Birth of a Notion (cartoon)
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The Birth of a Notion is a 1946-animated, 1947-released Looney Tunes (re-issued as a Blue Ribbon Merrie Melodies, with the ending theme song still being that of the Looney Tunes) cartoon featuring Daffy Duck, as well as a dog named "Leopold" and an unnamed mad scientist. Director Robert McKimson used his "Barnyard Dawg" character design as Leopold, while the scientist is a caricature—both visually and vocally—of Peter Lorre.
[edit] Plot
Daffy, not feeling like going to the trouble of flying south for the winter like other ducks, manages to con the rather simple-witted dog, Leopold, into letting him stay for the winter by pretending to have saved Leopold's life. Unfortunately, Leopold's master is a mad scientist, who needs the wishbone of a duck for his experiment.
Daffy, understandably, is not keen on this notion, but instead of finding another place to stay, he keeps trying to get rid of the scientist, while Leopold tries to save his master's life. At one point, Daffy throws a baseball bat at the scientist from behind, and Leopold grabs it in time to keep the impact non-lethal; however, his master misunderstands, taking the bat away and breaking it into many pieces with his bare hands, while intoning "Don't you know that might make me very angry? I might do terrible, horrible things to you!" before patting a terrified Leopold on the head and saying "Good night, Leopold."
Daffy finally leaves, only to find himself going South involuntarily, thanks to another duck who kicks him on his way. On his flight, he is surprised to find he has company: Leopold, somehow aided by a fan strapped to his back, is flying south too, after hearing his master decide that maybe a dog's wishbone would work for his experiment.
[edit] Censorship
- When this cartoon aired on the now-defunct WB! channel, the part where Daffy sneaks into the mad scientist's bedroom with a knife to stab him in his sleep, only to be thwarted by a handy shield held by the mad scientist was cut.
