jmak_2002

As a procrastinator I finally got around to purchasing a DVD release with the Chuck Jones mid 1970's animated specials on them. "Yankee Doodle Mouse" is the one that I watched first and it was a very charming story about the Revolutionary War with a Cricket, a Mouse, and a Cat doing their bit to help the country gain it's Independence from England. Les Tremayne has the lead role of the Cricket as well as Harry. Mel Blanc has the actual starring role as Tucker the Mouse...his voice is heard the most throughout the special...as Tucker as well as a rattlesnake with a head cold and a bald eagle. June Foray has brief vocalization as a Queen bee and as lightning bug, Marsha. The animation is great for it's time (1975) and the fact that it was a made-for-TV production with no huge budget from a movie studio enables it something to behold. The overall look and design is pure Chuck Jones...and I suppose if you're not knowledgeable about American history you won't get the anachronistic humor where contemporary references come out of the mouths of those who lived in the late 1700's. I appreciate this type of ironic humor and I found "Yankee Doodle Cricket" fun to not only listen to but also watch.