Plane Dippy

"Plane Dippy" is the first Looney Tunes cartoon to begin with the 'Featuring Porky' intertitle card. In fact, this cartoon marks the second time this character starred in a film from the studio and about the sixth time he appeared in one of the shorts.

When the story begins, Porky joins the Army Air Corps because he wants to learn to fly. Instead, he's made a janitory and his career as a pilot seems over before it began. However, the crazed looking ape working in the hanger seems interested in teaching Porky about his newest invention--a voice-controlled plane....which is NOT a great thing for a stuttering pig! What also is not great is that the plane seems to have a mind of its own and soon takes off with Porky the unwilling passenger.

In some ways, this cartoon is reminscent of the very early Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Plane Crazy". I have no idea if this was intended or not. Regardless, it's cute and worth seeing provided you understand that the 1930s was NOT a great era with cartoons and they became so much better in the 1940s.

Even Tex Avery's lesser work is enjoyable and this short is a case in point. Avery was still feeling his way here and his style was still in its formative stages. Porky was still being developed as a character as well. Some good sight gags here. Not the best short I've seen, by any means, but I've seen worse. Worth looking for and recommended if you like Tex Avery.

Wow.

To understand my reaction, you have to know that there is a huge shift underway at present in the US military. The promise of artificial intelligence has repeatedly disappointed, so it will be some time before we have autonomous robots with weapons. But there's this move to remotely controlled weapons, starting with planes. Its happening now. And not everything is working out as intended.

So seventy years ago we see this cartoon. Its one of Tex Avery's first, and of interest just on that score. Its also interesting because its in the first wave of movies that assume the inevitability of Americans entering the war.

The joke is that Porky is in a remotely controlled plane. The control is by voice, and that controller accidentally overhears kids telling a puppy to perform tricks. The plane complies and we laugh. One clever joke has the plane fly through a wagon of hay and end up with a wagonload of straw hats.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

Plane Dippy (1936)

*** (out of 4)

Porky Pig finally manages to make his way through the tests and gets enrolled in the Army. His first mission is being a test pilot for a robot plane that can be operated by controls.

PLANE DIPPY certainly isn't an animated masterpiece but if you're a fan of the early Porky Pig shorts then you should enjoy it. This here was the first time that Porky got him name on the title card so it's obvious that crowds were loving the little guy. This here is a pretty good short as there are some funny moments and plenty of nice action. Most of the action takes place during the final minutes as Porky finds himself inside the plane and it's out of control. One of the highlights is a scene where the plane chases a cloud. The animation was extremely good and there's no question that Porky was coming into his own.

This early Tex Avery cartoon -- starring Porky the Pig in his most globular phase -- starts out with as good a series of perfectly-paced sight gags as Avery ever did, with Porky enlisting in and going through basic training in the Air Corps. However, the second half, in which he winds up in a robot plane controlled from the ground by a bunch of kids, becomes much more erratic, as the basic gag goes on too long. Also, and this may not be a problem for you, you hear Rochelle Hudson doing her little-girl voice, which makes me grind my teeth. Nor does Bernard Brown's score, a constant repetition of an upbeat version of "I'd Love to Take Orders from You" help ease the monotony.

But the opening makes this a fine cartoon. Give it a look and see if you agree.