Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Screwball Squirrel" is an animated short film from 1944, so two more years until this one has its 75th anniversary. Of course, the name "cartoon" is more accurate as it runs for slightly over 7 minutes as they usually did/do and the name of director Tex Avery is inevitably linked to the Golden Age of Cartoons back then. It's a production by MGM and looking at the production companies Hanna Barbera were also involved. I believe this is the very first of several cartoons starring Screwy Squirrel and probably also the most famous. Still, even if this cartoons is still relatively well-known today, I believe it is for a reason that Screwy has long been forgotten by almost everybody. I believe that reason is that this simply was not a funny watch by any means. There are many interesting ways in which the animators played with the audience, not just from the visual side, but also from the audible side. What we hear as soundtrack or sound effects is referenced in the film on more than one occasions. I think this is a good watch for aspiring animators because it is as fast as it is witty and creative. But it simply isn't fun really unfortunately compared to many other works by WB or Disney from that times, works that may not have been as intelligent as this one here, but were 5 times more entertaining. The train scene at the very end is the perfect example. It's just nothing remotely memorable at all when they were trying to go for fun for once. It's your choice what you prefer. I myself give this one a cautious thumbs-up. It is probably worth seeing. But just once.

Seamus2829 This was the first appearance of Screwy Squirrel, and like most of Tex Avery's animated shorts for Fred Quimby at M-G-M, filled with sight gags aplenty,along with the usual kinetic pacing that put Avery on the map. Screwy wasn't as popular as some of the other cartoon characters of the period (let's face it---Screwy is little more than Avery's answer to Bugs Bunny,like Woody Woodpecker was Walter Lanz's answer to Bugs). This short begins looking like it's going to be yet another 'Happy Harmony' short (M-G-M's answer to Disney's 'Silly Symphony' shorts,complete with cutsy woodland creatures & plots that can bring on diabetic shock),but this is flushed down the crapper fast, once Screwy makes his debut. Screwy manages to taunt a bloodhound (known as Meathead)for almost all of the short (with some pretty sadistic,but funny results). Toss in a sprinkle of Avery's use of surrealism, and you have yourself a laugh fest. Aired at various times on Cartoon Network's sister station, Boomerang, or on one of several early M-G-M Avery DVD's.

tedg I'm interested in how we imagine as a society, so study movies. I'm increasingly convinced that many of the cleverest folding ideas were introduced first through shorts, specifically cartoons. They were cheaper to produce and wouldn't drag down the bill if they failed.1944 is a bit late in the game for the history of folding, so the experiments have to be outrageous.This is. Superficially, it is a chase cartoon where the plucky small creature outwits and pummels the bigger, dumber one. I understand that the form was mandated by funders. Ignore it.Much more interesting is how Tex wrapped that in a selfaware perspective.It starts with a fight for control of the cartoon, one character saying: "what kind of cartoon is this anyway?"Midway in the chase, the little guy — the squirrel — asks what the next scene will be, and literally lifts the page to see the cartoon underneath.Near the end, the big dumb guy says that he's had enough and the cartoon is over. That shrinking iris effect begins, but the little guy begs for some more time. He makes a promise which is of course broken.At the real end of the thing, the little guy comes on stage to talk to the audience and reveals that he was able to perform all those tricks because he had a twin. The final joke is that the big dog had one too (about which the screwy squirrel was unaware.)Important stuff. Funny, engaging.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

Joseph P. Ulibas Screwball Squirrel (1944) has to be the greatest single cartoon character ever created. If Tex Avery is forever to be remembered for one thing, it's this creation. He stretched the bounds of decency (and sanity) with this cartoon. No matter what came beforehand or afterwards, animation was never the same again.This was the first in several animated shorts based upon Screwy a.k.a. Screwball Squirrel. The cartoon opens up with a thumper like character frolicking through the woods. He happens to come across the title character. He takes the rabbit by the hand and cold cocks him offscreen and hijacks the show. A collection of sight gags, pratfalls and a lot of physical abuse takes place during the rest of the show. A real funny short that has to be seen to be believed. Take note that the show was created during the height of World War II so a lot of humor from that era is worked into the short. But besides the nitpicking it's truly a classic character and an extremely funny one at that. Watch Tex Avery change the face of animation forever.Highly recommended!A+It's going to be real hard to find an unedited copy of this short. Just keep your eyes open and you'll find it!