Little 'Tinker

OTHER THAN THE central character of a love starved skunk who has no problem with trans-species relationships, there is nothing to distinguish this entry into MGM's animation department. That's no to say that it isn't interesting, enjoyable and full of yuks, for it is.

FILLING THE ONE reel of cartoon with such a slim premise is made possible with Director Avery's inclusion of multiple examples of two of his favorite tools. Those would be the sight gag and its literary cousin, the play on words or "pun", if you will.

WELL, ANYWAY THE cartoon was not meant to be the main event; but rather a sort of warm up for the movie going public of the day. It was supposed to get the program progressing along to the feature film in a happy, ,receptive mood.

AND WE BELIEVE that Mr. Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery did well achieve this end!

B. O. Skunk can't get the stink off. It makes it impossible to get any girl. He uses one Frankie suit and starts crooning like Frank Sinatra. At first, it works like a charm and all the girls swoon.

This is Pepé Le Pew without the aggressive inappropriate sexual conduct. That makes him much better especially in today's climate. The Frank Sinatra bit is a dated but it's of a time. B. O. Is a good character although his name is horrible. Pepé has him beat on that front.

A skunk tries to find love using a book of instructions. However, when the ladies find out he's a skunk....

It's Tex Avery and Heck Allen taking on Pepe LePew, using their own style of doing things. Thus, there's a sequence in which the skunk tries painting himself to look like a fox; there's a sequence in which he pretends to be Frank Sinatra that recalls SWOONER CROONER; and so forth. But Avery and Allen ornament the basic gag with their outrageous comic curlicues.

Little Tinker (1948) is about a lonely skunk who's looking for someone to fall in love with. The Skunk is so desperate that even Cupid tries to help him "score" by enlisting his "Book of Love", Lil 'tinker does everything he can to find his soul mate. The cartoon is funny but sad and melodramatic. Watching him pull out every trick in the book trying to find true love.

Not as wild as most of Tex Avery's films. A quick change of pace for the

man. Showing that he's not all slapstick and parodies. Hopefully he

didn't give up on his bread and butter animation!

Recommended.

B

I loved this cartoon. It is so cute, and it's funny at the same time. You know, during the beginning and middle of this cartoon, I do feel sorry for the little skunk. Nobody loves him until the end, that is. The scenes with The Curdina-Bunny and The Frank Sinatra parody were especially hilarious. Who would have thought Frankie was quite a stud back then? I am sure he wasn't that lanky either.

One more thing I would like to mention: I am also a hopeless romantic. I mean, I love a good romance-neither in a movie or a cartoon. Also, I thought this short would be perfect for Valentine's Day, along with Pepe le Pew cartoons. Pepe's my favorite cartoon character, and Valentine's Day is another favorite holiday of mine.