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WARNER BROTHERS D
CARTOON COMPANION
by E.O. Costello DAFFY DUCK
----------------- In some respects, Daffy deserves top billing over his
arch-rival, Bugs Bunny. To begin with, he has seniority
Introduction over Bugs -- his first cartoon, Porky's Duck Hunt (Avery,
1937) predates A Wild Hare (Avery, 1940) by some three
Glossary years. Equally important, the little black duck has
demonstrated an amazing range, thanks to the fact that he
Alphabetical has been used by a wide variety of Warner Brothers
Listings directors. From the wild "whooo-hoo" hysteria of Bob
Clampett in films such as The Daffy Doc (1938), to the
A / B / C / D / E shifty-eyed scheming of Chuck Jones best exemplified in the
/ F / G / H / I / so-called "Hunter's Trilogy", ranging through countless
J / K / L / M / N superb Freleng, Tashlin and McKimson cartoons in-between,
/ O / P / Q / R / and even through some of Norm McCabe's better shorts, Daffy
S / T / U / V / W has proven to be the most enduring character of the Warner
/ X / Y / Z Brothers cartoon studio. Avery may have actually created
the character, but it was Clampett who made him
unforgettable. Each of Daffy's subsequent directors has
further added to the complexity of the character.
His "thloppy" lisp is said to have been based on that of
producer Leon Schlesinger, in an act of unusual daring and
defiance by the Termite Terrace staff. Schlesinger, legend
has it, not only failed to reconise the source, but
actually enthused about "the funny voithe."
DAFFY PULL
According to Funnyworld #17, this was the working title of
Chuck Jones' classic Duck Amuck (1953).
"DAISY JUNE"
Girlfriend of Red Skelton's character, Clem Kaddidlehopper.
DALTON, CAL
Long-time animator with the studio through the 1930s and
1940s, Dalton teamed up with Ben "Bugs" Hardaway as a
co-director in the late 1930s, during the period when Friz
Freleng left Warner Brothers for MGM. Dalton's best-known
cartoon with Hardaway is Hare-Um Scare-Um (1939), which
features an early prototype of Bugs Bunny. Dalton also
teamed up with Cal Howard to direct two cartoons, Porky's
Phoney Express and A Lad In Bagdad (both 1938). Dalton
would continue animating for Tashlin, during his second
directorship, and later for Tashlin's successor, Robert
McKimson in cartoons such as Hollywood Canine Canteen
(1946). Dalton also received story credit for The Sneezing
Weasel (Avery, 1938).
Dalton may be the "Cal" referred to in the list of pigeons
on the blackboard in Plane Daffy (Tashlin, 1944). Dalton
animated for Tashlin during this era, receiving animating
credit for Puss 'n' Booty (1943). "Dirty Dalton" is one of
the dogs listed in Bosko's Dog Race (Harman/Ising, 1932).
DANDRIDGE, VIVIAN
African-American actress, singer, and dancer -- sister of
Dorothy Dandridge. Dandridge provided the voice and may
also have been the model for the character So White --
labeled Coal Black on some model sheets -- in Coal Black
and De Sebben Dwarfs (Clampett, 1943). Her mother, Ruby
Dandridge, played the role of Queenie in the film. (See
next entry.) Prince Chawmin' was played by Zoot Watson.
DANDRIDGE, RUBY
(1900-1987)
African-American actress, mother of Vivian Dandridge. (See
previous entry.) Played the role of Queenie in Coal Black
and De Sebben Dwarfs (Clampett, 1943). She also had notable
roles on The Judy Canova Show, Beulah, and also appeared in
a number of live-action films.
----------------- DAUNCH, BILL
Introduction Story writer for Warner Brothers whose sole credit is a
co-writing credit with Tedd Pierce for the Gerry Chiniquy
Glossary cartoon Hawaiian Aye Aye (1964).
Alphabetical
Listings DAVID BUTLAIRE
A / B / C / D / E Director of the film being shot in the Pepe le Pew short
/ F / G / H / I / Past Perfumance (Jones, 1955). Possibly a spoof of David
J / K / L / M / N Butler.
