Deduce, You Say

A fairly silly take-off on the Sherlock Holmes stories. Daffy Duck playing a bombastic shrill Sherlock, and Porky Pig as a calm and reserved Watson. A few good laughs, but not enough to elevate it above most Looney Tune shorts. A few grown inducing play on words, but I like that type of humour, so this short was just alright by me. Not my favorite, but nor the worst Tune that I've seen. Don't misunderstand me as the worst Looney Tune is still a million times better then 'The Simpsons" has been in the last handful of years. This cartoon is on Disk 2 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1"

My Grade: C+

I enjoyed this Looney Tune very much - especially as Porky and Daffy were partners here. Daffy Duck is "Dorlock Holmes" and Porky is Watkins, his assistant. You have probably guessed already what this episode is about even if you did not know what happens beforehand. I didn't know what would happen - which is why it was such a great surprise for me that Daffy Duck was Sherlock Holmes! The way he has an unintelligent character here is something annoying that could have been changed, but in some aspects he was smart. As Watkins says at the beginning of the episode (which I think Watson himself says in the book), "I discovered he was a very observant person". Someone here said in his/her review that Daffy Duck has 0 intelligence as Sherlock Holmes but this is not true.

Dorlock Holmes has to track down the criminal Shropshire Slasher and so he and Watkins set off. The Shropshire Slasher that the pair find is not who they expect to find...

I recommend this episode to people who like Daffy when he is less intelligent than Porky, people who want to see Porky and Daffy as partners rather than enemies and people who love Looney Tunes in general. Enjoy "Deduce You Say"! :-)

P.S The last line is the funniest - so wait patiently for it.

*Sorry to use your summary magicunicorn, but I agree with you so much that I had to use it (almost to the word) as well. ;-)

Usually, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig are enemies, but here, they're partners. Daffy plays Dorlock Holmes and Porky is Watson. The two are investigating crimes committed by someone known as "The Shropshire Slasher". When they finally meet the Shropshire Slasher, Daffy tries to overpower him, but always gets overpowered. Porky, on the other hand, knows exactly what to do every time. When the Shropshire Slasher's mother arrives, Daffy accuses her of selling flowers illegally, and...well, let's just say that was biggest mistake of his life.

I don't know how the Looney Tunes creative team was able to come up with something every time, but they did it again. Let's face it, those men were geniuses.

'Deduce You Say' may not be among the best of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig's cartoons, but it still has many pleasures and as a fan of Sherlock Holmes this reviewer loved its fun and affectionate take on the characters and such.

It is agreed that 'Deduce You Say' loses its energy when the Shropshire Slasher shows up, and that the humour lacks the same timing, quality (the antics indeed are very predictable and not as funny as the rest of the cartoon) and bite of the material beforehand. Shropshire Slasher pales in comparison to Daffy and Porky in the humour stakes and is also not as threatening as he could have been, despite being set up so well when off-screen to be so, and while this reviewer had no problem with the animation the design of the Shropshire Slasher is pretty odd.

However, while very different to usual Chuck Jones animation standards and more angular (so it is understandable that the animation won't be to everybody's tastes) the animation is mostly very good, with great use of shadings, shadows and shapes, a hauntingly atmospheric noir-ish feel to it which is wholly appropriate for a cartoon putting its spin on Sherlock Holmes. Milt Franklyn has his usual characterful energy and orchestral lushness, while also having a chillingly effective gloominess at particularly the start.

Also am in agreement that Michael Maltese's script and the gags are top-notch here. There is some razor-sharp and hilarious writing here for a vast majority of 'Deduce You Say' and the final quip is very funny though not exactly new. The gags are well-animated and imaginative, and there is a great Conan-Doyle-like atmosphere in the story throughout while with shades (as you can guess though this is very atypical Looney Tunes and Chuck Jones, and some may find it somewhat too different) of the loony Looney Tunes style.

Pacing for a vast majority of 'Deduce You Say' is vibrant and crisp, if slackening when the villain shows up. Daffy is hilarious in the "Dorlock Holmes" role and Porky is wonderfully reserved as "Watkins". Mel Blanc does a brilliant job with the voices, considering Blanc's outstanding calibre as a voice actor one doesn't expect any less.

In conclusion, funny, affectionate and atmospheric. Not a classic, but very good though with a couple of things that bring it down a touch. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Deduce, You Say (1954)

*** (out of 4)

Nice spoof of Sherlock Holmes has Dorlock Homes (Daffy Duck) and Watkins (Porky Pig) trying to locate the Shropshire Slasher, who just happens to be looking for them as well. If you're a fan of the Universal Holmes series then I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this short, which actually manages to pay nice homage to the earlier series but it also works perfectly well as a cartoon. The animation by Jones is brilliant, especially all the dark colors that are in the bar that the film takes place in. Both Daffy and Porky are at the top of their game and the villain also manages to get some very good laughs. The final joke with a famous line from the Holmes films are also priceless.