This is one of the Merrie Melodies I didn't see when I was little/younger. While looking at the title cards that aren't unavailable due to the Blue Ribbon Merrie Melodies title cards used in some of those shorts' places instead in the WB cartoon filmography listing on the archived version of Dave Mackey's site, this one caught my attention and I decided to view it a few nights ago. I'm so glad I did and that I made the right choice of what to check out next. I've since added this to my favorite LT/MM one-shots list.
I don't believe I'm as familiar with Art Davis's directorial works, as I know in the 1940s, he had the directorial position and animation unit in operation for three years and I think once more for one year in the '60s. But this is one directed by him that I enjoyed. One good way that I can describe this, it's like if the country mouse (Elmo) and the city mouse (Blackie) were in a rivalry competing for the affections of a female country mouse (Daisy Lou). Because that's basically what it is. To impress and win over Daisy Lou, Elmo sets out to search for and fetch an ermine coat. But while he does this, he has the misadventure of accidentally ending up drunk and the confusing irony of just so happening to have a run-in with a cat named Herman. I'll leave how Elmo manages to achieve success for anybody reading this to discover for himself/herself.
I like the characters so much that I wish more could've been done with them. As I think that this is one of those one-off shorts that are worthy of more with enough potential and would rather see more of them than some of the more common WB cartoon featurette characters. The animation quality is as much of high quality as are several, other WB cartoons from this decade, as well as the layouts and backgrounds. The music is fine as usual. The voice work is well done. One of my favorites from the '40s. I'd like to see this brought to DVD and I can't wait for the day that it does. Recommended.