Private Eye Pooch

. . . is the focus of PRIVATE EYE POOCH. Taxidermy has been a focal point for animal abuse since its inception, with historical figures including Darwin and Audubon rampaging wildly against anything that moved. Chuck E. Darwin stuffed dodo birds into extinction. J. J. Audubon branched out beyond birds to Hottentots, famously presenting a woman's derriere to a Parisian museum. Only today are ornithologists distancing themselves from J. J. due to his many crimes against humanity. Some of America's backwards Red States still require their youth to dissect frogs in science class, which has long been a gateway activity toward the descent onto Perdition Road and total depravity through taxidermy.

I really like most of 1955-1961 Woody episodes, they are very good, funny, masterpiece and one of my favorites. But unfortunately, Private Eye Pooch is one of the few episodes from this period that was very weak, and not one of my favorites.

This episode is the first appearance of Professor Dingledong, he was more funny in processor episodes.

Most of this episode, a dog is chasing Woody, but always fails.

The gags of this episode are not that funny, the animation is good, the music is ok, but not very good, but not also bad.

In the end, a not very good but not very bad cartoon, but at least this episode is not in the same level of Southbound Duckling and What's Peckin'. 5/10

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

Most of Woody's previous efforts were good to classic. Sadly 'Private Eye Pooch', part of a period where the Woody Woodpecker cartoons and Lantz studios in general declined, is not one of them. Watchable, but very average and pretty bland. The best things about 'Private Eye Pooch' are the music and Woody. The music, courtesy of Clarence Wheeler, characterful, lushly orchestrated and is not only dynamic with the action it even enhances it.

As for Woody, the writers clearly understood that Woody works best as a fun-loving pest and there are shades of his manic persona that was starting to get toned down. A few nice colours here and there and a couple of moments raise a smile. Grace Stafford does a good job as Woody.

However, the dog character is neither a funny or interesting partner for Woody, bland for my tastes actually. The chemistry between the two just never gels and for all Woody's efforts feels too subdued.

Despite having moments, the animation and gags are a long way from how they fared in previous cartoons. Apart from some nice colours, most of the animation is rushed-looking and ugly with attention to detail scattershot. Most of the gags are barely amusing, let alone hilarious, let down by very limp timing and that the gags themselves are as stale as out of date bread.

One doesn't see Woody Woodpecker cartoons for their stories, the one here has no energy or surprises, best forgotten. Paul J. Smith can be competent, not all his cartoons are awful (the worst of them, of which 'Private Eye Pooch' is actually a long way from being, are) but there is no spark to be found here.

Instead, much of 'Private Eye Pooch' feels dull and lazy but it has moments. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Woody during the 50's had some great cartoons, with very few of them being mediocre or even outright terrible. Only real stinker being "Square Shooting Square". This short, "Private eye pooch", is mostly just the usual Woody antics, but on the upper end of them. Animation here is well done, with nice colors and solid backgrounds. The pooch character is more than serviceable, but not all that memorable. However, he's not really annoying or unfitting here either. Woody here has got some great energy, almost like Bugs Bunny's sly seamer and calm sadistic side. The antics here between Woody and the pooch also seem a bit more inspired, with overall good timing and a couple surprising moments here and there that help to keep the cartoon fresh. This all is pretty typical until the ending. Woody buddying up with the pooch was an unexpected turn, and is a really welcome addition. This alone, alongside the better timed gags, helps to elevate this one to an 8/10. Even without those additions, this would still be a solid, if unremarkable short from Lantz. All in all, give it a watch, it's a solid time!