Difference between revisions of "Speedy Gonzales (theatrical short)"

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[[File:Speedy Gonzales Lobby Card V2.png|200px|thumb|right|alt=Second Lobby Card|Second lobby card.]]
[[File:Speedy Gonzales Lobby Card V2.png|200px|thumb|right|alt=Second Lobby Card|Second lobby card.]]
===Development===
===Development===
After his initial appearance in ''[[Cat-Tails for Two]]'', Speedy was given a character redesign in this short by Friz Freleng and layout artist [[Hawley Pratt]],<ref>Lenburg, Jeff ([[1991]]). ''The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons'' (1991 edition), page 121. Facts on File, Inc., New York NY. ISBN 0-8160-2252-6.</ref> who both made Speedy look cuter and dressed him in traditional Mexican attire.
After his initial appearance in ''[[Cat-Tails for Two]]'', Speedy was given a character redesign in this short by Friz Freleng and layout artist [[Hawley Pratt]],<ref>Lenburg, Jeff ([[1991]]). ''The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons'' (1991 edition), page 121. Facts on File, Inc., New York NY. ISBN 0-8160-2252-6.</ref> who both made Speedy look cuter and dressed him in traditional Mexican attire. Unlike his prototypical design from the previous short, Speedy lacks both buckteeth and a golden tooth, and dons a white shirt and shorts, red bandana, and traditional yellow sombrero.


==Music==
==Music==
Line 93: Line 93:


==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
*


==Errors==
==Errors==
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|}
|}


==Everlasting legacy==
==Legacy==
* Following this short, Speedy Gonzales' appearance would serve as a basis of how he would be portrayed in later cartoons. [[Robert McKimson]] would direct a sequel cartoon in the [[1957]] short ''[[Tabasco Road]]'', using Freleng's model.
* Following this short, Speedy Gonzales' appearance would serve as a basis of how he would be portrayed in later cartoons. [[Robert McKimson]] would direct a sequel cartoon in the [[1957]] short ''[[Tabasco Road]]'', using Freleng's model.
* A small clip of this cartoon was used in ''[[The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie]]''.
* A small clip of this cartoon was used in ''[[The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie]]''.

Latest revision as of 22:13, 1 July 2024

This article is about the theatrical short, for other uses see Speedy Gonzales.
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales Lobby Card V1.png
Lobby card.
Production company Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date September 17, 1955
Run time 6:44
Starring Mel Blanc
Stan Freberg
Producer(s) Edward Selzer
Music composed by Carl Stalling
Story by Warren Foster
Animation Gerry Chiniquy
Ted Bonnicksen
Arthur Davis
Director(s) I. Freleng
Series navigation
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Title card
Speedy Gonzales Title Card.png

Speedy Gonzales is the four hundredth Merrie Melodies theatrical short. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation on September 17, 1955. It was produced by Edward Selzer, written by Warren Foster, and directed by Friz Freleng.

Speedy Gonzales comes to help a hungry group of mice and get some cheese, which is being guarded by Sylvester at a factory across the Mexico–U.S. border.

Detailed summary

Memorable quotes

Mouse: Speedy Gonzales friend of my sister.
Other mouse: Speedy Gonzales friend of everybody's sister!


Speedy: ¡Ole! ¡Arriba! ¡Yee-haw! What's the matter, amigos? You missed me, eh? ¡Arriba! ¡Yee-haw!


Speedy: For yous, seňors and seňoritas. There is plenty more where this cheese come from. ¡Epe, epe! ¡Arriba! ¡Yee-ha! ¡Andale! ¡Yee-haw!


Sylvester: Now juthst try and get all the cheesthe!


Speedy: I like this pussycats fellow. He's silly!

Characters

Legend
Character debut Speaking debut Ep. debut No lines Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character Actor
Sylvester Mel Blanc
Speedy Gonzales Mel Blanc
Mexican Mice Stan Freberg


Locations

Objects

  • Hay straw (for drawing straws)
  • Sombrero pile
  • Grade A egg box
  • Butterfly net
  • Mousetraps
  • Catcher's outfit and mitt
  • Baseball
  • Ajax Cheese crates
  • Army surplus landmines
  • A very long metal pipe
  • A wooden board with a mouse hole on the bottom
  • Cheese boxes
  • Detonator

Production

Second Lobby Card
Second lobby card.

Development

After his initial appearance in Cat-Tails for Two, Speedy was given a character redesign in this short by Friz Freleng and layout artist Hawley Pratt,[1] who both made Speedy look cuter and dressed him in traditional Mexican attire. Unlike his prototypical design from the previous short, Speedy lacks both buckteeth and a golden tooth, and dons a white shirt and shorts, red bandana, and traditional yellow sombrero.

Music

The music was composed by Carl Stalling.

The music used for the title theme and for most of this short is the Mexican dance song, the "Mexican Hat Dance" (Jarabe Tapatío).

Release

Dates are in order of release:

  • United States: September 17, 1955 in theaters

Behind the scenes

Errors

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result
Academy Award March 21, 1956 Best Animated Short Film Edward Selzer Won[2]

Legacy

Home availability

References

  1. Lenburg, Jeff (1991). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (1991 edition), page 121. Facts on File, Inc., New York NY. ISBN 0-8160-2252-6.
  2. "The 28th Academy Awards (1955) Nominees and Winners – Short Subject (Cartoon)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2024.