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Pietro
11-01-2002, 06:28 AM
http://looney.toonzone.net/picts/toonmonth.jpg

Welcome again, members of the TTTP, to "The Spotlight Cartoon of the Month!"

This month - Tex Avery's "Jerky Turkey."


http://looney.toonzone.net/picts/jerkyturkey.jpg

Studio:
MGM

Original Release Date:
April 7, 1945

Original Film credits:
Direction: Tex Avery
Story: Heck Allen
Animation: Ed Love, Ray Abrams, and Preston Blair
Music: Scott Bradley
Producer: Fred Quimby

Description: The pilgrims begin their voyage on the Mayflower (guided by the US Navy). Later, they arrive at "Plymouth Rock" ("Was This Trip REALLY Necessary.") Once arrived there, the town already forms a democracy, "Ye Democrats" and "Ye Republicans." Thousands of pilgrims stand in line for cigarettes, while the town cryer, actually does "cry" after being drafted. Later, a Droopy-type pilgrim emerges from his trailer to hunt a turkey for the first Thanksgiving. The turkey hunter uses a turkey call ("HEY TURKEY!") and lures a Jimmy Durante turkey out of "Ye House of Seven Gobbles." "Hey, Junior, ya wanna buy a hot doggie?" He "gift wraps" and sells himself to the hunter, but puts gun powder in his pants, lights and match and.....BOOM! A chase between the hunter and turkey ensues. The turkey ducks in a fox hole, but soon finds out that there's "no vacancies." The turkey gets away after a bear walks by advertising "Eat at Joe's" (who appears throughout the picture). The turkey switches the front and end of the hunter's rifle around, making him blown his own head off (or least that's what we think, until his head pops back up). The pilgrim grabs what he thinks is the turkey by the feathers and finds out it's an indian cheif, who almost scalps him. The cheif later walks into a "half-breed" (half indian, half business man - "Heap Corny Gag!") The turkey pulls the pilgrim's nose and lets it smack back in his face, this starts the chase back up. To avoid being shot, the turkey turns into "Super Turkey!" The pilgrim runs off the end of the pavement. When he gets up off the ground he sees the turkey headed his way, so he paints an "entrance" on a nearby brick wall, but the turkey runs right through it! So, the pilgrim tries to run through it and ends up getting smacked in the face. The turkey climbs up a tree, the pilgrim starts climbing, but the turkey saws off the limb he's sitting on which casuses the rest of the tree to fall. Then the turkey jumps into a tank of water. Then the pilgrim tries to finally get the turkey using "Ye Bazooka." He dives back in and the pilgrim does too, but the the "Eat at Joe's" bear emerges from the water. So the turkey decides, "Face it, Junior, you ain't never gonna catch me for no Thanksgiving dinner, therefore, why don't we eat at Joe's." So they follow the bear to the resturant. The bear eats the turkey and pilgrim, and inside the bear the pilgrim holds up a sign, "Don't Eat at Joe's!"

Screen Shot Coursety of Paul Belanger (aka absolutpaul)


That's all for this month folks!

(Stay tuned next month when Sniffles attemps to stay up on Christmas Eve, but unsuccessfully)

Comments? Questions?

(11/01/02)

-Pietro:D

Billy
11-01-2002, 07:07 AM
I have always wanted to see this cartoon, as it said to be highly regarded by fans. (Then again, so are all Avery 'toons) I especially like the 'DON'T eat at Joe's' gag in the description below. Does anyone know any videos where this cartoon has been included?

rodney
11-01-2002, 08:35 AM
I know it's on the Compleat Tex Avery laserdisc set, and I think it's on either Screwball Classics 3 or 4.

lislebartman
11-01-2002, 10:36 AM
It's also on one of those public domain "Cartoons Are Fun" videos and one one of the "Cartoon Crazys" DVDs, albeit with 'enhanced' music and effects which hurt it...

My copy's from the COMPLEAT TEX AVERY laserdisc...

Pietro
11-01-2002, 12:30 PM
At first, my copy was an edited copy taped off CN (the copy was recorded in EP speed and had horrible sound).

Then, I got it uncut from the PD DVD, "Cartoon Explosion" (either vol. 1 or 2)

-Pietro:D

lislebartman
11-01-2002, 08:38 PM
"Cartoon Explosion" is the video series I meant, not "Cartoons R Fun"...

Thanks for refreshing my mind, Pietro! :D

Pietro
11-01-2002, 09:29 PM
Hey, no prob, Bart!

-Pietro:D

Matthew Hunter
11-01-2002, 11:23 PM
I have a Cartoon Explosion tape..."Fin and Catty"...good quality prints too. My guess is they are from Turner TV or video :rolleyes:
-Matthew

Boy Wonder
11-02-2002, 09:39 AM
Hey Pietro, good choice! The cartoon is about Thanksgiving, and it is a good cartoon overall. Congrats on the choice.

Brandon Pierce
11-02-2002, 12:16 PM
Originally posted by lislebartman
"Cartoon Explosion" is the video series I meant, not "Cartoons R Fun"...

Thanks for refreshing my mind, Pietro! :D
No, you're correct. "Jerky Turkey" is on a Cartoons R Fun tape. I can proof it.

Tintin
11-02-2002, 01:16 PM
I am already watch this cartoon in the Theater of ancient Cartoon Network (http://www.cartoonnetwork.com) site and that's a very fun episode. :)

Pietro
11-02-2002, 06:15 PM
Originally posted by Martin Juneau
I am already watch this cartoon in the Theater of ancient Cartoon Network (http://www.cartoonnetwork.com) site and that's a very fun episode. :)

I wonder if it's uncut on CN's site?

-Pietro:D

Mibbitmaker
11-02-2002, 10:06 PM
And when the turkey gift-wraps himself, it's in a market... a "Black Market"...which, of course, is all black. :D

And I love the flow of spoken/printed word at the end:

Eat at Joe's

"...let's eat at Joe's"

"All right, we'll eat at Joe's."

JOE'S (sign on eatery)

I'm Joe. (bear)

Don't eat at Joe's

:cool:

hiphats
11-02-2002, 10:31 PM
Now this is one TTTP Cartoon Of The Month I actually like! I think the "Eat At Joe's" tag is one of the funniest gags in the cartoon...plays a huge part in the subplot. It is an animated masterpiece...ranks with "Happy Go Nutty" (the one with "See Gypsy Pose for Five Cents") as one of the best MGM non-Tom & Jerry cartoons.

By the way, you'll flip out when you run the cartoon with its Spanish dubbed track (for those of you who have SAP capability)....Como El Joe's! Ha, ha, etc.

"Jerky Turkey", by the way, has been used in an MTV "cheater" video for Fontalla Bass' "Rescue Me", and is also in the public domain (CN is the only way to see the 'toon on television from the negative).

Happy Thanksgiving...and remember, DO "eat at Joe's"!

Tintin
11-03-2002, 12:26 AM
Originally posted by Pietro
I wonder if it's uncut on CN's site?

-Pietro:D

Yes. The indian/businessman was not cut

Sandro
11-07-2002, 07:50 PM
Ah yes, a classic Avery masterpiece. I love this work of art and it never gets old, especially the ending. Great choice!

Pilmedium
11-11-2002, 07:39 PM
This is a great cartoon. I like how they actually made use of the "Eat at Joe's" gag. It is very fitting for this time of year. Next month's will be, too. There seems to be a pattern starting. ;)