Self Defense... for Cowards

While watching Gene Deitch cartoons, like Tom and Jerry and Popeye and being entertained, I found this in his credits and was intrigued by the title. This is a hilarious cartoon, aimed at the theatrical release market and late night TV I guess, (not for kids daytime TV). Not that a child couldn't be entertained, but the short is all about surviving and not getting beaten up. So it's not a children's topic. IMO. Although, I must confess, the fist fights I have been in all my life (now past 60 years old) were all as a pre-teen and teenager (and a couple of times in my 20s, lol). Watch it and decide for yourself if these cartoon stories are crazy or funny because they are based on maybe your real life. Of the few fist fights I was in, at least 3 of these things happened either by myself or by the other person, lol. 10 stars, made me laugh more then once.

Arthur Treacher (who often played a butler) is the narrator of this delightful "how to" feature. It shows how the average little guy can defend himself against attack from a bully, twice his size. Each is creative, and, to some extent, realistic. The one that I heard once was to throw up on their shoes. Although, that would take a bit of extra work.

This short, nominated for an Academy Award, is precisely what its title indicates-an instruction on how to defend oneself if one is a coward. As a President Emeritus of The Coward's Guild (I was President three times running-literally), I cannot advocate physical defense as the wisest personal reaction (I prefer being elsewhere-as far as possible), but the "instructions" doubtless will work.

The selection of Arthur Treacher as narrator was a stroke of genius. This is one of four in a series of "Self-help" shorts made by Rembrandt Films. All four are on Rembrandt Films Greatest Hits and are all very good indeed. Well worth getting. Most highly recommended.