Dumb-Hounded

In March 1943's "Dumb-Hounded," the MGM Tex Avery-directed cartoon introduced the character Droopy, a sleepy-eyed basset hound who wasn't christened by his well-known name until his fifth film, 1949's 'Senor Droopy.' The dog was a departure to Avery's earlier more energetic personalities such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, with Droopy possessing a slow, lethargic manner, including his distinctive monotonic voice. Droopy was first spoken by actor Bill Thompson, whose distinctive voice was the character Wallace Wimple's in the popular radio comedy 'Fibber McGee and Molly.' After Thompson enlisted in WW2, several actors, including Avery, assumed the voice of the hound in Droopy's 24 original cartoons.

In "Dumb-Hounded," Droopy's introduction sees him trailing a pack of bloodhounds chasing an escaped convict in the form of a wolf. Droopy's first words, spoken into the camera, are "Hello, all you happy people-you know what? I'm the hero." The hound continually frustrates the wolf by turning up at the world's most remotest locations, including the North Pole, before the escapee does. Film reviewer Dave Sindelar observed, "Most of the humor involves the juxtaposition of Droopy's terse one-liners with the wolf's extreme reactions and reality-bending attempts to get away." Droopy's appearances in MGM cartoons ended in 1957 when the studio shuttered its animation department. But incarnations of Droopy continued to be seen on television, appearing on the Cartoon Network and in 'The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show.' Droopy also has had a number of feature film cameos, including 1988's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

The first Droopy cartoon is a great one. He's a simple, calm, and slow yet witty dog that is sharp as nails. He drives a escaped convict crazy, showing up in every place the convict tries to escape to.

It's non-stop fun and laughter, sure to bring smiles to everyone's faces. It's absolutely entertaining!

Grade A

He inspired Kricfalusi and some plots on "I Love Lucy" as well as making kids and adults giggle he gave us all our ration of unlimited animation may Red Hot Riding Hood forever jiggle! This is my all-time favorite of Avery's MGM period..one joke, over and over, with the most incredible takes in the entire animation field..watch and see who REALLY was responsible for the icons at Warner's. You don't need Freudian analysis to see the raw sex and violence in everything he did, it's right out in the open, screamingly funny, unbridled by the mores of his day or any other. Evergreen, timeless, and inspirational.

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.

Also have much admiration for Tex Avery, an animation genius whose best cartoons are animated masterpieces and some of the best he ever did. Generally like the Droopy cartoons and the character himself a lot, his best cartoons are classics and among Avery's best. 'Dumb-Hounded' is a remarkable debut for Droopy and to this day is among his better cartoons. Droopy looks different in 'Dumb-Hounded, but for so early on his personality is so well established and he has everything that makes him a great character in the first place.

Luckily the Wolf is a very worthy foil, with just as interesting and funny a personality as Droopy. What could have been a tired one-joke cartoon turned out to be an endlessly inventive and hysterically funny in typical Avery-style cartoon.

Tex Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it once again.

'Dumb-Hounded' is over-the-top in a wonderful way, a long way from dumb (in fact very clever), creative and full of inspired visual gags and hilariously droll asides and puns. There is enough variety to stop it from being repetitious.

It's beautifully and brilliantly animated as usual. The character designs are unique, Avery always did have creative character designs, and suitably fluid. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed.

Voice acting is very good from Bill Thompson and Frank Graham.

Overall, classic Droopy debut that makes one happy, that always entertains and never insults the viewer. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Droopy is omnipresent. He never says much or does much--he is just there. When the escaped convict wolf meets him, he doesn't need to do anything. His very presence is enough. Tex Avery pulls out all the stops here with his vibrating, eye popping animation.