The Trial of Mr. Wolf (1941)

Director:

Friz Freleng

Writer:

Michael Maltese (story)

Release Date:

26 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Short | Comedy

Plot:

The Big Bad Wolf is put on trial for harassing Little Red Riding Hood. He then decides to tell his false side of the story, portraying Little Red Riding Hood and Grandma to be scheming to make a coat out of him.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Gunfire | Fur | Bird | Choking

Cast

Mel Blanc

...

Mr. Wolf (voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

7 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6621)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

Mr. Wolf: [Voice over] I'm always communing with nature.
Mr. Wolf: Hello, little boidie.
Bird: Go on, you joik! Act your own age!

Soundtrack:

Jeepers Creepers

Good cartoon, marred a bit by ending

One of what seems an endless number of takes on the Little Red Riding Hood story from around this era, this one is cleverly presented in the form of a court trial with the Wolf as defendant. Part of the cartoon takes place in the courtroom, where the Wolf's untrustworthiness is obvious (early on he stands up and a hand grenade, knife and gun fall out of his coat). The other part consists of a film within a film based on the Wolf's recreation of the events, which has him lured to to Grandma's house - Grandma turns out to be a furrier and is after him for his coat. All of this works very well, but with quite a few Merrie Melodies I've seen from this period it rather falls in a heap with a sudden ending which seems hastily thought out and doesn't really tie in to the main theme of the cartoon satisfyingly. Still, good fun.