Hollywood Daffy is a 1946 Merrie Melodies short planned by Friz Freleng and finished by Hawley Pratt.
Plot[]
Daffy Duck visits Hollywood, wanting to see Hollywood stars, and tries to sneak onto the "Warmer Brothers" set but does not receive a warm welcome from the Joe Besser-parody Studio Guard.
Daffy sneaks into the studio via various disguises, first as popular movie stars Charlie Chaplin, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, and then as the Academy Oscar statue, only to get kicked out each time by the studio guard, resulting in a long chase where Daffy outsmarts the dimwitted studio guard by disguising as both a studio tour guide and then a movie director.
The studio guard finally catches Daffy, eager to throw him out of the Warmer Brothers studio, and Daffy reiterates that he won't leave until he gets to see "stars". The studio guard gives in to Daffy's wishes and lets him into the studio, which turns out to be a trick: he bluntly fulfilled Daffy's wishes by literally giving him stars to see by whacking his head with a baton numerous times, and then he kicks Daffy out into the dumpster at the back of the studio. A dazed Daffy is happy to get to see "stars" around his head and claims he sees Hedy Lemarr, Alexis Smith, Dorothy Lamour, Baby Snooks, and Ann Sheridan. He kisses the Sheridan star and both bounce and hoot wildly.
Caricatures[]
- Lauren Bacall - mentioned by Daffy
- Joe Besser
- Bette Davis
- Johnny Weissmuller - as Tarzan
- Charlie Chaplin - impersonated by Daffy
- Jimmy Durante
- Bing Crosby - impersonated by Daffy
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello - mentioned
- Jack Benny
- Errol Flynn - mentioned by Daffy
- Hedy Lamarr - as a star
- Alexis Smith - as a star
- Dorothy Lamour - as a star
- Baby Snooks - as a star
- Ann Sheridan - as a star
Availability[]
Streaming[]
Production[]
According to Hawley Pratt himself, when Michael Maltese gave the cartoon's script to Friz Freleng, he refused to work with it. The aftermath of the feud caused Freleng to be suspended from the studio for about a month to get the cartoon through production. Hawley Pratt, having enough experience in bossiness and seniority at the studio, de facto directed the cartoon. Pratt still received layout credit, although no direction credit was given.[3]
Notes[]
- This cartoon is not to be confused with Tex Avery's "Daffy Duck in Hollywood" (1938), another cartoon featuring a "screwball" Daffy causing havoc at a Hollywood.
- The Joe Besser-parody studio guard is modeled after the Keystone Cops.
- The bear traps surrounding Ann Sheridan's dressing room are a reference to how she was constantly being perused by men.
- Jack Benny at a claw machine is a reference to the fact that he never won an Oscar in his lifetime.
- The line, "What's Errol Flynn got that you haven't got", is a reference to how Errol Flynn was known for being an idealized romantic in many of his movies.
- When Daffy sees "stars" Dorothy Lamour is wearing a Hawaiian-themed dress, as she was famous for wearing risquƩ islander outfits.
- This cartoon was shown in theatres with Janie Gets Married during its original release.
- This is the first directorial work of Hawley Pratt for the series. Since Friz Freleng refused to work with it, Pratt probably served as the solo director of the cartoon.
- Vitaphone release number: 1473[4]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ā https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig3281213li/page/81/mode/1up?view=theater
- ā https://books.google.com/books?id=p8KCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT451&dq=hollywood+daffy+1946+voices&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJkIrE9YDuAhVCba0KHWu5CSIQ6AEwAHoECAAQAg#v=onepage&q=hollywood%20daffy%201946%20voices&f=false
- ā https://cartoonlogic.libsyn.com/website/cartoon-logic-episode-08-friz-freleng-rabbit-every-monday
- ā Liebman, Roy (2003). Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts (in en). McFarland, page 289. ISBN 978-0786412792.