/ O / P / Q / R /
S / T / U / V / W
/ X / Y / Z DAVIS, ARTHUR
(d. 2000)
-----------------
Veteran journeyman animator who played a long-running role
at Warner Brothers, directing there for a while in the
1940s. Davis originally came to the studio with Frank
Tashlin when the latter took over from Norm McCabe. Davis
had previously been at Columbia Screen Gems, where he
co-directed The Little Match Girl (1937) and worked on the
long-running series of cartoons starring Scrappy. Davis'
first work at Schleisinger's was on a number of Tashlin
cartoons. Scrap Happy Daffy (1943) and Brother Brat (1944)
are two of the cartoons for which Davis received animation
credit.
When Robert Clampett left Warner Brothers in 1945, Davis
took over his unit, completing a few cartoons which were
already in production -- most notably The Goofy Gophers
(1947), for which Clampett had already recorded the
dialogue.
Although most of his cartoons lack the polished appearance
of some of his colleagues' contemporaneous efforts, Arthur
Davis succeeded in turning out a good number of very
solidly funny cartoons. He was greatly assisted in this by
writers Bill Scott and Lloyd Turner.
The Davis cartoons featuring Daffy Duck were particularly
good. The closing gag of What Makes Daffy Duck? (1948)
features sign-switching for the changing hunting seasons,
and may have inspired the later so-called "Hunter's
Trilogy" of Chuck Jones. Davis' sole Bugs Bunny cartoon,
Bowery Bugs (1949), takes place in Davis's home town of New
York, and manages to have Bugs come across very nicely as a
rascally con-artist, duping Steve Brodie and eventually
forcing him to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge. Brodie, who
had been a saloon keeper, was a real-life character of
gaslight-era New York who supposedly jumped from the Bridge
in one of the most vivid legends of that city, a legend
with which Davis would certainly have been familiar.
Davis, alas, fell victim to the cost-cutting that wracked
Hollywood after the so-called "Paramount Decrees" which
broke up the close integration between production,
distribution, and exhibition that large studios like Warner
Brothers had depended upon. Davis, as the junior man of the
four-director rotation, lost his unit, which was broken up.
Davis emerged later as one of top animators in the Freleng
unit throughout the 1950s, and animated for many of the
classic Sylvester-Tweety battles.
With the coming of the 1960s, and the gradual spreading of
director jobs to top unit men, Davis got to direct one last
cartoon at Warner Brothers, Quackodile Tears (1962). After
the closure of the Warner Brothers cartoon studio, Davis
did some work with Sid Marcus, with whom he had worked at
Screen Gems and Warner Brothers, as well as on some of the
later Woody Woodpecker cartoons for the Lantz studio.
Along with Warren Foster, Davis received story credit for
Sandy Claws (Freleng, 1955). Solomon, in discussing Bob
McKimson, mentions the relative lack of study given to his
cartoons, noting that only Davis is studied less. Too bad
-- those who do not study the cartoons of Arthur Davis are
missing out on some of the most consistently funny and
underrated cartoons ever made at the studio.
DAVIS, BETTE
----------------- (1908-1989)
Introduction The leading lady of Warner Brothers during the thirties and
forties (one nickname for her was "The Fifth Warner
Glossary Brother") who was noted for having stormy relations with
production head Jack Warner. Davis nearly won an Oscar in
Alphabetical 1934 on a write-in vote for her role as the nasty waitress
Listings in Of Human Bondage, and did win for a less consequential
role in the tearjerker Dangerous in 1935. She won another
A / B / C / D / E Oscar for her role in Jezebel in 1938, and gave a memorable
/ F / G / H / I / performance in All About Eve (1950). Davis holds the record
J / K / L / M / N for Oscar nominations, according to Katz, with ten. Davis
/ O / P / Q / R / was best known for playing hard-nosed selfish women in a
S / T / U / V / W number of tearjerkers.
