This is a wonderful Tex Avery cartoon. It's very funny and fresh as well as very fast-paced. A singer insults a magician and in turn the magician dresses as the musical director and then uses his magic wand to make lots of crazy and impossible things happen to the singer during the performance. It's completely Tex Avery due to the pacing and humor. There are two problems that keep it from being rated any higher. First, as the 50s arrived, production values on the MGM cartoons (particularly the animation and backgrounds) began to suffer. While this isn't as bad as the later Avery efforts in this regard, the art just isn't up to the standards as earlier Avery classics. Second, it is quite possible that some people could feel offended by the short clip where the singer becomes a black singer (sounding a lot like one of the Mills Brothers). While this isn't the most obvious of racial insults (there were many worse ones during the era), some might not enjoy this or the Chinese characterizations. Don't skip the film, though--that would make you a reactionary idiot.
14 Reviews
equal to all forms of revenge
lee_eisenberg27 June 2007
As long as we understand that "Magical Maestro" contains some politically incorrect scenes, we can enjoy it for the purely crazy, as a sadistic magician plays all sorts of tricks on a snobbish opera singer by changing the guy's persona every couple of seconds. I think that my favorite one was the little kid.
I believe that it was the Klingons on "Star Trek" who declared "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Maybe the magician doesn't go quite that far, but he sure has some funny things up his sleeve! It just goes to show that while Tex Avery may not have been as clever as the people behind the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, he certainly had some great ideas. Worth seeing.
I believe that it was the Klingons on "Star Trek" who declared "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Maybe the magician doesn't go quite that far, but he sure has some funny things up his sleeve! It just goes to show that while Tex Avery may not have been as clever as the people behind the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, he certainly had some great ideas. Worth seeing.
Dogs is the craziest people!
jonathan_zuckerman4 October 2013
Presto the Magician is a sapient dog-person who can make flowerpots and rabbits appear out of thin air. He decides, rather impulsively to audition for Poochini, another sapient dog-person who sings "Largo al Factotum" on a bare stage, dressed in a tuxedo. Presto thinks the tenor needs an opening act, and he's the guy to provide it! Poocini rudely kicks him out, and Presto decides to take revenge by impersonating the conductor of the orchestra in order to play tricks on Poochini as he performs. He puts the conductor in a trance and leaves him hypnotized, standing at the back of the orchestra pit, bald, nose less, and in his long johns.
Poochini sings and Presto changes him into different styles of singers with comical results. His two rabbits appear on stage to add accompaniment as Poochini changes into a lot of crazy things. When Presto's wig falls off during a high note—Poochini gets his revenge.
Poochini sings and Presto changes him into different styles of singers with comical results. His two rabbits appear on stage to add accompaniment as Poochini changes into a lot of crazy things. When Presto's wig falls off during a high note—Poochini gets his revenge.
Tex Avery's Under-appreciated Masterpiece
Popeye-816 May 2000
For my money, Avery's finest cartoon...for years Avery tried to answer PORKY IN WACKYLAND, with out full manic success...this surpasses all previous Avery efforts with wit, sophistication and of course with dropped anvils. Plus, the satire is razor-sharp.
Avoid the butchered "politically correct" edits on Cartoon Network---seek out the slightly offensive but imposingly hilarious original.
Avoid the butchered "politically correct" edits on Cartoon Network---seek out the slightly offensive but imposingly hilarious original.
One of Tex Avery's Best
llltdesq4 October 2000
Let me first state that I think that Tex Avery is to the animated short what Walt Disney was to the feature-length animated film. So many of the conventions of animated shorts were either started by Avery or so effectively used by him that he gave us the cartoon format that we know and, hopefully, love. And Magical Maestro is vintage Tex Avery-gags fired at the viewer one right after another, most of them hilarious. This is excellent work from a master of a highly under-rated art form. Bravo! Encore!
watch out for the rabbits!
andyjg16 June 2002
Down and out variety magician gets his own back on haughty opera singer, by changing everything the tenor can sing, technically this is really brilliant, with a soundtrack that must really stretched the MGM orchestra. Unfortunatly the cutbacks in the cartoon department at MGM at the time really show in the lack of backgrounds in this late Avery 'toon, but the quickfire sight gags fall thick and fast to make up for this. As a projectionist working in the cinema, the can containing the print of the film carried a warning that the scene where the hair gets stuck in the gate was an integeral part of the film and should be ignored. Enjoy this great 'toon, and watch out for the rabbits!!!!
One of the funniest cartoons, ever!
RockyMtnBri20 August 2001
This has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. The machinations that Mysto the Magician goes through to upstage Poochini are hilarious. Notice the hair on the film gag? My favorite change is the one near the end where Poochini's a Polynesian (?) dancer and the two rabbits are beside him! One word of warning though - On Cartoon Network, they have cut three of the changes (Chinese, both Blackface) so it's not as good as the uncut version.
Quintessential Avery
wbhickok21 July 2001
Tex Avery did for writing cartoons what Mel Blanc did for voicing them. Magical Maestro is yet another of his brilliant concepts. As in almost all of his cartoons, the jokes are non-stop and damn funny, the re-occuring theme of one person making anothers miserable is in full bloom here. Lets hope that an Avery collection is released soon on DVD.
A Magical Maestro named Tex Avery, conducting one of his last masterpieces...
ElMaruecan8231 August 2018
Who'd have thought that Spike, Droopy's mean-spirited nemesis, would become Poochini, the great opera singer?
Indeed, what a promotion from a one-dimensional villain-who-always-loses to the protagonist of one of the greatest Tex Avery cartoons. It's just as if the legendary animator finally understood the real personality of Spike, not a villain, just a misunderstood canine outweighed by misfortune and victim of creatures who make him look tenderly ridiculous. After having gone through Droopy's winning streaks, an annoying rooster and a sadistic gopher, he finally meets his match through a magician named Mysto (Daws Butler) and together, faux-conductor and real-victim, will contribute to one of the most iconic incarnations of Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" (who am I kidding? The "Figaro" song).
The story? Poochini's rehearsal is briefly interrupted by Misto who proposes an opening act to the show, his magic wand makes two rabbits pop up in front of an unimpressed Spike. I love how his face doesn't move an inch, only his eyes get slightly up when the second rabbit appears. After a drum-jingle dance, Mysto asks if he got the job? Cut to his epic kick out with the obligatory footprint on his bottom. A sad Mysto waves his wand and the rodents are back. Bingo, he and the conductor have one prop in common, all he's got to do is steal the poor guy's suit, hair and even his red nose, so when the music starts again, he can unleash the craziest and funniest tricks on poor Poochini. It starts rather moderately: one rabbit on Spike's hand, then the second, and after... well, in the rabbit world, one and one doesn't make generally two. A slightly higher level: while Spike goes on with an impressive determination, he becomes a ballerina, a rock-breaking prisoner, a football and tennis player, an Indian chief etc. Then it's time for the music to match the singer, ethnicity-wise, you name them : Chinese, Cowboy, child, two 'colorful' parodies of Carmen Miranda and Ink Spots where the hilarity of the pun redeems the 'blackface' gag... to conclude with the catchy rhythmic Hawaiian Hula dance (the rabbits are the best part of this "Hoo-hah" "hoo-hah" part).
This is a wonderfully constructed cartoon that hasn't aged a bit and It is hard to believe that it was made in 1952. It wasn't just Tex Avery who was past his prime, the whole world of animation was. In 1950, the success of Oscar-winning "Gerald McBoeing-Boeing", adapted from Dr. Seuss' book, and the budget restrictions due to the concurrence of television, popularized the minimalist style known as the UPA from the name of its pioneering studio... even Disney followed the trend. But Tex Avery's case was different as in 1952, not only the UPA style heavily influenced the design of many characters (just check the evolution of Droopy) but his inspiration was severely wearing down. His "...of tomorrow" series featured repetitive, so-so or mildly amusing gags, Droopy was trapped in the same competition-driven concepts with an underexploited Spike and the Wolf, Red and Screwy Squirrel belonged to the long-gone days of glory.
It was clearly the beginning of the end of an era for the iconic Texan... but he sure had a few tricks left in his sleeve, with memorable cartoons such as "The Cuckoo Clock", "Symphony in Slang", "Rock-a-Bye Bear" and perhaps his last masterpiece "Magical Maestro", Spike's finest hour and the culmination of Avery's talent for a six-minute non-stop series of visual laughs and politically incorrect humor served by a wonderful soundtrack. The word PC shouldn't even be mentioned since this is one of the few cartoons that mock every stereotype: rednecks, blacks, Chinese, Latinos, Hawaiians, everyone is equally mocked, if mocked is the right word... what is wrong with using the traits that define a culture in our subconscious? What's wrong if the Chinese sounds gibberish if we get the point that it's supposed to be Chinese?
Such a cartoon couldn't be made today, but its 'equal treatment' is a fool-proof alibi against racism. And when I bought the DVD box, many cartoons were edited (blackfaces in most cases), some were even radically removed but this one remained untouched. Why? Because condemning one part would reveal the hypocritical nature of political correctness when it tends to be selective by determining scales of offensiveness, it just doesn't make sense. Or maybe Warner Bros editors were so amused they had a change of heart... seriously, even profanation has its limits.
Speaking for myself, I'm glad it was left intact, it's been a favorite of mine ever since I saw it in the first VHS that made me discover Tex Avery's cartoons when I was 4, "Magical Maestro" was the last one and for the anecdote, it ended with the first Hawaiian dance, the "Hoo-ah" (VHS used to do this) so I never got to see the ending until five years later... and boy did I miss a lot! A great Karmic ending for Mysto who gets a taste of his own medicine and gratifies us with another Hawaiian choreography before the curtain can finally close (collapse would be a proper term). I used to know that cartoon by heart, so much that even when I listen to the song from different sources, I have "Mama Yo Quero" or "Oh My Darling" pop up in the middle.
To conclude, this is such a masterpiece of animation that I wonder how the short didn't make it in the Top 50 Greatest Cartoons, but there had to be some consecration and "Magical Maestro" is the only Tex Avery cartoon in the National Registry, that says a lot about its legacy. And what says even more is that in all this raving about the music, I didn't even talk about the funniest and most memorable gag, a simple "plucking" that had nothing to do with the plot but spoke a thousand words about Avery's fourth-wall-breaking genius!
Bravo, Maestro! Bravissimo!
Indeed, what a promotion from a one-dimensional villain-who-always-loses to the protagonist of one of the greatest Tex Avery cartoons. It's just as if the legendary animator finally understood the real personality of Spike, not a villain, just a misunderstood canine outweighed by misfortune and victim of creatures who make him look tenderly ridiculous. After having gone through Droopy's winning streaks, an annoying rooster and a sadistic gopher, he finally meets his match through a magician named Mysto (Daws Butler) and together, faux-conductor and real-victim, will contribute to one of the most iconic incarnations of Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" (who am I kidding? The "Figaro" song).
The story? Poochini's rehearsal is briefly interrupted by Misto who proposes an opening act to the show, his magic wand makes two rabbits pop up in front of an unimpressed Spike. I love how his face doesn't move an inch, only his eyes get slightly up when the second rabbit appears. After a drum-jingle dance, Mysto asks if he got the job? Cut to his epic kick out with the obligatory footprint on his bottom. A sad Mysto waves his wand and the rodents are back. Bingo, he and the conductor have one prop in common, all he's got to do is steal the poor guy's suit, hair and even his red nose, so when the music starts again, he can unleash the craziest and funniest tricks on poor Poochini. It starts rather moderately: one rabbit on Spike's hand, then the second, and after... well, in the rabbit world, one and one doesn't make generally two. A slightly higher level: while Spike goes on with an impressive determination, he becomes a ballerina, a rock-breaking prisoner, a football and tennis player, an Indian chief etc. Then it's time for the music to match the singer, ethnicity-wise, you name them : Chinese, Cowboy, child, two 'colorful' parodies of Carmen Miranda and Ink Spots where the hilarity of the pun redeems the 'blackface' gag... to conclude with the catchy rhythmic Hawaiian Hula dance (the rabbits are the best part of this "Hoo-hah" "hoo-hah" part).
