Porky's Preview (1941)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Tex Avery

Writer:

Dave Monahan (story)

Release Date:

19 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Short | Comedy

Plot:

The audience enters Porky's movie theater, with a collection of quick gags: A firefly acting as usher...

Plot Keywords:

Skunk | Surrealism | Looney Tunes | Film In Film | Porky Pig

Cast

Mel Blanc

...

Porky Pig / Kangaroo / Firefly Usher / Skunk (voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

6 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Leon Schlesinger Studios

Movie Connections:

Featured in Behind the Tunes: A Conversation with Tex Avery (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Aloha Oe

A Rare Treat.

I used to watch Warners cartoons all the time when I was a kid, but it's a long time since I last saw one, and I'm pretty sure I'd never seen this one before. The reason I'm sure is because it's in black and white, and I didn't even know Warners made cartoons in b&w. The lack of colour is no doubt why it wasn't shown on TV.

Anyway, the film is enjoyable enough while being nowhere near the best of Avery & co's output. There's only one laugh-out-loud moment which practically every other reviewer on this page has already described. Although the laughs are scarce, the wild imagination of Avery is plain to see as Porky Pig presents his own cartoon show made up entirely of childishly drawn stick figures (complete with crossings-out when he gets things wrong).