz |
| Animation by | Fred Brunish Lester Kline Ken O'Brien |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Wet Blanket Policy is the 29th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on August 20, 1948, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Plot
Confidence man Buzz Buzzard (Lionel Stander) is looking for a fresh sucker to swindle. Looking off in the distance, Buzz sees happy-go-lucky Woody Woodpecker, whistling down the street. The cunning buzzard quickly assembles a makeshift insurance office, and then greases the sidewalk, causing Woody to slide directly into office. Buzz then convinces Woody that he needs an insurance policy, with the fine print clearly stating that Buzz receives a lucrative payment should Woody accidently die. The buzzard then actively tries his best to eliminate Woody.
"The Woody Woodpecker Song" and Buzz Buzzard
Wet Blanket Policy is notable for several debuts. First, the film was the first appearance of Woody Woodpecker's theme song, "The Woody Woodpecker Song." Written by George Tibbles and Ramey Idriess, the song was performed by Kay Kyser, with Gloria Wood providing vocals and Harry Babbitt chiming in with Woody's trademark laugh. The song was a smash hit, selling over 250,000 records within ten days of its release. This leading to Walter Lantz hastily inserting the tune into his latest film in production at the time, which was Wet Blanket Policy. This explains why the action and music do not match up for the first minute of the cartoon. As a result of including "The Woody Woodpecker Song" in the film, the song became first and only tune from an animated short subject to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song.[1] Lantz adopted the song as Woody's theme music from then on.
Secondly, Wet Blanket Policy prominently featured Woody's new adversary, Buzz Buzzard. Buzz proved to be a more popular foil for Woody than Wally Walrus; as a result, the buzzard would appear with the famous woodpecker steadily until 1955's Bunco Busters. Lionel Stander provided the voice of Buzz Buzzard for his first four appearances. When Stander was blacklisted, Dal McKennon provided the voice of Buzz, and stayed for the remainder of the series.
References
- Cooke, Jon, Komorowski, Thad, Shakarian, Pietro, and Tatay, Jack. "1948". The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia.