Hot Rod Huckster (1954) User Reviews

Not good

[rbverhoef · 5/10 · 20 May 2004]

In this cartoon we see Woody Woodpecker in his car singing a happy song. Buzz Buzzard breaks the car of Woody and wants to sell him a new one. Every car he shows Woody is falling apart so Woody is just laughing at him. In the end Buzz comes up with an idea. He changes the color of Woody's car and tries to sell him his own car. Woody figures things out and comes with his own idea.

I am not a very big fan of the Woody Woodpecker cartoons although I do think there are some nice ones out there. 'Hot Rod Huckster' does not belong to that group. I laughed once, not very much. Without that moment the only good thing I found in this cartoon is the famous Woody Woodpecker theme which is quite nice. Not recommended, but may be nice for real fans.

Universal, a horror flick specialist, asked itself . . .

[pixrox1 · 7/10 · 16 June 2023]

. . . "What is the scariest aspect of the American Experience in the Twentieth Century?" The answer emerges in this picture from the FRANKENSTEIN MUMMY DRACULA people: used car salesmen. HOT ROD HUCKSTER exposes all the tricks of these bogus transportation artists, out to deceive, swindle and cheat any normal person foolhardy enough to cross their thresholds. Title character Butch literally totals Woody's ride himself to drum up some shady business. Then he uses pheromone sprays such as Chevy No. 5 to mask the squalid stale stink of the crates for which he's asking a fortune. Woody proves too sharp to be so easily bamboozled, which is more than you can say for most Americans.

Car business with Woody and Buzz

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 4 August 2017]

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. He is a lot of fun in 'Hot Rod Huckster' and never comes over too much of a jerk. Buzz is a formidable and entertaining foil whose personality is getting stronger all the time, prefer Wally Walrus just marginally but Buzz has really grown on me all the time. The two work really well together.

Despite 'Hot Rod Huckster' being a somewhat typical and unoriginal effort for Woody and Buzz, the car atmosphere is fun and exciting and it is hard not to love Woody's car.

As ever, the animation is great. The characters are well drawn, but even better are the rich colours, meticulously detailed backgrounds and smooth drawing.

Music is another strength here. It's characterful, lushly orchestrated and is not only dynamic with the action it even enhances it. The Woody Woodpecker theme song being heard is a delight. The whole cartoon goes at a snappy pace, especially in the second half, and there are some very well-timed and extremely funny gags and a great atmosphere.

All in all, good fun. 8/10 Bethany Cox