/ X / Y / Z
Davis herself is caricatured wonderfully, reprising her
----------------- role in The Petrified Forest (1936) with Leslie Howard in
She Was An Acrobat's Daughter (Freleng, 1937), and again
quite well in Hollywood Daffy (Freleng, 1936). Davis is
caricatured in what appears to be her role opposite Errol
Flynn in The Private Life of Elizabeth and Essex in Malibu
Beach Party (Freleng, 1940). Bugs does a tearjerker turn in
The Big Snooze (Clampett, 1946), attempting to convince
Elmer Fudd not to quit cartoons, pausing briefly to comment
to the audience that Bette Davis was going to hate him for
it. Davis is also seen in The Coo-coo Nut Grove (Freleng,
1936). Daffy attempts to lure Porky away from the cartoon
business by dangling the prospect of being leading man
opposite Davis in You Ought to Be in Pictures (Freleng,
1940). A table for Davis is reserved at Ciro's (one of the
great Hollywood hotspots of the 30s and 40s) in Hollywood
Steps Out (Avery, 1941), next to the one for Kate Smith.
DAWES, WARDEN LEWIS
Note: Some sources refer to him as Lawes, not Dawes.
A well-known law enforcement figure of the 1930s, Dawes was
the author of 20,000 Years In Sing Sing, a book that drew
extensively on his career as warden of the infamous Sing
Sing prison in New York State. The book itself is referred
to at the end of Speaking of the Weather (Tashlin, 1937),
when it is used to trap the villain.
Warden Paws in Bars and Stripes Forever (Hardaway/Dalton,
1939) is a parody of both Dawes and Hugh Herbert.
DEANNA TERRAPIN
Caricature of Deanna Durbin in The Woods Are Full of
Cuckoos (Tashlin, 1937).
deHAVILAND, OLIVIA
(1916 - fl. 1995)
The sister of actress Joan Fontaine, de Havilland is best
known for her roles opposite Errol Flynn (Adventures of
Robin Hood and others) and her Oscar-nominated roles in
Gone With the Wind, Hold Back the Dawn and The Snake Pit.
de Havilland was also the actress responsible for the
lawsuit that resulted in a landmark decision that set the
outside limit of a studio-player contract at seven years,
including suspension periods, striking a blow to the old
studio system.
de Havilland, or rather, "de Haviwwand", is one of the
three guesses made by Elmer Fudd as to who is covering his
eyes in A Wild Hare (Avery, 1940).
DeLARA, PHIL
Animator of the 1940s and 1950s at Warner Brothers,
principally in the McKimson unit. DeLara also received
story credit for Quack Shot (McKimson, 1954).
DETIEGE, DAVE
Story writer for Warner Brothers starting in the early
----------------- 1960s. Credits include:
Introduction + Birds of A Father (McKimson, 1961)
+ Compressed Hare (Jones, 1961)
Glossary + Prince Violent (Freleng, 1961)
+ Daffy's Inn Trouble (McKimson, 1961)
Alphabetical + The Last Hungry Cat (with John Dunn for Friz Freleng,
Listings 1961)
+ Nelly's Folly (with Chuck Jones for Jones, 1961)
A / B / C / D / E + Wet Hare (McKimson, 1962)
/ F / G / H / I / + Good Noose (McKimson, 1962)
J / K / L / M / N + The Million Hare (McKimson, 1963)
/ O / P / Q / R /
S / T / U / V / W DEVINE, ANDY
/ X / Y / Z (1905-1977)
----------------- Supporting player on the Jack Benny radio program,
especially as the deputy to the Buck Benny sheriff
character. Devine was a sidekick to Roy Rogers, and had a
popular children's program of his own in the late 1950s,
Andy's Gang, part of its run on NBC. Devine also played an
old marine carpenter in the first season of Flipper in
1964. Devine had a distinctive off-key, off-kilter, raspy
voice which was used to advantage is a number of Warner
Brothers cartoons, including:
+ My Little Buckaroo (Freleng, 1938) has as its star a
pig version of Devine as a sheriff, singing in an
off-key voice.
+ The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos (Tashlin, 1937) as Andy
Bovine in a brief sketch with Jack Bunny.
+ Malibu Beach Party (Freleng, 1940), walking up the walk
of the Benny beach house, after Bette Davis.
+ Slap Happy Pappy (Clampett, 1940), as the chicken at
the gravel box.
One of the writers for the Benny show, Milt Josefsberg,
notes that the Devine greeting of "Hiya, Buck" -- used in
the last three cartoons -- became a national catchphrase.
