Bye, Bye Bluebeard

While not one of my favourite Looney Tunes characters, Porky is always likable and watchable.

'Bye Bye Bluebeard', despite being directed by a comparatively little-known and less prolific director, is a great cartoon and in the better end of Porky's cartoons. It does peter out ever so slightly towards the end, where the story ideas are not quite as strong as before, but that's the only real thing wrong with it.

The cartoon is superbly animated, all the characters are well drawn especially Bluebeard, it looks vibrant, lush and colourful, the backgrounds are rich in detail and everything flows smoothly. The music score by Carl Stalling also leaves a positive impression, as is characteristic of Stalling there is a wonderful liveliness, terrific atmosphere, beautiful and clever orchestration, an excelling in fitting with the action and an unequalled ability to add to its impact. There is also a very unique arrangement of the cartoon's title song "Bye Bye Blackbird".

Dialogue is fresh, witty and deliciously funny, and the gags are even more imaginative and funnier, the mouse bagging almost all the best material. All three characters are strongly characterised and the chemistry is well done. Porky does fare least, he's amusing and likable but he is one of those characters who can be overshadowed by characters with stronger personalities (especially Daffy) and that is the case here. Bluebeard is imposing and quite terrifying, but stealing the show is the hilarious mouse. Mel Blanc's voice work as always adds so much to the cartoon's success, his most colourful characterisations of the mouse and Bluebeard making more of an impression than his still solid characterisation of Porky.

Overall, great cartoon and while it is one of Porky's better ones it is a case of a supporting character stealing the show, in this case the mouse. 9/10 Bethany Cox

'Bye, Bye Bluebeard (1949)' starts with Porky Pig attempting to rid himself of a mouse who wants to eat some of the plentiful banquet he's tucking into, but soon morphs into something of a fight for survival as a radio announcement brings the news of a vicious serial killer on the loose. It's weird to see Porky's life genuinely in danger, especially since the short is clear that all the cartoon logic in the world won't save him if the baddie gets his hands on him, and it's also strange to have a murderer as a villain in one of these films. It feels quite nasty, in a way. That's not to imply that the piece itself is particularly scary or, even, unnerving, but its out-of-place concept certainly carries with it a strange feeling that's hard to shake. At any rate, this is still primarily concerned with being fun. It features some enjoyable moments and is told with lively animation. One of its jokes seems to have served as direct inspiration for an excellent gag in 'Barry (2018 - 2023)', unless parallel thought was at play (the two were created over fifty years apart, after all). It's an enjoyable experience overall.

To me, the line in "Bye, Bye Bluebeard" that stands out the most is the part about everyone having a conscience. As we've all seen, not everybody has one. To be certain, John Dean has written a book about this.* OK, so it makes no sense to talk about people's conscience when reviewing a Porky Pig cartoon. I just like looking for weird connections between things. Overall, I thought that it was an OK cartoon, but I don't find it particularly entertaining when they make Eastern Europeans the antagonists. Still, you gotta admit, that mouse was pretty cool.

*In case you don't know who John Dean is, he testified before the senate in 1973 and exposed that responsibility for the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up went all the way to the Oval Office. Nowadays, he frequently appears on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann".

Always a scary cartoon for kids, and For adults it's a joy to watch. In my quest to Review every Arthur Davis cartoon (the most underrated Looney tunes director of all time) My next short to review is Bye, Bye, Bluebeard, another Cartoon I know quite well, because Bluebeard I feel like should have appeared in more shorts in my opinion, with being so menacing and so funny at the same time. The Mouse Character was Okay, but I wish Porky starred a little more in this cartoon, He's so underutilized, since his last solo cartoon without daffy was in 1951, and he's my 4th favorite looney tunes Character, behind Bugs, Sam, and Daffy. This cartoons animation is done quite well, and the Jokes and Gags and such are sure to give you a chuckle, and is a perfect pairing with other Looney tunes Cartoons to watch during the Scary Season of Halloween.

9/10.

This Porky Pig cartoon features the portly protagonist as he goes about an exercise routine with a twist-- as he exercises, he is also eating (naturally). At the same time, an unwanted rodent guest seeks to share Porky's food. Porky only wants to get rid of the mouse, but then comes a radio news announcement warning of notorious criminal Bluebeard-- here exemplified by a towering anthroporphic wolf with a literal blue beard and an Eastern European accent.

Lots of the typical period cartoon hijinks ensue, such as Bluebeard tying Porky to a rocket, while Bluebeard sits down to enjoy Porky's steak dinner. Only an unexpected helper arrives to set things right.

Mel Blanc's voices are hilarious, and given the animator's character designs, it lends a more hilarious tone when you notice the subtle facial reactions.