Suicide gag in "Horton Hatches The Egg"

[Jack]

Anyhow, after seeing this uncut on the Clampett show(and having it on tape), I was just thinking, why did he put that gag in there anyway? I really love this cartoon, and don't want to see it censored, but I just don't really like that gag. It isn't all that funny, and adds little to the cartoon, and really sticks out in a Dr. Seuss world. I know that Clampett was asked to make it funnier when the book's rights were aquired, but I think he accomplished this in other areas.

Just some thoughts...


Jack:D

[kiddiesunshine]

Maybe Clampett was trying to put his own spin on the story. Suicide gags had been good to him in the past for the simple fact that no one really expects them. No one expects anything to get shot in a Dr. Suess story. No one expects the suspect to be his own victim either. It just shows to go ya! Sex sells, and a bullet through the brain doesn't hurt either. Well, it does, but---you know what I mean.

[Sogturtle]

It definitely adds a '40's Warnersque spin to the story that's for sure!! Has always been one of fave cartoons ("I meant what I said..."). The suicide gag sticks out even more considering that this is the only KNOWN Warner's collaboration of Clampett and Michael Maltese, and this is not a Maltese style gag [just before this, Mike almost certainly worked uncredited on "Wabbit Twouble" with Dave Monahan for Clampett/Avery]. We can seriously wonder whether the inclusion of such gags in "Horton..." made Maltese unwilling to ever work on Warner shorts with Bob Clampett again (he worked on commercials with him independently).