Millionaire Droopy

Watched this CinemaScope cartoon on the High Society DVD. Then looked this up on IMDb and found out that Tex Avery's animation on Wags to Riches was used on this cartoon with the backgrounds changed to reflect the different size and shape of the screen. Okay, so that constitutes a rip-off since that essentially means they used the same animation from a previous short and shoe-horned it into new footage of backdrops without any info in the credits. Still, I laughed at what I saw here and it's been so long since I last watched these vintage M-G-M cartoons so on that note, Millionaire Droopy is recommended if you haven't seen the previous cartoon I mentioned here.

This cartoon is an identical copy of Wag the Dog, where the melancholy dog Droopy and his nemesis Spike battle over who keeps the fortune that a millionaire has left Droopy. It's lots of laughs seeing Spike go through so many lengths to to try to eliminate Droopy so he could have the fortune. Plenty of slapstick stuff.

This is the same cartoon as "Wags To Riches," which was distributed in 1949. I am even surprised that the folks who put out this tremendous DVD collection of Tex Avery Droopy cartoons would even add to the package, knowing it's the same cartoon we saw on the other disc in this two-disc set. In fact, as IMDb points out, Avery had nothing to do with this one. Why should he? It's the EXACT same story!

"Wags To Riches" was one of the more popular Droopy cartoons ever made, even to this day, so perhaps that's why it was re-shown in a different format to a new set a kids seven years later. This "cinemascope" was a big deal in the mid-1950s." It was something brand new as movies always had that box-shaped screens.

I did not rate this any stars as it is literally a repeat.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

As has been said, Tex Avery wasn't responsible for directing 'Millionaire Droopy', which basically just uses his drawings for 'Wags to Riches' and putting them against considerably less detailed backgrounds and in Cinemascope. 'Millionaire Droopy' is enjoyable enough but just doesn't feel necessary and just isn't the same and doesn't compare with the far more richly rewarding 'Wags to Riches'. That cartoon may not have had the most original of stories, but was incredibly well made and was far more inventive and funnier in execution.

The animation is a mixed bag. The drawings are creative as is the use of Cinemascope but some of the backgrounds look rather plain and it just lacks the care and the wonderful wackiness of the cartoon it's a remake of.

'Millionaire Droopy' is well-timed and funny, but doesn't feel as imaginative or as inspired this time round. Solid but not spectacular. The story is formulaic and lacks Avery's unique style.

However, 'Millionaire Droopy' is entertaining and enjoyable. Really liked the drawings and the way the Cinemascope was used.

Droopy's personality continues to be very well established and he is very high on the humour and charisma factors. The conflict is one that one is entertained by but feels sorry for as well, the chemistry is great. The voice acting is hard to fault. Best of all is the music score. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

Overall, vastly inferior and unnecessary but enjoyable enough. 6/10 Bethany Cox