Out-Foxed

Fox News was still around back in 1949, long before The Fox News Network started back in 1996. Without Fox News, there won't be Tucker, Hannity, Lauren, or even Shepard Smith. This Droopy cartoon really did put Fox News on the map, and there's a lot of stories to talk about, and the stories behind the real news.

"Pip, pip" are the last words in this funny Droopy cartoon. Most often in these little dog- makes-good cartoons, it's his foe that provokes most of the laughter, either the wolf or the big dog Spike. Here, it's a fox. Don't get me wrong: Droopy is always good for a few laughs with his "aside" comments to us, the audience.

Here he is one of about 10 dogs off to chase the fox, the winner getting a big juicy steak. While the other dogs race off, Droopy just slowly meanders by and tells us "You know what? Haste makes waste."

Soon after we come to the home of Reginald Fox. He lives in a tree and is inside reading "Fox News," drinking tea and wearing a monocle. He's very British and feels he's one smart cookie. "I am smart as a fox, you know," he tells us. He, too, likes to give the audience "asides."

This is one of few Droopy cartoons in which our main guy even looks stupid, but since the other dogs are dumber, Droopy escapes some bad situations through their stupidity. The fox is just too smart for anyone.

The best drawing was that of the kennel master. Talk about a stereotype of the old British men!

The ending of this is almost guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Daws Butler offers a tea-drinking Ronald Colman impression as the Fox in this Droopy cartoon in which the reward for his capture is a thick, juicy steak.... and the other hounds aren't too fussy as to how they collect.

It's more about the Fox than Drooypy. That's not unusual in these cartoons. Usually, though, it's Droopy driving the hunted mad, instead of the hunted turning the tables... to no avail.

This cartoon, like so many of Tex Avery's cartoons, raises the question of how to rate it. Even the least of Avery's MGM cartoons are ones that most cartoonists could only aspire to. Given that the scale on the IMDb only goes up to 10, what's a reviewer to do?

This is a rather average Droopy cartoon where he tries to capture a fox to bring back to his owner. The fox happens to be a high-class, pip-pip talking, pompous animal and he outsmarts a hosts of dogs out to catch him.

You'll get some chuckles here and there, but the fox's smug personality is a turn-off and drags the cartoon. Droopy is hardly in it, and you'll be left rooting for the fox's capture.

Grade C-

The fact that Tex Avery directed a magnificent cartoon for MGM shouldn't come as a big surprise. During this time at the studio, he made some of the most enjoyable and iconic cartoon shorts of all time...and "Out-Foxed" is among his best.

The cartoon features Droopy and an incredibly erudite fox, with a Ronald Colman-type manner and voice. Droopy and a bunch of hounds have been sent out on a strange fox hunt....no people, no horses and the dogs are sent out on their own to retrieve the fox. Well, again and again, the fox outwits the dogs....but the manner which he does it is what makes the cartoon as well as how sweet and likable Droopy is. Plus, have no fear...not foxes are hurt in the film...and in fact it ends on a very high note. Lots of fun and well worth seeing.