The Fox and the Grapes

The Color Rhapsody "The Fox & The Grapes" was the first cartoon produced, written and directed under the Frank Tashlin regime after the death of producer Charles Mintz. Tashlin was working at the Disney studios as a gag man when approached to assume producer duties. At the time, the Disney staff was on strike and Tashlin took full advantage of his new situation by hiring former Disneyites to work at the Screen Gems studios. Tashlin's reign was not a lengthy one, but this is one of the finest cartoons produced by the studio.

This cartoon was also the debut for the characters of the Fox & Crow, who went on to star in 23 more cartoons. The premise is ideal - a milquetoast fox (voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc) attempts to purloin a bunch of grapes dangled by a wily crow (also voiced by Blanc). The crow only wants the fox to share his picnic lunch with him, but the fox refuses. From this point, a hilarious string of attempts to acquire the grapes begins. The blackout gags are quite funny, the animation is superb and the music score by Eddie Kilfeather is top-notch!