DICK TRACY
Comic strip detective created by Chester Gould who reached
the height of his popularity in the thirties and forties,
even to the extent of appearing in movie serials. The comic
strip was famous for elaborately designed villains, such as
Flattop Jones, The Blank, and Pruneface -- referred to by
Bugs in The Old Grey Hare (Clampett, 1944) and Daffy in
Porky Pig's Feat (Tashlin, 1943) -- whose physiques matched
their monikers. Bugs parodies this when, after causing a
little accident to Sir Pantsalot of Dropseat Manor in
Knights Must Fall (Freleng, 1949), he refers to him as
"Accordian Head".
The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (Clampett, 1946) is easily the
most prominent Warner Brothers spoof, with Daffy Duck
starring as "Duck Twacy" opposite a whole series of goony
criminals with names and physiques like "Pickle Puss,"
"Neon Noodle," "Jukebox Jaw," "88 Teeth" (based on 88
Keyes, a murderous pianist in the comic strip), "Double
Header," "Hammerhead," "Pussycat Puss," "Wolfman,"
"Rubberhead" (the one who threatens to rub Daffy out -- and
does so), "Pumpkinhead," "The Human Fly," and "Mouseman".
One that apparently got cut from the final film was "The
Nostril," who was supposed to say the line "You mugs stay
here, I gotta blow!". In addition, Flattop Jones from the
strip makes an appearance, his head put to punning use as a
"flat-top" aircraft carrier.
Other references to Dick Tracy are seen in Easter Yeggs
(McKimson, 1947) with Fudd's Dick Tracy hat, Elmer's Pet
Rabbit (Jones, 1941) with Fudd perusing the comics, and
Farm Frolics (Clampett, 1941) with the farm dog also
perusing the comics.
DOBERMAN
One of the gags in Dog Tales (McKimson, 1958) involves a
Doberman pincher (pun). The Doberman is the character Duane
Doberman, played by Maurice Gosfield on The Phil Silvers
Show.
-----------------
Introduction DR. CHRISTIAN
Glossary Character on a popular radio show of the 1930s through
1950s, played by Jean Hersholt. The character is parodied
Alphabetical in Patient Porky (Clampett, 1940) as "Dr. Chris Chun", a
Listings kindly owl.
A / B / C / D / E
/ F / G / H / I / DR. KILDARE
J / K / L / M / N
/ O / P / Q / R / Popular MGM movie series featuring a caring, crusading
S / T / U / V / W doctor. A rather nutso cat in Patient Porky (Clampett,
/ X / Y / Z 1940) decides to take on this character, posing as "Dr.
Chilled Air", to operate on Porky -- experience,
----------------- apparently, not being necessary in what passes for his
mind.
DODDS HATS
Fifth Avenue hatmaker who made the hat (size 107 1/4) worn
by the Giant in Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (Freleng,
1943). Dobbs was a real-life hat store on Fifth Avenue at
this time.
DODSWORTH
Even by feline standards, this cat is a lazy, stupid, fat,
corrupt slob. He likes to eat, but the notion of work is
too much for him, since no one in his lineage has worked
for ages. Instead, he relies on a tiny, cross-eyed,
airheaded kitten to get either mice or a bird for him, in
Kiddin' the Kitten (McKimson, 1952) and A Peck O' Trouble
(McKimson, 1953). This is usually done by the means of
teaching (ha) the kitten how to do it, usually by the
experience method. Dodsworth may be antiheroic, but the
cartoons are quite funny. Beck and Friedwald note that he
sounds like Sheldon Leonard. Other sources indicate that it
was, in fact, Leonard who provided the voice.
"DOES YOUR TOBACCO TASTE DIFFERENT LATELY?"
Tobacco advertising tag-line used twice by Friz Freleng,
once in Herr Meets Hare (1945) with Bugs dressed as Joseph
Stalin and puffing his characteristic pipe, and again in
Baseball Bugs (1946), in which the force of a Bugsian line
drive smacks a cigar-smoking outfielder into a billboard
showing the slogan. A variation is used in the Mr. Sailor
Hook cartoon Tokyo Woes as well.
"DON'T EVER DO THAT!"
