Boston Quackie is a 1957 Looney Tunes short directed by Robert McKimson.
Title[]
The title and cartoon itself are a parody of the 1950s crime serial Boston Blackie.
Plot[]
"Friend to those who need no friend, enemy to those who have no enemies", Boston Quackie (played by Daffy Duck) is an American agent enjoying some time in Paris with his girlfriend Mary when his boss Inspector Faraway (played by Porky Pig) comes to him with an assignment. The inspector hands Quackie a briefcase that has to be delivered to the Slobovian consulate, however, secret agents will try to steal the briefcase. It slips past Quackie to a man in a green hat, suspended from a coat rack. Quackie, Mary and his boss chase after him. Quackie follows the man to Le Cloak & Dagger express train, and tries various ways to prove that the man wears a green hat and thus is the man he's after. With some help from Porky and Mary, Quackie eventually prevails, getting the briefcase to the Slobovian consulate. However, he's dismayed when the consulate pulls out what appears to be a simple bottle saying "You mean, all that hassle just so you could have a coffee break?" The consulate pours some water in the bottle, shakes it, and out pops a beautiful woman in an evening dress - the consulate needed a date for the embassy ball. Quackie then looks at the label for the bottle - "Acme House Instant Girl" "Directions: Add water and pour" being written in another label on the back side of the bottle, and admiringly says, "You know, there just might be a market for this!"
Caricatures[]
Availability[]
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Censorship[]
On the syndicated Merrie Melodies Starring Bugs Bunny & Friends, the following scenes were cut:
- Some of the spy murder gags on the train
- The scene when Daffy is "hanging" in the mailbag.[2]
Notes[]
- The 1946-55 Looney Tunes theme "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" played instead of the 1955-64 version. However, the closing title has the correct 1955-64 music. This mistake would be made again with "The Duxorcist" shown as an individual cartoon short.
- This would also be the last time the old themes would be used.
- However, prints with the original 1955-1964 opening music cue (mostly Spanish dubbed versions) of this short are known to exist.[3]
- Although this is a Looney Tunes short, it has the Merrie Melodies closing card with the Looney Tunes closing theme.
- When shown on Cartoon Network and Boomerang, this short plays in PAL audio.
- This is one of the few shorts alongside Quackodile Tears where Daffy is seen without his white collar.
- This is one of few shorts to use screams that would be used in Pink Panther shorts and more by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
- Also on the “Acme House Instant Girl” label: “Pierce Packing Co.”, a reference to writer Tedd Pierce.