Hypnotic Hick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hypnotic Hick
Woody Woodpecker series |
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| Directed by | Don Patterson William E. Garity |
| Produced by | Walter Lantz |
| Story by | Hugh Harman Homer Brightman |
| Voices by | Dal McKennon Grace Stafford |
| Music by | Clarence Wheeler |
| Animation by | Ken Southworth Ray Abrams Raymond Jacobs Art Landy Laverne Harding Robert Bentley Herman Cohen Gil Turner |
| Studio | Walter Lantz Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal International |
| Release date(s) |  September 26, 1953 |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 6' 22" |
| Preceded by | Belle Boys |
| Followed by | Hot Noon (or 12 O'Clock For Sure) |
| IMDb profile | |
Hypnotic Hick is the 50th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on September 26, 1953, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.
[edit] Plot
While happily roller skating, Woody gets bullied by an angry Buzz Buzzard (Dal McKennon) who has just avoided being served a summons. Thinking the woodpecker might want to seek mild revenge on Buzz, law officer I. Gypem (also McKennon) tells Woody he will pay him a dollar to serve Buzz with the summons.
Woody happily accepts the offer from Gypem, but Buzz manages to stop all attempts at delivering the summons. Woody then stumbles on a book about hypnotism, which declares: "Influence others and be their master." Woody reads the book cover to cover, and then decides to "practice" his newly acquired skill on Buzz. At first, he has some fun by putting the reluctant buzzard to sleep. Then, Woody turns him into a dog, a monkey, and appropriately enough, a woodpecker.
Finally, Woody blindfolds himself, begins walking on a skyscraper skeleton and tells Buzz (who has been fitted with Woody's roller skates), "I am your master. You must protect me at all times." The two encounter several death defying close calls before Woody manages to secure Buzz and escort him to I. Gypem's office.
Supposedly thankful, Gypem has the audacity to serve Woody with a summons, accusing the woodpecker of "practicing hypnotism without a license." Incensed, Woody hypnotizes Buzz into thinking he is a hungry giant and Gypem is a tasty ham sandwich.
[edit] Notes
- Hypnotic Hick was the one and only Woody Woodpecker entry released in 3-D, in an attempt to cash in on the stereoscopic craze started with the film Bwana Devil.
- This film introduced a new rendition of the famed "Woody Woodpecker Song," which first appeared in the 1948 film Wet Blanket Policy. This version, featuring a prominent trumpet and piano riff, would be used regularly until the 1960s. Hypnotic Hick was also the first time Woody began speaking more regularly. The woodpecker had become virtually silent since Grace Stafford starting voicing the character in 1950.
[edit] References
- Cooke, Jon, Komorowski, Thad, Shakarian, Pietro, and Tatay, Jack. "1953". The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia.
