Director McKimson, with writer Tedd Pierce, had a helluva time trying to match Freleng's and Jones's quality streaks; let's face it, he just didn't possess their timing. McKimson couldn't wait for a long enough time to pass by before the visual (or verbal) punch line. When Daffy proves to the big bully duck he can tie a fishing pole into a knot, we have the camera panning just once with Daffy before he backfires. Jones or Freleng would have Daffy go back (with camera panning) at least two or three times more, for maximum impact.
Even so, "Muscle Tussle" is great entertainment. The one aspect which particularly tickles me is Bea Benaderet's vocal performance, as Daffy's girlfriend. It's almost like a "female's falsetto". The bully and the salesman are both great characters, too. This all-duck cast reminds me of a Carl Barks Donald Duck comic book (or maybe Harvey Comics' "Baby Huey" comics).
This cartoon has the added nostalgic value of those old-fashioned home cameras where you had to look down at the instrument to get a shot.
The short also has one of McKimson's best uses of his "ah-ha-ha" routine.
Even so, "Muscle Tussle" is great entertainment. The one aspect which particularly tickles me is Bea Benaderet's vocal performance, as Daffy's girlfriend. It's almost like a "female's falsetto". The bully and the salesman are both great characters, too. This all-duck cast reminds me of a Carl Barks Donald Duck comic book (or maybe Harvey Comics' "Baby Huey" comics).
This cartoon has the added nostalgic value of those old-fashioned home cameras where you had to look down at the instrument to get a shot.
The short also has one of McKimson's best uses of his "ah-ha-ha" routine.