I was a Teenage Thumb

[Cartman]

In the original version of this cartoon, as most of you know already, the king calls his knight an "*****." Were the rules set by the Hays Office still in effect when this cartoon was released?

[J Lee]

Yes, but they were being "relaxed" more and more as the years went on because in those pre-HBO times, risque language (and as the 1960s wore on, nudity) was something the theaters could do that television couldn't.

Only the last season of Warner Bros. cartoons (1968-69) were made under the current MPAA ratings systems guidelines, though back then they only had "G", "M", "R" and "X". BTW, the first four seasons of the Schlesinger released (1930-34) also were done pre-code, though its arrival really affected the Fleischers more than it did Warners (depending on how you interpet that line in "Bosko's Picture Show" of course).

[Matt Yorston]

Also, one other thing to consider is that the King's "ass" line in "Teenage Thumb" was not intended to sound as profane as may first seem. He wasn't referring to the body part as that line is so often in reference to when said today but, rather, an Olde English term meaning a silly or foolish person. Sort of a shortening of the term, "Jackass", which, ironically enough, was openly said onscreen in some earlier WB shorts (i.e. "Falling Hare" and "Plane Daffy").

[Lonestarr]

Originally posted by Matt Yorston
Sort of a shortening of the term, "Jackass", which, ironically enough, was openly said onscreen in some earlier WB shorts (i.e. "Falling Hare" and "Plane Daffy").

Also in "A Tale of Two Mice"...twice!

"Why, if this doesn't work, I'll be a jack-ass."

[Steve Carras]

Originally posted by Cartman
In the original version of this cartoon, as most of you know already, the king calls his knight an "*****." Were the rules set by the Hays Office still in effect when this cartoon was released?

A few things I noted about the credits were Chuck Jones, esq. and two codirectors, and Mel Blanc sharing voice credit with THREE people (Julie Bennett, Ben Frommer and Richard Piel). Only cartoon that beats that creditwise was 1959's "The Mouse That Jack Built", with Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Don Wilson Rochester, and Mel himself, all crossing over from the raido/TV show.

Nice version of "Greensleeves" on the title.

[Daffyfan2002]

I just want to mention that there was another cartoon in which they used the word jack*****. "Mississippi Hare" (1949) In which Bugs says it to colonel shuffle. Yeah, that Hayes Office is pretty strict. If it weren't for them we'd see Catstello give Babbit "the bird." Lol.