Niagara Fools

While Paul smith was never consistent with the quality of his cartoons, Niagara fools is exceptionally excellent t. Animation is solid, as always, with nice colors and oddly ugly characters. This just adds to the iconic look are humor of the cartoons though, and speaking of which, the Gaga's are down right hysterical. They don't hold back here, with the same repeating mean hearted gag. It's just wall to wall laughs all the way through! Woody is extremely devious here, with a meanness unmatched in even his earliest shorts. The tour guide is extremely funny, with some outstanding moments, including the part where he asks is any of the other men doesn't have a barrel. The part where the people keep shouting in hours is also just great. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea, just go and go be this short a watch! You wont be disappointed!

Usually I do not like Woody Woodpecker because he is too annoying and a total bully. Here, I don't know if I saw this as a kid, but this popped up at the end of the live-action/CGI adaptation of "Woody Woodpecker" (2017) just after the credits. Here a tour guide wants to make sure nobody does these barrel stunts on Niagara Falls. Enter Woody Woodpecker, he wants to do a barrel stunt on Niagara Falls, so the man tries to stop him. However, due to how clumsy he is, he ends up in the barrel and falls in causing the sightseers to cheer. Woody tries again and he stops him, only to fall in again causing the crowd to cheer. "Oh shut up!" he miserably yells. Next he tries to stop him by having a bunch of Mounties gang up on the bird, only to fall in wit a bunch of barrels. The tour guide says, "Does anyone of you here not have a barrel?" They all go down the waterfall. There is one scene that was highly imaginative where the guide gets accidentally sent to the North Pole, so he has to go back to Canada. He goes by dog sled, by plane, by taxi, barking "Mush!" When he takes a kid's scooter, the kid cries and he turns around and says, "Hush." When goes back to Niagara Falls, we see a kissing couple and he runs pass them and says in a disgusted tone, "Mush." As in, "This is mushy stuff." Now that is imaginative and funny. He finally catches Woody only to... well give guess. If you can't guess it, then see it. I would let this short play before such films as "The Creature Walks Among Us" (1956) (read my review on that movie). Bottom line: Hey, I've seen worse, so give it a watch.

Running gags have been a frequent feature in Woody Woodpecher shorts from this age, and this is the one that does it best. On this one, Woody visits the famous Niagara Falls, where he has the wicked idea of riding down the falls on a barrel, while the loyal Mountie tries to stop him. Of course, Woddy doesn't give up easily, and his constant attempts all end up with the Mountie going down the falls instead.

The idea itself might sound a bit generic, but the wacky twists added to the story make it stand out from the rest. In particular, the yellow coat tourists cheering every time the unlucky Mountie goes down the falls is worth the price of admission already. Other hilarious moments involve the Woody disguising the barrel as a woman, and the Mountie eventually mistaking an actual woman for a barrel; the unfortunate man being sent, mistakingly, to the North Pole, and hitchhiking his way back to the falls ("March!"); and an actual valve that dries up the falls completely. Woody fans cannot go without this one. A classic and a prime example of the wicked humour of Woody Woodpecker.

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. He is a lot of fun here and is never obnoxious or a jerk. He is suitably manic and while a pest (as he originally conceived to be) he is an annoyance to his opponent but comic joy for the viewer. The Mountie is a funny foil and chemistry between the two is electric. 'Niagara Fools' to me is one of the best Woody Woodpecker cartoons of the late 50s (or even of that decade full stop) and one of Paul J. Smith's best overall.

'Niagara Fools' only real problem is the animation, which is pretty ugly and looks like it was made in haste on a low budget.

Otherwise, the story is one of the least predictable for any Woody Woodpecker cartoon and has some clever twists, really setting it apart from how most Woody Woodpecker cartoons from this period executed their stories.

Music is bouncy, energetic and very lushly orchestrated, not only synchronising and fitting with the action very well but enhancing it. The whole cartoon goes at a snappy pace, especially in the second half.

There are some inventive moments here and the humorous elements are timed beautifully and often hilarious. The voice acting is very good.

In conclusion, great cartoon and one of the best of the late 50s. 9/10 Bethany Cox