Henpecked Hoboes

If only John Steinbeck had known how many cartoons his characters from "Of mice and men" would inspire. This time George and Lenny (or 'Junior' in this case) are two bears mind set on catching a chicken. Not the rooster, whom they send to the North Pole in no time, just the chicken. As usual in a Tex Avery cartoon, "Henpecked Hoboes" is no more than one joke repeated a number of inventive ways: George tries to lure the chicken by wearing a crazy disguise, Junior hits George on the head instead of the chicken, George kicks Junior in the behind ("Bend over, Junior"). They should have gone for the rooster instead.

It's the crazy disguises the two of them wear that are truly inspired. First George (who is actually a lot smaller than either rooster or chicken) dresses up as rooster stud, then he puts on an appetizing king-size worm suit. The enormous Lenny gets to dress up as a baby chick, but takes his role way too seriously. Meanwhile, in a sub plot we see the rooster making his long way back home from Antarctica. Unfortunately the payoff is not as elaborate as the set-up. Oh yes, there is also one of those gags with African stereotypes that were common at the time but have been outlawed since.

7 out of 10 (one for each scheme)

In Tex Avery's first George & Junior cartoon, they''re wandering down the road and getting hungry. Junior proposes they grab a chicken and eat it.

The problem with reviewing Tex Avery cartoons is that, compared with the competition, Avery had few peers and a wealth of gags unequalled by anyone save Dave Fleischer. But of course, his stuff ranges from world-beating all the way down to excellent. This is the latter classification, which means you will want to see it and will enjoy it. Surely that is good news!

There's a deliberate pace and repeating structure that gives this a less chaotic feel than many of Avery's cartoons. On the other hand, you feel like it's at an end, rather than simply running out of film.

Diminutive George and giant Junior are hobo bears. Junior is hungry. George spots a hen house. He dons a rooster costume to lure a hen away from the house. The actual rooster of the roost fights back. Junior keeps messing up.

I don't like the relationship between the rooster and the hen. There isn't anything to root for in that couple and that ending is a little disturbing. It's probably a mistake to separate the rooster from all the action for so long. As for the bears, I don't know if I like George's voice. It's a very specific voice that doesn't really exist any more. Of Mice and Men is a classic. This Tex Avery cartoon is on the borderline.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best ever made by anybody. The first George and Junior cartoon 'Henpecked Hoboes' doesn't represent him at his best, this was prime-era Tex Avery (1940s at the MGM) and most other cartoons from this period were far more representative of that which does make the cartoon a slight disappointment. While it is a long way from being one of his funniest or most inventive, 'Henpecked Hoboes' is not a bad cartoon at all, and other than a slight lack of variety there is very little wrong with it.

Regarding the black-face gag, it may not bode well with some and to me it wasn't that funny but actually it is a very brief gag and compared to the racial stereotypes seen in some of the Censored 11 cartoons and some of the Van Beuren Tom and Jerry cartoons it is very tame.

Although it is not hilarious, 'Henpecked Hoboes' does have very amusing moments and is timed well, and while Avery's wild and wacky approach that is so distinctive comes through stronger elsewhere this is hardly devoid of either.

George and Junior are an appealing and amusing double act. The chicken is a good foil. Avery is also on voice acting duty and he shows as much talent for that as he had for directing and animating, both of which he also does a characteristically very good job. Dick Nelson joins him with the voice acting and he's fine.

It is no surprise that the animation is superb, being rich in colour and detail. The character designs are unique, Avery always did have creative character designs, and suitably fluid. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

Overall, nowhere near classic Avery but worth tracking down. 8/10 Bethany Cox

George and Junior are set out to catch themselves a chicken, but Junior screws up all the silly plans they make.

One includes George dressing up as rooster, another as a worm, and Junior himself dresses up as a young duck but things basically turn out the same every time again: George hits the chicken too soon, too late or not at all. How lame can you be?

Very dull and monotone cartoon from the 40's which was banned for a small joke about black people. It should be banned for being one of the crappiest cartoons ever though.

2/10.