| Symphony in Slang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tex Avery |
| Written by | Rich Hogan |
| Story by | Rich Hogan |
| Produced by | Fred Quimby |
| Starring | John Brown |
| Music by | Scott Bradley |
| Animation by | Michael Lah Grant Simmons Walter Clinton |
| Backgrounds by | John Didrik Johnsen |
| Color process | Technicolor Perspecta (re-released in 1958) |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
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Running time | 6 minutes, 43 seconds |
| Language | English |
Symphony in Slang is a 1951 cartoon short film directed byTex Avery, written by Rich Hogan and released with the feature filmNo Questions Asked byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1] Minimalist and abstract in style (many of the "gags" are created either with single, still frames orlimited animation), it tells the story of a man (voiced by radio actorJohn Brown ofMy Friend Irma andThe Life of Riley fame), who finds himself at thePearly Gates explaining the story of his life to a bewilderedSaint Peter andNoah Webster (also Brown) usingslang of that era. The majority of the short is made up of sight gags based on Peter and Webster's literal interpretations of phrases such as "raining cats and dogs".
A swing-savvyhep cat reachesHeaven and steps beforeSaint Peter. When asked to account for himself, his response is so peppered with slang that the Peter cannot understand him and seeks the help of the dictionary-penningNoah Webster. As the protagonist narrates his life story in his slang-heavy dialect, we see a series of sight gags based on literal interpretations (such as being born with asilver spoon in his mouth).
The protagonist lived on the poverty line due an early failed career infoodservice. He travelled and met a girl named Mary inChicago. He took her out dining, where she ate "like a horse" but he could not afford to pay the bill, upsetting atoothbrush-mustached waiter. The narrator was incarcerated but eventually escaped and went to see Mary inNew York City. She, however, was silent (due to the cat having her tongue). The protagonist learned that Mary was seeing an "old flame", who looks much like the stood-up waiter.
After another round of traveling, the protagonist went to make another plea to Mary. He was surprised to find her with many children, forcing her hubby to perform nonstop housework (to his chagrin). The narrator was so amused that hedied laughing. Back in Heaven, the protagonist asks if Webster has followed him. Webster stammers, due to the cat having his tongue.
About 25 seconds at the end of theMadvillain song "Strange Ways" consists of a largely continuous sample of the film.[2]