Catchphrase of Joe Penner, usually quite drawn out. A
classic usage in a Warner Brothers cartoons can be seen in
Farm Frolics (Clampett, 1941), in which a weasel is
startled by the sudden hatching of a clutch of chicks.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL!"
Some sources have reported that this line was supposed to
be said by the mother pig to her "son" the baby alligator
in Baby Bottleneck (Clampett, 1946) as the critter is about
to feed with his siblings. The reference, as well as the
reason it was cut, are probably obvious. The cut itself is
quite noticeable.
This may have been a play on the well-known opening to the
then-current CBS radio program Blondie, which was, in turn,
based on the comic strip.
"[I/HE] DOOD IT"
Catch-phrase of Red Skelton's character Junior, the Mean
Widdle Kid. Usually said just before or after some bit of
mayhem. Used in such cartoons as Fifth Column Mouse
(Freleng, 1943). Used in Skeltonesque situations in Case of
----------------- the Missing Hare (Jones, 1942) when Bugs, just before
pasting Ala Bahma with a pie, says, "If I dood it, I get a
Introduction whippin -- I dood it!" as well as in The Impatient Patient
(McCabe, 1942).
Glossary
Alphabetical DOOLITTLE, GEN. JAMES
Listings (1896-1993)
A / B / C / D / E Daring aviator who came to great public favor as the leader
/ F / G / H / I / of a B-25 bomber air raid on Tokyo in April, 1942,
J / K / L / M / N immortalized in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. Porky, while
/ O / P / Q / R / giving directions to outgoing storks in Baby Bottleneck
S / T / U / V / W (Clampett, 1946) makes reference to a "Jimmy
/ X / Y / Z Do-Quite-a-Little."
----------------- It should also be noted that one gag cut from most prints
shown today of The Blitz Wolf (Avery, MGM, 1942) shows
Tokyo getting shelled, with a sign reading "Doolittle Dood
It". The cartoon also shows a newspaper with a reference to
the "whippin" line.
DOUGHERTY, JOE
(d. 1978)
The original voice of Porky Pig. Schneider notes that
Dougherty was replaced by Mel Blanc, partly because
Dougherty could not control his stutter. A rare photo of
him can be seen in Funnyworld #17. He was also the voice of
the stuttering character in Into Your Dance (Freleng,
1935), according to Keith Scott in Animato #37. He appears
in a number of minor live-action roles in the Warner
Brothers Vitaphone films.
DROWNING
The legend about going down for the third time is used in
both Aloha Hooey (Avery/Clampett, 1942) and Fresh Airedale
(Jones, 1945). The characters who are going under signal
with their fingers the number of times they have come up,
and then make a gesture, either waving a would-be rescuer
to them or waving good-bye. Cecil Adams, in his book The
Straight Dope, indicates that the legend is untrue, and
makes a sardonic reference to its use in animation, noting
that "cartoons... are not normally regarded as a source of
reliable medical insight".
DUFFY'S TAVERN
Long-running radio show starring Ed Gardner that took place
in, naturally, a tavern, where Duffy himself never put in
an appearance.
The characters from Duffy's Tavern were spoofed in Hush My
Mouse (Jones, 1945), in one of the many examples of
borrowing from radio in cartoons. Archie, the Manager, is
accurately spoofed down to the malapropisms, as is the
character of the half-wit Clifton Finnegan, played by
Charlie Cantor on radio. One of the motifs of the program
was a visit from a star playing himself, hence the
appearance by the Edward G. Robinson-type character. "When
Irish Eyes Are Smiling" was the theme song of the show, and
it is used here too, as is the famous opening with Archie
speaking on the phone.
DUMBO
Flying elephant in the 1941 Disney feature of the same
name. Clampett makes sure that the little elephant who is
being carried off by one of the buzzards in The Bashful
Buzzard (1945) will not be confused with Dumbo by placing a
large sign on the elephant indicating that he is NOT Dumbo.
