Ski for Two
| Ski for Two | |
|---|---|
| Woody Woodpecker series | |
 | |
| Directed by | James Culhane |
| Produced by | Walt Lantz |
| Story by |
Ben Hardaway Milt Schaffer |
| Voices by |
Jack Mather Ben Hardaway Lee Sweetland (Woody's singing voice) |
| Music by | Darrell Calker |
| Animation by |
Don Williams Grim Natwick Dick Lundy Emery Hawkins |
| Layouts by | Art Heinemann |
| Backgrounds by | Philip DeGuard |
| Studio | Walter Lantz Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 13, 1944 |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 6' 44" |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | The Beach Nut |
| Followed by | Chew-Chew Baby |
Ski for Two is the 12th cartoon short in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on November 13, 1944, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Plot
Woody is sifting through some travel magazines when he spots a tempting ad for the Swiss Chard Lodge. The lodge is situated in Idaho, and promises lots of good food waiting for its guests. Woody is ecstatic, and promptly books a train ticket. After disembarking at the train station at Sunstroke Valley, it becomes apparent that the lodge is still an additional 40 miles, with no adjacent roads or any form of transportation. Woody decides to take matters into his own hands by taking a short cut, skiing and singing his way through the mountains.
Upon Woody's arrival, lodge owner Wally Walrus (Jack Mather) advises that there are no accommodations without a reservation. Woody, of course, did not bother to inquire about such a rule. Drawn by the aroma of the warm food inside the lodge, Woody gains entry by disguising himself as Santa Claus. Wally is so excited at the prospect of Kris Kringle arriving that he quickly adorns the lodge with Christmas decorations. It does not take long, though, for the skeptical walrus to discover that it is, in fact, only October, making Santa's arrival somewhat premature.
Woody manages to stuff his Santa toy sack with plenty of food from the lodge, and starts singing and skiing his way down the mountain. However, upon opening the sack, Woody discovers a vengeful Wally Walrus who wrings the little woodpecker's neck in disgust and mocks Woody's "ha-ha-ha-HA-ha".[1]
"The Sleigh"
Ski for Two is best known for Woody's rendition of the Ivor Tchervanow/Richard Kountz composition "The Sleigh (a la Russe)", which he belts out while skiing to and from the Swiss Chard Lodge. Lyrics are as follows:
- Lightly flying o'er snow
- Ah hey yap yap yap yap yap yap
- With sleighbells ringing, gaily singing
- Merrily we go
- All the world's a blanket white
- Of snow so cold and crisp and light
- With sharp winds blowing, we are going
- Onward through the night
- Aye, ah, oh, ah!
- Aye, ah, oh, ah!
- Lightly flying o'er snow.
- Ah hey yap yap yap yap yap yap
- Ochi chornyye, ochi strastnyye (in Russian: Очи черные, очи страстные (first line from Dark Eyes))
- Merrily we go
- Oh ah oh, merrily on we go
- Oh ah oh, merrily on we go
- Ha ha ha ha ha ha, higher
- Ha ha ha, higher higher higher higher! [2]
Woody interrupts the song at one point, breaking into a line from "Ochi chyornye".
He reprises a portion of the song while hurriedly retracing his steps away from the lodge, trying to escape from Wally.
Quotes
- Woody Woodpecker: "Oh boy, food! That's my favorite dish!"
- Wally Walrus (eating): "Mmm, boy, dat's good. Even though I cooked it myself, it's wonderful"
- Wally Walrus: "Yumping yiminy ('jumping jiminy')—if it isn't Kris Kringle?!"
- Wally Walrus: "Not so fast there, sonny. Aren't you a little impulsive?"
- Woody Woodpecker: "Impulsive? No, I'm repulsive!"