Dangerous Dan McFoo

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Airdate:
15 July 1939 Blue Ribbon reissue: 31 January 1948

Series:

Merrie Melodies

MPAA Number:	Production Number:
5259	MM-21-8

Copyright Renewed:

7 July 1967^[1]

Crew

Voice Characterizations:

Mel Blanc (uncredited)
Sara Berner (uncredited)
Robert C. Bruce (uncredited)
Arthur Q. Bryan (uncredited)^[2]
The Sportsmen Quartet (uncredited)^[3]

Film Editor:

Treg Brown (uncredited)

Musician:

Carl W. Stalling

Dangerous Dan McFoo is a 1939 Merrie Melodies short directed by Tex Avery.

Title[]

The title, as well as the short, is based on a poem by Robert W. Service entitled "The Shooting of Dan McGrew".

Plot[]

Dan, an anthropomorphic dog, is in the rear of the arctic "Malibu Saloon" playing pinball. A villain enters and sees Dan's love interest, "the girl who's known as Sue." From the villain's perspective, Sue morphs into the image of Bette Davis but tells the villain in the voice and catchphrase of Katharine Hepburn, "I hope Dan mows you down, really I do." A boxing match ensues, during which Dan accuses the villain of cheating; four horseshoes and a horse are found in his boxing glove. The fight continues with no outcome, and the combatants are given dueling pistols by the narrator. The lights go out, shots are fired, and a woman screams. When the lights come on, Dan is lying on the floor. His girlfriend cries repeatedly, "Say something, say something," and Dan McFoo wakes and says, "Hello!"

Caricatures[]

Bette Davis - Sue's appearance is based on her
Katharine Hepburn - Sue's voice is based on her
Jerry Colonna - as his character Peppino the barber
Jimmy Fielder - "And I do mean cold!"

Availability[]

Streaming[]

Notes[]

The voice of Dan by Arthur Q. Bryan would be later used permanently for Elmer Fudd. Other voice performers include Sara Berner as Sue, Mel Blanc as the villainous stranger, and Robert C. Bruce as the narrator, the dog with the cigarette, and the referee.^[5]
This is the first cartoon to be re-released in the Blue Ribbon Merrie Melodies program using custom letters for the titling. All cartoons re-released between the 1947-48 season to the 1952-53 season would have custom lettering. After those seasons, only Lydian and Newland typefaces were used for the Blue Ribbon titles.^[6]
The NTSC 1995 Dubbed Version of this short has its original ending music cue replaced with 1941-1955 Merrie Melodies ending music theme. In turn, the PAL 1995 Dubbed Version audiotrack retains its original ending music theme.
Tex would later do another parody of The Shooting of Dan McGrew at MGM known as "The Shooting of Dan McGoo", which starred Droopy.
Vitaphone release number: 8863^[7]