The Scarlet Pumpernickel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Scarlet Pumpernickel | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Chuck Jones |
| Written by | Michael Maltese |
| Starring | Mel Blanc (voice) |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 1950 |
| Running time | Short: 7 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Scarlet Pumpernickel is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released in 1950, directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese.
Although the title is an obvious pun on The Scarlet Pimpernel, the Pumpernickel is given a portrayal closer to Robin Hood. (Indeed, after Daffy fails to perform a stunt, he mutters that "I'd better check with Errol".)
In 1994 it was voted #31 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field.
[edit] Synopsis
Daffy Duck is fed up with comedy and wants to try some more serious roles, so offers a script to the WB executives, the Scarlet Pumpernickel. In this script, the Scarlet Pumpernickel (Daffy) must save the Princess Melissa, from being married to a man she does not love (Sylvester), under her father's (Porky Pig) orders. Toward the end, he and the Scarlet Pumpernickel engage in an intense duel, but no conclusive ending is given as the script devolves into random natural disasters at the end.
[edit] Trivia
- This is one of the few Looney Tunes shorts to feature almost all of the Looney Tunes main cast. This cartoon's cast includes Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Henery Hawk and the Mother from The Three Bears. The only well-known character to not star in this cartoon is Bugs Bunny. The only reason for that is that Bugs Bunny would not fit very well in the short, because Daffy Duck is trying to be like Errol Flynn, hence the comedy out of what is supposed to be more dramatic in content. Bugs Bunny could not be Errol Flynn, because he's too confident a character. Therefore, he does not appear in this film.
- This is only one of two cartoons that Melissa Duck stars in. She is Daffy's girlfriend in both. She has survived, however, and has become a regular on Baby Looney Tunes, the series that tells about the childhood of the Looney Tunes.
- This short was one of the few times that Mel Blanc voiced Elmer Fudd. Elmer is usually voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan. But since Elmer had only one line in this film, Mel Blanc was told to go ahead and imitate the voice of the character. Mel Blanc did not like imitating, however, believing it to be stealing from another actor.
- This is one of the few cartoons that are set on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California. This is also one of the few cartoons that have numerous references to the Warner Bros. owner, Jack Warner, who is called J.L. in this short.
- There are several ethnic references in the cartoon. For example, the kreplach, featured at the end of the cartoon, is shown to have skyrocketed to a price of $1000.00.
- Daffy identifies himself as "Daffy Dumas Duck", a reference to Alexandre Dumas, who wrote several swashbucking novels. The title of the episode is actually a pun on the "Scarlet Pimpernel" series by Baroness Orczy.
- The sequence at the end is usually edited out when shown on TV. In that moment, Daffy says to Jack Warner, "There was nothing left for the Scarlet Pumpernickel to do but blow his brains out. Which he did!" With that, Daffy puts a pistol to his head and pulls the trigger. He lifts his head off the floor (having actually shot his beret) and says, "It's getting so you have to kill yourself to sell a story in this town!"
