Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.
That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. 'Woody's Clip Joint' may not be a great cartoon but it is nonetheless of the better Sid Marcus-directed cartoons from the 60s, this is saying a fair bit with most of the 1963 Sid Marcus-directed cartoons being less than average. Woody has shades of his original manic energy personality, but it doesn't come consistently with his material being too obvious and safe to stop him from being dulled-down. Like many of the supporting characters from the later Woody Woodpecker cartoons, the circus master is a fairly forgettable character with a personality that is not much different from similar characters.
Generally, the timing could have been sharper and too much of the humour is primarily let down by that it is derivative of better and fresher humour in other Woody Woodpecker cartoons and also the lack of wit and consistent energy. Plus the story is very over-familiar, very few surprises here, and the cartoon could have done with more variety.
Just as problematic is the animation quality. Time and budget constraints shows in a lot of the animation, which is very rushed looking in the drawing and detail wise it's on the simplistic and careless side like many of Woody's cartoons from this period continuing through to the 60s.
However, 'Woody's Clip Joint's' best assets are Louie and the music score. Louie is an amusing foil and has the best material of all three characters. The music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it.
There is some energy and a few amusing moments with Louie.
Voice acting from Grace Stafford and Dal McKennon is solid. There is one surprise which is that 'Woody's Clip Joint' is one of about only 15 or 16 cartoons to see Woody not get the upper hand at the end.
Overall, one-time-watch watchable but doesn't have enough to compel one to watch repeatedly. 5/10 Bethany Cox
