O Recital

Miss Cud is the school teacher. The students include Beans the Cat, Porky Pig, Oliver Owl, Ham and Ex. The students are performing in a Musical and Recital.

Warner Brothers was trying to copy Our Gang's success with a bunch of characters as kids. Beans became an early minor Looney Tunes star, but it is Porky Pig who is the big longtime breakout. Both made their first appearance here. By itself, this is mostly an introduction to a bunch of characters. There isn't much to the story. It is basic and a passable six. But that is only if there is nothing else. This is a rookie card. Those are worth way more.

This Two-Strip Technicolor cartoon certainly is not one most folks would care about one way or the the other. So why is it an important film? First, and most importantly, it's the debut of Porky Pig. Back in the day, Porky was NOT cute but a bit grotesque...though in the first one he's a bit less gigantic and ugly. All he does in this one is recite a poem in class....the film really isn't his starring vehicle. Second, while not a major innovation, it is interesting to see this Looney Tunes short in color--albeit a more primitive version than the Three-Strip Technicolor used by Walt Disney. Why was Disney using it in 1935 and no one else? They bought exclusive rights to its use...and gave the Disney films real color...not the orangy-green you see in the two color processes.

The film consists of some animal children in school putting on some sort of pageant where they recite, sing and dance. It's not the most interesting idea for a short, that's for sure. But it was 1935 and this was still well before the studio became the best at producing entertaining shorts. Instead of humor, the older cartoons by Looney Tunes/Warner Brothers tended to be more cute and had a lot of singing.

So is it any good? Well, compared to the average film of the day, it was better than usual--with slightly better animation than most of the competition. Humor-wise, it had a few moments though none of the great laughs you'd later expect with a Looney Tunes cartoon.

Mr. Freling comes up with the ultimate classroom stutterer in this Merrie Melodies cartoon. It begins with an elementary age Porky reciting "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" in front of an audience. Other characters strut their stuff too, but I only recognise Porky.

'I Haven't Got a Hat' is significant for being the debut of Porky Pig, but that is not the only reason for watching. It is a decent cartoon in its own right, but Porky did go on to feature and star in better and funnier cartoons as he evolved.

While one is sympathetic towards Porky, this reviewer knows what it's like to be in Porky's position, and he is likable, he is rather underused in an appearance that is more a cameo than anything else and he's had a stronger personality elsewhere.

'I Haven't Got a Hat' is also somewhat light on plot, which is more an excuse to string along renditions of characters performing songs and a few other antics.

And while there are smiles throughout the whole duration of the cartoon, 'I Haven't Got a Hat' is short on humour that's consistent or hilarious, it's not that it's unfunny it's just that there's not enough and it's mildly amusing really.

However, this reviewer really loved the bright and colourful animation with lots of beautiful backgrounds and imaginative visual detail, and even better the music which is essentially the actual star of the show, the character, the energy, the enthusiasm and the lusciousness is seriously phenomenal.

Also appreciated the agreed warmth and gentility of the writing, and the vocals with all the voice actors sounding like they were having the time of their lives. The supporting characters do make more of an impression than Porky and are used more.

Oliver and Beans' antics this reviewer agrees steals the show, it was fun and didn't get repetitive. Kitty was adorable, and one cannot help smiling in the appearance of Ham and Ex.

In conclusion, a good if not great debut for Porky Pig, that's a very pleasant watch but doesn't see the best or funniest of him. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I Haven't Got a Hat (1935)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A small school is having their recital day. Porky Pig, stuttering and all, must stand up and do The Midnight Ride of Paul revere while other students follow.

I HAVEN'T GOT A HAT isn't the greatest animated short ever made but it is somewhat historic as this here was the first appearance of Porky Pig. His look and vocal performance is a lot different than the Porky most people know and love but it's still rather interesting seeing this early version. For the most part this is an innocent enough of a short as it's basically introducing us to a bunch of new characters with of course Porky taking off. There really wasn't any major laughs but it was pleasant enough.