Cuidado con mis Ovejas

"Don't Give Up the Sheep" is the first of several cartoons involving a faithful sheepdog continually outsmarting Wiley Coyote (though the IMDb summary says he's a wolf). In many ways, it's just a slight variation on the Roadrunner cartoons--but this time the coyote's quarry actually fights back physically. It's all clever but only slightly innovative. In fact, while I did enjoy this cartoon, I don't think it called for repeated follow-up cartoons in the series.

As far as the technical aspects go, the backgrounds for this one are VERY simple--and awfully ugly by Warner Brothers standards. It looks like they were imitating the UPA type of graphics here--which some love and which I hate because they just are too simple and represent (to me) a major step backwards in cartoon quality.

Chuck Jones, in addition to both working with solidly established stars such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck and doing one-shot cartoons like Martian Through Georgia, did some thematic groupings of short using continuing characters in a small number of cartoons. Ralph and Sam, a sheepdog and wolf, were one of these. The series is one of the better ones as far as I'm concerned. The concept of protector versus predator as a 9 to 5 job just amuses me no end. This particular short isn't the best of the lot (there were seven all told and I believe this was the first of them) but all of them are quite fun and are well worth watching. Recommended.

In the first pairing of Sam Sheepdog (here named Ralph) and Ralph Wolf (here anonymous), the latter constantly tries to snatch the sheep but the former always foils him, even when not too wise to the wolf's plans. I will say that I sort of predicted what would happen in the scene where they kept chopping the tree and cliff, but the truth is that nothing can weaken a cartoon like this. "Don't Give Up the Sheep" is a formidable part of cartoon history (only Chuck Jones could create a cartoon where a sheepdog works punch-clock shifts). Still, a later cartoon where they both punched the clock made the idea a little neater, what with how it raised the stakes.

Don't Give Up the Sheep (1953)

**** (out of 4)

Sam Sheepdog (named Ralph in this film) clocks into work and right away Wile E. Coyote (not the name used here) is trying to steal the sheep. Sam has to stay wide awake because Wile has a lot of stuff up his sleeve. This is an excellent cartoon full of great laughs and violent action. Even though he isn't address as Wile, it's clear who the character is suppose to be and I must admit that I think his character here is a lot better than any of the match ups against the Road Runner. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Road Runner series but for my money this film is flawless. The running gag of sawing through the tree is priceless as are the many attempts to steal the sheep. The coyote also takes a pretty big beating throughout the film, which is always fun to watch.

There's no flies on Sam Sheepdog, don't even bother trying to fool him because he can see through ALL your little tricks.

Wile E. Coyote, taking a break from trying to catch that pesky Roadrunner, spies his long suspended dinner in a flock of sheep grazing happily in a field. Unfortunately for him, Sam has just started his shift and he isn't going to make it easy for him.

A series of brilliant gags follow, all of them utter genius, as Coyote goes to more and more ridiculous measures to obtain his main course. Ending in a surprise twist that will leave you in stitches.

A very funny, very clever cartoon.