The Violin Player

"The Violin Player" is the fifth episode of Top Cat season one. It aired on October 25, 1961 on ABC. It was produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the series and the founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

A music director mistakes Benny for being the world's greatest violin player, and gives him a chance to perform at a concert hall.

Detailed summary
While Top Cat outlines his latest scheme through "Operation: Money" (which involves selling tickets to a block party), Benny arrives to the alley late due to taking a music lesson. Benny plays the violin, but when T.C. hears the irratible sound of his performance, he sends him to practice on another street. Benny stops on the corner outside a music shop, where Officer Dibble is listening to a record of the great violin player, Lazlo Lazlo.

Mr. Gutenbad, a passing musical director working at Carnegie Hall, hears the music, and sees Benny standing there with his violin. Thinking Benny played the music, he chases after him and Top Cat, with Benny thinking that the man got mad because he was playing too loudly. After a chase through the city, Gutenbad finally catches up to Benny and offers him a $50,000 deal for a Saturday night performance at Carnegie Hall. Later, Top Cat announces the gang that he would be scrapping the plans for the block party and instead tells them that he would be displaying Benny's talent for the concert.

Gutenbad brings his board of directors to hear Benny play, but soon discovers that his performance was terrible. He then hears Dibble's record and breaks down his door to find out who's playing. Dibble explains the music is by Lazlo Lazlo, who made that one record and disappeared with his whereabouts unknown. Top Cat throws Benny's violin in the trash and sends the gang to look for the missing violinist. A street sweeper, whom Top Cat encountered earlier, passes by. But not long after Top Cat told him to "Stick to [his] broom", he picks up the instrument and begins to play it beautifully. T.C. realizes that the man was Lazlo Lazlo and before he can quickly get back to act as his agent, Gutenbad had already signed Lazlo Lazlo a $10,000 reward and departed.

As Top Cat laments his bad luck, Benny begins playing his harmonica; and much to his surprise it sounded beautifully. T.C. rushes off with him to try to find Gutenbad.

Memorable quotes
Top Cat: Okay, gentlemen, this is it. "Operation: Money" is about to begin! As you can see in this map, I divided the city into sections. These sections are full of streets; the streets are full of buildings; the buildings are full of people; and the people have m-o-n-e-y, money! And you guys are gonna get some of it. Spook: But Top Cat, baby. Like, uh, that's against the law! Choo Choo: And besides, that is illegal. Fancy: Yeah! We can't do that. Top Cat: What are you? The Supreme Court or a buncha hungry characters?

Mr. Gutenbad: You! You there with the violin! Don't move! Stay where you are! Benny: Uh-oh! I'm getting out of here. Maybe I was playing to loud.

Top Cat: We've been robbed! I'm sick! Sick, sick, sick! Here he was; right under my nose. "I'll clean it up," he says; a real comic! "Could you help out with the violin music," he says. "No thanks, we can manage. Stick to your broom," I say! "I don't think Carnegie Hall was read for you yet," unquote! I blew it. Ten thousand bucks waiting, and I blew it!

Characters

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Organizations

 * New York City Police Department

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * New York
 * New York City
 * Manhattan
 * Hoagy's Alley
 * Carnegie Hall

Music
The music was composed by Hoyt Curtin, who was credited as musical director.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: October 25, 1961 at 8:30 pm on ABC
 * United Kingdom and Ireland: June 27, 1962 at 5:10 pm on BBC TV (as The Boss Cat)

Behind the scenes

 * Top Cat compares Benny's harmonica playing to that of actor/musician Borrah Minevitch.

Errors

 * In one scene, Fancy speaks with Choo Choo's voice.

Everlasting influence

 * A sample of Mr. Gutenbag was used for Meat Beat Manifesto's 1988 song, "Strap Down (Roar of the Underground)."
 * Lazlo Lazlo would appear once more as a minor character in the 2013 film Top Cat: The Movie.
 * Benny plays the violin in the 2016 Halifax advert, although unlike in the episode, he played it rather nicely.

Home availability

 * In the United Kingdom and Ireland:
 * July 1, 1985: The Video Collection releases Top Cat: Volume 1 on VHS.
 * November 3, 1986: The Video Collection releases Top Cat: Volume 1 on VHS.
 * June 16, 1997: First Independent Films releases Top Cat: Bumper Edition 2 on VHS.
 * October 8, 2007: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: The Complete Series (HMV exclusive) on DVD.
 * October 8, 2007: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: Volume 1 on DVD.
 * April 1, 2008: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: The Complete Series on DVD.
 * May 28, 2012: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat and Friends on DVD.
 * 2019: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * In the United States:
 * December 7, 2004: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: The Complete Series on DVD.
 * January 10, 2017: Warner Archive Collection releases Top Cat: The Series on DVD.
 * June 6, 2017: Warner Home Video releases Top Cat: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.