by Ted Davis

Directed by: Charles M. Jones (the credit that Chuck Jones took for this cartoon)

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

Synopsis: Warner Brothers contract player Daffy Duck (voiced by Mel Blanc) pleads with studio boss J.L. (voiced by Mel Blanc) for a chance to break free from his type casting as the stereotypical zany duck, and proposes that he star in a swashbuckling adventure a la Errol Flynn as the dashing Scarlet Pumpernickel, scourge of the corrupt and decadent nobility, enacted by Porky Pig (voiced by Mel Blanc) as the simply furious Lord High Chamberlain and Sylvester Cat (voiced by Mel Blanc) as his cat’s-paw The Grand Duke. A classic.

Cartoon Cat: The Grand Duke expresses happiness upon learning that he is to marry the fair Melissa Duck (voiced by Marian Richman), followed immediately by his fury because he despises the Scarlet P-P-Pumpernickel.

The Grand Duke barges into a conference between the Lord High Chamberlain and the Scarlet Pumpernickel (in disguise as a foppish nobleman). The Duke exits the chamber after he and the Lord High Chamberlain engage in a mutual laughing fit at the suggestion that the fop could ever be the heroic Pumpernickel.

The Grand Duke stops for refreshment at an inn and discovers the fair Melissa in hiding, and runs up the stairs to corner the frightened duck in her room.

Chortling with evil intent, the dastardly Duke advances menacingly toward the cowering and whimpering Melissa, who is rescued in the nick of time by the Pumpernickel.

The two antagonists duel in a lively sword fight, augmented by theatrical lighting effects which cast dramatic shadows on the wall.

Final Mewsings: Sylvester Cat could have been a notable character actor if he hadn’t been typecast himself as a loser in all those Tweety Pie cartoons.

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