Solid Ivory

Of all the non-Warner Brothers cartoon characters, Woody is by far and away the one that comes the closest to being as totally insane as the Warner family of cartoon "actors." Like his counterparts in the other studio, Woody does not shy away from dirty tricks and violent action to get his way - and he is as unrepentant as he is unrelenting. Solid Ivory is my favorite of the series - full of sight gags - he lures the hen into danger by dangling a pair of nylon stockings under her beak, causing her eyes to pop out in the shape of enormous ladies legs. He is silly - faking a French accent while "courting." He is vindictive - hooks a corncob up to the electric light socket and feeds it to her. He calls names - "You old BAG!" In short, he's a sadistic monster - never losing audience support. Finally, the production values are excellent. Don't miss it.

. . . words and phrases as "swell" and "so's your old man," viewers of the initial two dozen Woody Woodpecker pictures have puzzled mightily over how this avian malcontent became so profane and foul-mouthed. After perusing SOLID IVORY, these puzzled viewers will feel totally at sea no longer. It turns out that Wood's primary corrupting influence is pool, which starts with "P," which rhymes with "T," which stands for Trouble. While farmer Woody should be attending to his hen house or chicken coop, he's frittering away his time instead in the dark bowels of an adjacent barn, making Dan Patch turn over in his grave, as he cheats his way to easy solitary cheap "victories" on a shamelessly bare green felt surface totally devoid of bumpers or any other challenges for a lazy, unskilled participant to overcome.

The short is one of the best 40s of the Woodpecker, directed by Dick Lundy of the year 1947. The short opens with a barn on the farm where Woodpecker is playing pool (where New Show in the Woodpecker, the sport is featured in a few episodes as the hobby of bird), but the cue ball ends up stopping at the chicken coop and the nest falls from a very clever hen no name, it goes to the henhouse and picks up his ball back, but the chicken thinks he grabbed her egg, and does everything to disrupt the Woodpecker. Woodpecker uses his techniques to try to get his billiard ball back from the use of a corn, use the ax, nylon stockings, even masquerades as a stylish and charming rooster to a hen trying to cheat. In the end, he runs off to the nest for the farm, but stumbles and falls to the ground, and in a way there is a cute and funny end where the woodpecker, the hen and chicks do well. But proof that Dick Lundy brought some of the personality characteristics of Donald Duck for the woodpecker. Very nice!

Was very fond of Woody Woodpecker and his cartoons as a child. Still get much enjoyment out of them now as a young adult, even if there are more interesting in personality cartoon characters and better overall cartoons.

That is in no way knocking Woody, because many of his cartoons are a lot of fun to watch and more and also still like him a lot as a character. 'Solid Ivory' is one of his best to me, originality may not be a strong suit but this was a case where that doesn't matter in the least but it is so hugely entertaining and the interplay between Woody and the hen is so inspired.

While there are more interesting characters, Woody is an amusing character and never too obnoxious. Again, as said, love the interplay between him and the hen, especially at the sweet and hilarious ending where his attempts to trick her backfire badly. The hen is a fun foil.

As ever, the animation is great. The characters are well drawn, but even better are the rich colours, meticulously detailed backgrounds and smooth backgrounds.

Music is another strength here. It's characterful, lushly orchestrated and is not only dynamic with the action it even enhances it. The writing is amusing and chuckle-worthy enough and the gags are well-timed and often hilarious Solid voice acting as to be expected.

In conclusion, wonderful and one of Woody's best. 10/10 Bethany Cox