Feather Finger (1966) User Reviews

Better than most Daffy/Speedy outings

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 16 March 2014]

The Daffy/Speedy series does have a handful of duds(See Ya Gladiator especially) and a large number of cartoons that aren't terrible but not really good either. There are some decent entries however in the series and Feather Finger is one of them. The animation is the weak point, it is a long way from the worst animated Daffy/Speedy cartoon and Daffy and Speedy look okay, but there is still a limited look to it, looking rather scrappy and sparse with flat colours and a poorly drawn Mayor. The story takes time to get going and you do guess correctly too much what is about to happen which made some of the story predictable. Walter Greene's music though is very characterful and catchy, none of it is canned or annoying(a sense that I did get from some of the Daffy/Speedy cartoons scored by Bill Lava) and has a sense of pace to it. The dialogue is some of the wittiest of the series and thankfully the final line is not a groaner. The gags are energetic and are rarely less than amusing, admittedly the Daffy getting his head blown off gag is not an original one and is rather repetitive but it is still funny. The ending is a riot as well, one of the better endings of the entire series. Daffy has been better, this said he is not as mean-spirited as he can be and he is still charismatic. Speedy is also fine and doesn't feel pointless(there are a few entries in the series that had no need for him or didn't use him correctly, think Rodent to Stardom for example). The two work well together too, most of the time their chemistry doesn't completely gel and at times not at all, but unlike most of their outings Daffy's reason for pursuing Speedy is a logical one. Mel Blanc's vocals are spot on. Overall, far from a classic but as far as the Daffy/Speedy cartoons go Feather Finger is better than most. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Feather Finger is quite a funny cartoon from the latter days of Warner Bros.

[tavm · 7/10 · 19 November 2009]

Just watched this Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon on YouTube as linked from the Saturday Morning Blog. It stars Daffy Duck as someone desperate for some money so he accepts an offer from Mayor Katt for the capture of Speedy Gonzales for $15. Of course, that's easier said then done...This was one of several Warner cartoons made by DePatie-Freleng after the closing of the WB studio in 1963 but before its reopen in 1967. Directed by veteran Robert McKimson, Feather Finger is quite funny every time Daffy accidentally gets his head blown off whether by himself or Speedy's doing. Seems like despite the obvious low budget concerning the animation, McKimson still knows how to time it in order to get some laughs out of both his characters and story. And the Walter Greene music is not bad either. While not quite a classic, Feather Finger is still worth a look.