Ding Dog Daddy

If you thought that every possible scenario for a love story had gotten played out on screen, think again! One of the miscellaneous cartoons* from the Warner Bros. animation department - although at this time it was still Leon Schlesinger Studios - Friz Freleng's "Ding Dog Daddy" features a none-too-bright canine going around looking for love. He eventually finds it...except that his love interest is a statue guarded by a ferocious bulldog! OK, so most of the miscellaneous cartoons will probably never reach the quality displayed by Bugs, Daffy, Porky and the rest. But even so, I think that this cartoon is worth checking out. Aside from the cartoon's status as a WWII time capsule (the part about scrap metal reminds us that the government actually came up with ways for people to contribute to the war effort, rather than just encourage more consumption), an interesting point is the dog's voice. His voice is provided by Pinto Colvig, better known as the voice of Goofy in the Disney cartoons. Earlier in 1942, he had provided the voice of the title character in Chuck Jones's "Conrad the Sailor" (as a deckhand whom Daffy Duck torments). And I say that he did a very good job in both cartoons.

So, while this is far from their best cartoon, I still consider it worth seeing. I mean, there's some great battles between the main dog and the bulldog. Pretty funny.

*Annually, each director had to direct a certain number of cartoons starring Bugs, Daffy, Porky and Elmer. Then, each director got to direct a couple starring his own characters: Chuck Jones had Pepe Le Pew and Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote; Friz Freleng had Yosemite Sam and Sylvester/Tweety; Robert McKimson had Foghorn Leghorn and Hippety Hopper (and later the Tasmanian Devil), while Freleng and McKimson alternated between Speedy Gonzales. After completing all these, each director got to do one or two miscellaneous cartoons. "Ding Dog Daddy" was one example, but probably the most famous one was "One Froggy Evening".

The action and gags are not very inspired, but ever since I was a kid 60+ years ago, I have been impressed with the idea of a forbidden love and dealing with it. "Daisy! What have they done to you? They've changed you!"

It's springtime and a dog is alone in the park watching two birds gettin' it on in the time-honoured fashion. He decides he wants love too and goes on the look. Rejected in the park, he mistakes a statue for a real dog and makes advances. However, the guard dog of the garden is a vicious bulldog that is determined to protect the statue.

When a Warner Brothers cartoon comes on with no recognisable stars it is often a time to start to worry - but not always. Here the film doesn't bode well when the dog marks himself out as a goofy clone with his voice and mannerisms, but it turns into a quite sassy little cartoon with a traditional `big bulldog' plot. It has plenty of nice little touches that make familiar jokes feel just a little bit fresher and funnier and it is surprisingly light on it's feet and funny. The whole love thing is a bit of a downer at times but the central bulldog thing is good.

As I said, the characters aren't up to much. The bulldog looks like the bulldog from all the cartoons but he neither sounds or acts as convincingly as others. The main dog is slightly annoying because he is just like a poor man's Goofy; happily his material is good enough to get over that. The support cast has a few little characters that speak in mock `Nu Yark' accents and are funny.

Overall, this has the usual weakness of having second fiddle characters to deliver it but luckily the material is pretty enjoyable. The bookends on the plot about love are average but the central stuff with the bulldog features sturdy jokes with clever touches to make it fresher than it probably deserved to be.

Ding Dog Daddy (1942)

*** (out of 4)

A downright idiotic mutt falls in love with a female dog but he doesn't realize that she's nothing more than a steel model. Soon he keeps trying to sneak into the park to visit her but he runs into the guard dog who tries to keep him away.

DING DOG DADDY isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination but there's no question that if you're a fan of animated movies then you should enjoy it. What makes the film so memorable is the dog itself because he's just so stupid that you can't help but laugh at his misadventure. There are some funny fights between him and the bulldog and the lightening strike scenes are also quite funny. The animation is nice as well so this one here is certainly enjoyable.

Watched 'Ding Dog Daddy' because it is always interesting viewing Warner Brothers animation that doesn't have the classic characters that we know and love.

'Ding Dog Daddy' may not be a masterpiece of animation, nor does it try to be. It is very successful at being very well made and entertaining, which is more than what one can ask for in a cartoon. There isn't anything really wrong with 'Ding Dog Daddy', other than that it just misses the extra spark. On paper the concept is a silly one and the story is on the slight side. These come over as very minor though and seem like nit-picks with the strengths being a great many and as well done as they are.

The animation is great with beautiful colours and meticulous detail. The characters are drawn well with smooth movement. Carl Stalling to me was always the best Warner Brothers/Looney Tunes composer as well as the most consistent. 'Ding Dog Daddy' is another example of consistent greatness, his music is lushly orchestration, cleverly synchronised, vibrant, characterful and not only fits and adds to the action but actually enhances it.

In terms of gags, 'Ding Dog Daddy' may seem familiar, but there are a lot of clever and witty touches that make the cartoon feel fresh. The concept on paper seemed silly and this silliness translates to the cartoon in a way, but it regardless works because the material is strong.

Characters-wise, while dumb, the main dog is funny and quite likable and the bulldog is a formidable and just as entertaining adversary. The voice acting from Mel Blanc, Tedd Pierce and Pinto Colvig is excellent.

Overall, well made and fun. 8/10 Bethany Cox