This is a wonderfully constructed cartoon that hasn't aged a bit and It is hard to believe that it was made in 1952. It wasn't just Tex Avery who was past his prime, the whole world of animation was. In 1950, the success of Oscar-winning "Gerald McBoeing-Boeing", adapted from Dr. Seuss' book, and the budget restrictions due to the concurrence of television, popularized the minimalist style known as the UPA from the name of its pioneering studio... even Disney followed the trend. But Tex Avery's case was different as in 1952, not only the UPA style heavily influenced the design of many characters (just check the evolution of Droopy) but his inspiration was severely wearing down. His "...of tomorrow" series featured repetitive, so-so or mildly amusing gags, Droopy was trapped in the same competition-driven concepts with an underexploited Spike and the Wolf, Red and Screwy Squirrel belonged to the long-gone days of glory.
It was clearly the beginning of the end of an era for the iconic Texan... but he sure had a few tricks left in his sleeve, with memorable cartoons such as "The Cuckoo Clock", "Symphony in Slang", "Rock-a-Bye Bear" and perhaps his last masterpiece "Magical Maestro", Spike's finest hour and the culmination of Avery's talent for a six-minute non-stop series of visual laughs and politically incorrect humor served by a wonderful soundtrack. The word PC shouldn't even be mentioned since this is one of the few cartoons that mock every stereotype: rednecks, blacks, Chinese, Latinos, Hawaiians, everyone is equally mocked, if mocked is the right word... what is wrong with using the traits that define a culture in our subconscious? What's wrong if the Chinese sounds gibberish if we get the point that it's supposed to be Chinese?
Such a cartoon couldn't be made today, but its 'equal treatment' is a fool-proof alibi against racism. And when I bought the DVD box, many cartoons were edited (blackfaces in most cases), some were even radically removed but this one remained untouched. Why? Because condemning one part would reveal the hypocritical nature of political correctness when it tends to be selective by determining scales of offensiveness, it just doesn't make sense. Or maybe Warner Bros editors were so amused they had a change of heart... seriously, even profanation has its limits.
Speaking for myself, I'm glad it was left intact, it's been a favorite of mine ever since I saw it in the first VHS that made me discover Tex Avery's cartoons when I was 4, "Magical Maestro" was the last one and for the anecdote, it ended with the first Hawaiian dance, the "Hoo-ah" (VHS used to do this) so I never got to see the ending until five years later... and boy did I miss a lot! A great Karmic ending for Mysto who gets a taste of his own medicine and gratifies us with another Hawaiian choreography before the curtain can finally close (collapse would be a proper term). I used to know that cartoon by heart, so much that even when I listen to the song from different sources, I have "Mama Yo Quero" or "Oh My Darling" pop up in the middle.
To conclude, this is such a masterpiece of animation that I wonder how the short didn't make it in the Top 50 Greatest Cartoons, but there had to be some consecration and "Magical Maestro" is the only Tex Avery cartoon in the National Registry, that says a lot about its legacy. And what says even more is that in all this raving about the music, I didn't even talk about the funniest and most memorable gag, a simple "plucking" that had nothing to do with the plot but spoke a thousand words about Avery's fourth-wall-breaking genius!
Bravo, Maestro! Bravissimo!
Musical magic from Tex Avery
TheLittleSongbird17 October 2017
Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.
Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. 'Magical Maestro' may fall short of perfection, with cutbacks showing in some background art limitations and a few of the characterisations not being for the faint-hearted, but regardless it is so creative, so entertaining and so cleverly constructed with an amazing soundtrack and Avery's unique animation style still coming through that it is still one of his best. The theme of 'Magical Maestro' is a familiar one, but this is one of the best cartoons to use the theme with a wonderfully unlikely duo of lead characters.
Besides, there are far worse-looking cartoons than 'Magical Maestro' and cartoons that offend much more. Found myself still admiring Avery's character design and the rich colours and also admiring that the uncut version didn't play it too safe.
The two lead characters have terrific comic timing and have the endearment factor, particularly Poochini. The voice acting throughout shows the likes of Daws Butler and Carlos Ramirez at the top of their game.
Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour styles all over it as can be expected.
Once again there is nothing sadistic or repetitious, instead it's imaginative, wonderfully wild and hilarious with some inspired transformations and caricatures.
