| Dumb Patrol | |
|---|---|
_title_card.jpg) Title card | |
| Directed by | Gerry Chiniquy |
| Story by | John Dunn |
| Produced by | David H. DePatie William Orcutt |
| Starring | Mel Blanc (all voices)[1] |
| Edited by | Treg Brown |
| Music by | Bill Lava |
| Animation by | Virgil Ross Bob Matz Lee Halpern Art Leonardi |
| Layouts by | Bob Givens |
| Backgrounds by | Tom O'Loughlin |
| Color process | Technicolor[1] |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures Vitaphone[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6 minutes[1] |
| Language | English |
Dumb Patrol is a 1964Warner Bros.Looney Tunes cartoon short directed byGerry Chiniquy.[2] It was released on January 18, 1964, and starsBugs Bunny andYosemite Sam.[3] Director Gerry Chiniquy was a longtime animator inFriz Freleng's unit. The cartoon is set duringWorld War I opening 'somewhere in France' in 1917, and it also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the war.[4]
Set amidst the backdrop ofWorld War I inFrance in 1917, the French Air Force convenes to address the threat posed by the formidable German pilot, Baron Sam Von Shpamm. A decision is made through the drawing of straws, with Captain Smedley emerging as the chosen aviator tasked with confronting the enemy. Things take an unexpected turn when Bugs Bunny, disguised as Captain Smedley, incapacitates the real pilot,Porky Pig, to assume his identity. This subterfuge is driven by Bugs' concern for Porky's familial responsibilities.
Meanwhile, inGermany, Baron Sam Von Shpamm expresses disillusionment with his military accolades and yearns for respite. He receives a taunting message from Bugs, further provoking his ire.
As aerial confrontations ensue, Baron Sam's ineptitude is highlighted through a series of mishaps, including failed attempts to engage his aircraft and futile pursuits of Bugs. Despite his persistent efforts, Baron Sam's endeavors are consistently thwarted by Bugs' cunning evasion tactics. Baron Sam ultimately resorts to increasingly desperate measures, culminating in his demise amidst a calamitous explosion.
The title is an allusion toThe Dawn Patrol, a 1930 movie byHoward Hawks that also deals with World War I pilots. The same title was also used for anunrelated early Looney Tunes short starringBosko, released in 1931.
Animation historianJerry Beck considersDumb Patrol to be among the worst Bugs Bunny cartoons.[5][6]
One of the few truly awful Bugs Bunny shorts.
| Preceded by | Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1964 | Succeeded by |