The Up-Standing Sitter

Mr. I. Squeel (a big pig) of the Acme baby sitting agency sends Daffy Duck to literally sit on an egg. When the hatchling (a yellow version of Hennery Hawk) escapes from this 'stranger' and seeks refugee with that trustworthy foil Spike the Dog, the gags never stop coming. And why exactly are there so many explosives lying around on this farm?.

Although the story may be simple, back in the forties the Warners managed to cram as much as possible into their Merry Melodies: a song by Daffy, numerous puns ("Did you enjoy your trip, stranger?") and references ("or would you rather be a pig?"), silly sound effects, surreal sight gags, background jokes and just plain zany characters. At one point Daffy even uses Sylvesters' catchphrase `Sufferin' Succotash!'. Within ten years the merry melodies would settle down and concentrate on a maximum of two punchlines per scene, but in this early Daffy vehicle the pace is relentless. To say any more would spoil the jokes.

8 out of 10

The Up-Standing Sitter is a very good cartoon, but not quite one of the greats. The story is simple, perhaps a little too much so, but a number of things compensate such as the witty writing that is full of inspired puns and references and clever sight gags. Daffy still has his trademark persona but also has a caring side that I loved seeing. The chick, who is very like Tweety I agree, is very cute though thankfully not sickeningly so. Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations are as stellar as ever. The animation has been more fluid in other Looney Tunes shorts, but is bright and colourful on the whole, and the jaunty background music plays a vital part in making the humour work as always and succeeds. The song is very catchy also. All in all, not one of my favourites, but I like it very much. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This time, Daffy Duck is a baby-sitter sent to sit on an egg, which happens to hatch. When the chick takes Daffy for a stranger and runs away, Daffy tries to catch him but this proves to be the most elusive chick on earth. Then again, he has the advantage of a bulldog, a high wire, and numerous explosives lying around.

"The Up-Standing Sitter" is one of the many additions to the pantheon of classic Looney Tunes cartoons. It was back in the days when everything was just a gag every second. It was just neat that they weren't afraid to do whatever they wanted.

So, maybe this wasn't the greatest of their cartoons ever, but it's still pretty funny. Sort of a precursor to "Calvin and Hobbes", with what Calvin always did to Rosalyn.

Daffy is an employee at The Acme Baby-Sitting Agency. I liked Daffy's little poem as he headed out on his assignment for the day:

"Life is bitter for I am a sitter. And put little kids to bed.

"While I tuck the sheet around their feet, they are busy slapping my head They throw their trains and rattle my brains. My head is full of dents.

"No wonder I'm sour. Goes on by the hour. And each hour I earn 50 cents."

Daffy finds he has an odd assignment: he has to sit on an egg. A hen has employed him to sit on her egg while she goes out. Daffy calmly sits down and reads a book ("The Egg And I," naturally) and things look calm until the egg hatches and the little chick thinks Daffy is his mother, or father, or sister, on and on and on. This little chick is a strange one. He's very paranoid, too.

This little guy sounds almost exactly like "Tweety." Hey, there is almost no way Mel Blanc can disguise that unique voice of his. I wonder if this yellow bird was the inspiration for Tweety? It might have been, as Daffy uses Sylvester's line, "sufferin' succotash." We even have "Spike" in here. In other words, we almost have a Tweety and Sylvester cartoon here except that Daffy is trying to do his job and keep the little chick safe, not eat him as Sylvester would have preferred.

You had to feel sorry for poor Daffy in here. This time, he's the good guy and that little chick gets to be a real wise-guy. Overall, despite the injustice to our poor duck friend at the end, this is a very entertaining cartoon

With the ever brilliant Daffy Duck, good animation and good directing from Robert McKimson, this is an episode I enjoyed and one well worth watching. Personally, in this episode I did not enjoy the slapstick provided, but other people will probably find this part of the episode funny.

This short starts with Daffy Duck, a babysitter, going off to babysit and he sings a bright tune on his way:

"Life is bitter, for I'm a sitter and put little kiddies to bed. While I cup the sheet, around their feet, they're busy slapping my head. They throw their trains, they rattle my brains, my head is full of dents. No wonder I'm sour, goes on by the hour and each hour I earn fifty cents!"

As you have probably guessed by the tune, Daffy is unusually considerate and does a good job putting up with his job. Anyhow, he goes off to the mother of the chick he will babysit and finds that the baby is still an egg. He begins on his job to warm the egg. Just as he starts to read, the egg starts to move - and it hatches. It turns out the chick is a horrible little thing and Daffy plunges himself into deep trouble...

Poor Daffy! Folks who hate seeing Daffy being hurt will not enjoy this short. Otherwise, if you like Looney Tunes, you will probably enjoy this. I enjoyed, the main reason because Daffy is as he is here. Enjoy "The Up-Standing Sitter"! :-)