Deduce, You Say

Usually, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig are enemies, but here, they're partners. Daffy plays Dorlock Holmes and Porky is Watson. The two are investigating crimes committed by someone known as "The Shropshire Slasher". When they finally meet the Shropshire Slasher, Daffy tries to overpower him, but always gets overpowered. Porky, on the other hand, knows exactly what to do every time. When the Shropshire Slasher's mother arrives, Daffy accuses her of selling flowers illegally, and...well, let's just say that was biggest mistake of his life.

I don't know how the Looney Tunes creative team was able to come up with something every time, but they did it again. Let's face it, those men were geniuses.

In London, Daffy Duck is Dorlock Homes. He is a Sherlock Holmes type. Porky Pig is Watkins or the Watson sidekick. They are at the Beeker Street home base. Dorlock is doing his taxes when a telegram arrives. Shropshire Slasher had escaped prison and challenges Dorlock to catch him.

This is a pretty good spoof of Sherlock Holmes. Of course, Daffy as Dorlock is a bit of an idiot. The switcheroo works really well for this duo. I am not sure about the mystery part. I would be happy to have a silly mystery like if the Slasher's address is at the bottom of the telegram. I do like this for the most part.

7 out of 10, mainly because the design is excellent, as is the script. For those who have watched and enjoyed the series of 'Sherlock Holmes' movies made from 1939 - 1946 (all starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce) then this animated short would be a 10/10. Daffy's prickly, know-it-all personality satirizes the Basil Rathbone interpretation of Holmes, and Porky Pig as 'Watkins' does pretty much what Nigel Bruce did in all the films--nothing. Though at one point a frustrated Daffy barks: "All right, Watkins--enough of your bumbling!" which is a reference to how Watson was portrayed as a clueless idiot by Bruce. And as a topper, writer Michael Maltese is able to insert the line "Elementary, my dear Watkins (Watson.)" in a perfect spot.

Deduce, You Say (1954)

*** (out of 4)

Nice spoof of Sherlock Holmes has Dorlock Homes (Daffy Duck) and Watkins (Porky Pig) trying to locate the Shropshire Slasher, who just happens to be looking for them as well. If you're a fan of the Universal Holmes series then I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this short, which actually manages to pay nice homage to the earlier series but it also works perfectly well as a cartoon. The animation by Jones is brilliant, especially all the dark colors that are in the bar that the film takes place in. Both Daffy and Porky are at the top of their game and the villain also manages to get some very good laughs. The final joke with a famous line from the Holmes films are also priceless.

A fairly silly take-off on the Sherlock Holmes stories. Daffy Duck playing a bombastic shrill Sherlock, and Porky Pig as a calm and reserved Watson. A few good laughs, but not enough to elevate it above most Looney Tune shorts. A few grown inducing play on words, but I like that type of humour, so this short was just alright by me. Not my favorite, but nor the worst Tune that I've seen. Don't misunderstand me as the worst Looney Tune is still a million times better then 'The Simpsons" has been in the last handful of years. This cartoon is on Disk 2 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1"

My Grade: C+