Out-Foxed

Daws Butler offers a tea-drinking Ronald Colman impression as the Fox in this Droopy cartoon in which the reward for his capture is a thick, juicy steak.... and the other hounds aren't too fussy as to how they collect.

It's more about the Fox than Drooypy. That's not unusual in these cartoons. Usually, though, it's Droopy driving the hunted mad, instead of the hunted turning the tables... to no avail.

This cartoon, like so many of Tex Avery's cartoons, raises the question of how to rate it. Even the least of Avery's MGM cartoons are ones that most cartoonists could only aspire to. Given that the scale on the IMDb only goes up to 10, what's a reviewer to do?

The fact that Tex Avery directed a magnificent cartoon for MGM shouldn't come as a big surprise. During this time at the studio, he made some of the most enjoyable and iconic cartoon shorts of all time...and "Out-Foxed" is among his best.

The cartoon features Droopy and an incredibly erudite fox, with a Ronald Colman-type manner and voice. Droopy and a bunch of hounds have been sent out on a strange fox hunt....no people, no horses and the dogs are sent out on their own to retrieve the fox. Well, again and again, the fox outwits the dogs....but the manner which he does it is what makes the cartoon as well as how sweet and likable Droopy is. Plus, have no fear...not foxes are hurt in the film...and in fact it ends on a very high note. Lots of fun and well worth seeing.

Droopy is smaller and slower than all the foxhounds. They are chasing Reginald Fox, a smart upper crust fox. This is a classic Droopy cartoon. Every gag is a winner. The Fox is great. He actually has more scenes than Droopy who is more a second banana. There may be ways to make the ending even funnier but this is pretty good. All in all, this is one of the best Droopy around.

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. 'Out-Foxed' is another one of Droopy's better cartoons, though not one of the finest. Droopy is more a support character here somewhat, but he is very funny still and his personality and mannerisms have been formed very well by this point.

It is agreed that he is outshone by the smooth-talking but hilarious fox, whose civilised, resourceful and witty personality is a perfect match for Droopy's entertainingly unlikely role as a fox-sound, and his material is also meatier. 'Out-Foxed' is inventive and rich in humour, distinctive of Avery.

Avery does a wonderful job directing, with his unique, unlike-any-other visual and characteristic and incredibly distinctive wacky humour style all over it as can be expected. It is also very clever, perfectly timed and witty, with sight gags galore with not a misfire among them and some of the best ever lines in a Droopy cartoon.

With 'Out-Foxed' is no surprise either that the animation is superb. 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 particularly Daws Butler.

Overall, even with Droopy outshone this cartoon is excellent. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is a rather average Droopy cartoon where he tries to capture a fox to bring back to his owner. The fox happens to be a high-class, pip-pip talking, pompous animal and he outsmarts a hosts of dogs out to catch him.

You'll get some chuckles here and there, but the fox's smug personality is a turn-off and drags the cartoon. Droopy is hardly in it, and you'll be left rooting for the fox's capture.

Grade C-