Scaredy Cat (1948)

Porky and Sylvester spend the night in an old dark house where a cult of killer mice try to eliminate them both. Sylvester tries warning Porky, but he is convinced that Sylvester is a coward.

Director:

Chuck Jones (as Charles M. Jones)

Writer:

Michael Maltese (story)

Star:

Mel Blanc

Cast

Cast overview:
Mel Blanc	...	Porky Pig / Mouse in Cuckoo Clock / Sylvester (voice)

Storyline

Porky and Sylvester spend the night in an old dark house, whose horrors only Sylvester sees. His repeated attempts to save Porky from the ghoulish doings of the killer mice infesting the place only make the skeptical Porky all the more convinced of Sylvester's cowardice.

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Plot Keywords:

anvil | porky pig character | sylvester the cat character | animal character name in title | two word title | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Porky climbs up the stairs to bed, Sylvester is clinging to Porky's back in fright. In the bedroom Porky has removed his clothes but with Sylvester still clinging to his back. How did Porky remove his clothes with Sylvester clinging to him? A: I was on a train once, Bugs and Daffy chasing each other round and round on the windows, defying gravity; suddenly, Daffy stopped and said "y'know, when you're a cartoon, you can do anything." And went back to the chase. It's a cartoon, fella, get it? Not real life. Geez, what a maroon.

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Quotes

[sign held by the bound and gagged Porky Pig as the mice wheel him off to the chopping block]
Porky Pig: YOU WERE RIGHT, SYLVESTER

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Connections

Featured in Behind the Tunes: Porky Pig Roast - A Tribute to the World's Most Famous Ham (2003)

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Soundtracks

Taps
(uncredited)
Music by Daniel Butterfield

User Reviews

Funny and enjoyable

Porky Pig and his cat Sylvester move into a new home; the last one the estate agents had available. The house spooks Sylvester even if Porky doesn't realise the threat posed by the homicidal mice that inhabit it. Sylvester tries the best he can to protect his master (and himself).

Although it's colourful animation falls more towards the classic look of WB than the ones made on the cheap, the plot doesn't manage to do quite as well and what we have is a basic story where Sylvester gets picked on by mice and runs constantly to the impatient Porky. It is funny but it is not as imaginative or as funny as it should be. The plot feels like it didn't have as much to it as there could have been.

Likewise, the film doesn't use the main character of Sylvester very well; he is a silent fall guy, mugging his way through the series of misadventures. Porky is much better and gets his share of laughs. The mice are fairly nondescript but do the job; however I didn't get the reference at the end.

Overall this is an amusing short, that works mostly due to a good turn from Porky acting as a bookend to Sylvester's moments. Not great but quite fun.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schwein gehabt

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1