Limited backgrounds aside, the animation is colourful with some inventive expressive moments. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, while the pre-existing music choices (including "Largo Al Factotum", perhaps the most famous operatic aria in animation) are even more amazing and used so well in providing a lot of the humour.
In conclusion, musical magic. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox
Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. 'Magical Maestro' may fall short of perfection, with cutbacks showing in some background art limitations and a few of the characterisations not being for the faint-hearted, but regardless it is so creative, so entertaining and so cleverly constructed with an amazing soundtrack and Avery's unique animation style still coming through that it is still one of his best. The theme of 'Magical Maestro' is a familiar one, but this is one of the best cartoons to use the theme with a wonderfully unlikely duo of lead characters.
Besides, there are far worse-looking cartoons than 'Magical Maestro' and cartoons that offend much more. Found myself still admiring Avery's character design and the rich colours and also admiring that the uncut version didn't play it too safe.
The two lead characters have terrific comic timing and have the endearment factor, particularly Poochini. The voice acting throughout shows the likes of Daws Butler and Carlos Ramirez at the top of their game.
Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour styles all over it as can be expected.
Once again there is nothing sadistic or repetitious, instead it's imaginative, wonderfully wild and hilarious with some inspired transformations and caricatures.
Limited backgrounds aside, the animation is colourful with some inventive expressive moments. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, while the pre-existing music choices (including "Largo Al Factotum", perhaps the most famous operatic aria in animation) are even more amazing and used so well in providing a lot of the humour.
In conclusion, musical magic. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox
outstanding
kydar20 March 2002
Magical Maestro is still a hilarious cartoon despite some of the caricatures involving some cultural customs that are considered offensive now being presented in it
tavm19 April 2017
I first remember watching this particular cartoon as a kid visiting New York at an electronics store whose wall of TVs were on a particular channel that showed this particular cartoon. What I saw that day was so hilarious I was enthralled throughout the whole six minutes I was watching it. In a nutshell, a magician dog attempts to get into an opera-singing bulldog's stage only to get thrown out. Needless to say, this magician doesn't take it lying down and then takes the conductor's place causing lots of chaotic things to happen on stage! Watching this again on YouTube just now, I still found plenty to laugh at despite now knowing the offensive stereotypes involving Asians and African-Americans that are partially presented here. So on that note, I highly recommend Magical Maestro.
For Singing Out Loud
cstotlar-126 October 2012
If this isn't the very best of all the Tex Avery cartoons, it's certainly near the top of the list. There isn't a second to spare in this constantly inventive cartoon. Everyone seeks out the hair-in-the-projector gag but there are so many more. It's true that some of the jokes haven't fared too well and have managed to offend some viewers these days. Anything that is not praise is somehow bad. The solution to this, I suppose, would be that no humor aimed at any group of people should be allowed, or better yet, no humor aimed at any individual. That's certainly the safe course. No one would be able to take offense at anyone, ever! Thank goodness this was made at a time when people could look at themselves and find humor...and even laugh on occasion. We could ban Elmer Fudd because he stutters or Daffy Duck because he has a lisp. The list is endless. Just imagine - Pepe Le Pew taken out of circulation because he's a skunk with a French accent! How utterly insulting to an entire country and anyone in the world with a drop of French blood...
Curtis Stotlar
Curtis Stotlar
Nobody has the right to enjoy this picture without . . .
pixrox15 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
. . . knowing that it is an imaginative interpretation of "Largo Al Factotum," the main aria of G. Rossini's "The Barber of Seville." In the opera industry, Largo is what is commonly referred to as "a nonsense song." This particular pink elephant is widely considered the most difficult assignment any baritone can undertake. During the complete hair-trimming opera, this piece marks the initial entrance of the title character. Of course, it is important to note that the cheapskate "Poverty Row" Studio of the Groaning Fat Cat is blatantly plagiarizing the official Twelfth Greatest Cartoon of All Time, THE RABBIT OF SEVILLE, during which the skillful Mel Blank essays this tune as Bugs Bunny giving Elmer F. A shave. RABBIT beat MAESTRO to the screen by about two years. As they say in the opera business, Leo came up a day late and a dollar short.
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