DUNN, JOHN
Story writer for Warner Brothers starting in the early
1960s. Credits include:
+ The Pied Piper of Guadalupe (Freleng, 1961)
+ Beep Prepared (Jones, 1961)
+ The Last Hungry Cat (with Dave Detiege for Friz
Freleng, 1961)
+ Quackodile Tears (with Carl Kohler for Davis, 1962)
+ Bill of Hare (McKimson, 1962)
+ Shishkabugs (Freleng, 1962)
+ I Was A Teenage Thumb (Jones, 1963)
+ To Beep or Not To Beep (Jones, 1963)
+ Now Hear This (Jones, 1963)
+ The Unmentionables (Freleng, 1963)
+ Transylvania 6-5000 (Jones, 1963)
+ False Hare (McKimson, 1964)
+ Senorella and the Glass Huarache (Pratt, 1964)
Prior to his work at Warner Brothers, Dunn had been a
writer at the Disney studio. After the Warner Brothers
studio shut down, Dunn worked for DePatie-Freleng, where he
wrote The Pink Phink (1964), which won an Academy Award.
DURANTE, JIMMY
(1893-1980)
Affectionately known as "Schnozzola", Durante had a long
career in Vaudeville, then on Broadway, in radio, and on
film. Durante delighted in twisting words into silly
malapropisms, and signing in a raspy, gravelly voice. His
trademark line was "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you
are!". "Umbriago" was another well-known catchphrase of
his.
Durante is caricatured on the cover of "So Big" in Book
Revue (Clampett, 1945) with the nonpareil nose that trips
the villainous wolf. He is shown as one of the roosters
auditioning for a job in The Swooner Crooner (Tashlin,
1944) singing "Lullabye of Broadway". He also appears as
"Schnauzer Durante" in Hollywood Canine Canteen (McKimson,
1946).
He appears twice in Hollywood Daffy (Freleng, 1946): once
poking out of a dressing room built to accommodate his
nose. He ruefully points to a bear trap on his foot, which
he indicates he has acquired in an unsuccessful attempt to
get into Ann Sheridan's dressing room next door, remarking
to the audience that "those are the conditions that
prevail." He is also impersonated by Daffy in an attempt to
get past the studio cop at the gate.
In Little Red Rodent Hood (Freleng, 1952), Sylvester gives
a Durante-ish "Everybody wants to get into the act" in a
gag reprised from Little Red Riding Rabbit (Freleng, 1944),
with the ersatz Grandmas under the pillow.
Characters based on Durante can be seen in The Gruesome
Twosome (Clampett, 1945) as the big-nosed cat, and as a
drunken stork in Baby Bottleneck (Clampett, 1946). In the
latter cartoon, the stork gives out with an "Umbriago,"
which is also used in Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears
(Freleng, 1944). The boxing coach cat in Hoppy Daze
(McKimson, 1961) is a Durante take-off, too, since Hoppy
closes the cartoon with a Durante "hot-cha-cha-cha!".
DURBIN, DEANNA
(1921-fl. 1995)
Youthful singer given credit for saving Universal Studios
from bankruptcy in the 1930s with musicals based on her
marvelous singing voice and her wholesome sweetness. Durbin
is caricatured as "Deanna Terrapin" in The Woods Are Full
of Cuckoos (Tashlin, 1937), and again, singing a soprano
solo, in Malibu Beach Party (Freleng, 1940). The same solo
would be used in Back Alley Oproar (Freleng, 1948).
DUVALL, EARL
One of the handful of people brought in to direct cartoons
subsequent to the departure of Hugh Harman and Rudolph
Ising, yet before the rise of Avery, Tashlin, Clampett,
Jones, and others of their generation. His work for the
studio is rather undistinguished, and has largely been
forgotten. He directed only four cartoons.
Filmography:
+ Buddy's Beer Garden (1933)
+ Buddy's Show Boat (1933)
+ Sittin' on a Backyard Fence (1933)
+ Honeymoon Hotel (1934)
Honeymoon Hotel does have the distinction of being the
studio's first color cartoon. Duvall has one other major
distinction, though it predates his work at Schlesinger's
studio: namely that when he worked for Disney, he produced
the first Mickey Mouse Sunday comic strip page.
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This page was originally maintained by Stephen Worth. Thanks to John
K. for funding its production. Preserved by Kip Williams and restored
in 2014 by Harry McCracken.
The Warner Brothers Cartoon Companion is Copyright (c) 1996-1998 E. O.
Costello. All rights reserved.