The Discontented Canary (1934)

Directed by: Rudolf Ising

This review contains a Cartoonish Kitty Carnage Warning!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A caged canary bird longs for freedom but finds the world scarier than he imagined in this MGM Happy Harmonies short.

Cartoon Cat: After tricking his elderly owner into leaving the cage door open, the canary flies to freedom. But a mangy black cat is nearby, scrounging in a garbage can for food.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat looking in garbage can

The cat is excited to see the canary and stalks after the bird, hoping for a meal.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat sneaking up on canary

The canary flies away without even having seen the cat, and the cat snaps his fingers in frustration.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat angry at missing canary

Later a storm hits and numerous birds cram into one bird house for shelter, leaving no room for the canary. The hungry cat watches from a nearby branch.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat on branch by bird house

Getting an idea, the cat climbs inside an empty birdhouse and whistles to get the canary’s attention.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat hiding in bird house

The canary tries to fly into the birdhouse but is pushed back by the strong wind.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat hiding in bird house waiting for canary

Again the cat snaps his fingers in frustration, then leaps down to catch the canary.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat in bird house snapping fingers
The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat leaping down to try to catch canary

The canary flies frantically to keep out of the hungry jaws of the cat.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat chasing canary
The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat chasing canary
The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat opening jaws to eat canary

At one point the canary ends up in the cat’s mouth but manages to pry the feline’s jaws apart to escape.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat with canary prying open jaws

The chase leads to the top of a roof and the cat wraps his tail around a lightning rod to keep from falling as he tries to catch the canary who is clinging to a spinning weather vane.

The Discontented Canary - mangy cartoon black cat on roof with tail wrapped around lightning rod

Cartoonish Kitty Carnage Warning! As one might predict a bolt of lightning hits the rod and electrifies the cat, causing him to run off screaming in pain.

The Discontented Canary - cartoon black cat being electrified by lightning

Final Mewsings: Why go for one little canary when there’s a birdhouse full of birds right there??

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