Dumb-Hounded

Dumb-Hounded
Theatrical poster
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	March 20, 1943
Run time	8 minutes
Starring	Bill Thompson Frank Graham
Producer(s)	Fred Quimby
Music composed by	Scott Bradley
Screenplay by	Rich Hogan
Director(s)	Tex Avery
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Dumb-Hounded is the first animated theatrical short of the Droopy series. It was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on March 20, 1943. It was written by Rich Hogan, produced by Fred Quimby, and directed by Tex Avery.

Detailed summary

In the at the Swing State Prison, the Wolf makes his escape from exiting out his cell. Just as he was about to sneak out, he is then spotted and quickly gets away by climbing out of the building's wall, leaving an imprint of footprints and a message reading "I WENT THAT AWAY!!" Following a news article reporting on the prison's bloodhounds tracking the killer, they are set free to find the Wolf. But one of them, Droopy, trails behind them, introducing the audience and informing that he is the hero of the story.

During his search, Droopy passes towards a trash can while tracking the footsteps of the Wolf leading up to it, where he falsely informs Droopy with a sign that he's not there. While Droopy was gone, the criminal rushes inside of a building apartment and assumes that he is left alone. However, Droopy tracks him down in the same area, as if he quickly went in beforehand. Droopy nonchalantly informs the Wolf that he would call the police. The Wolf convinces Droopy to not move an inch, but when Droopy exits the building, the Wolf makes a long trip in a getway escape towards a small cabin in the forest. His plan is foiled when Droopy, who already arrived at the same place, tells the Wolf that he didn't make his promise.

Following an exaggerated reaction, the Wolf ties Droopy to a wall with ropes and returns back to where he left off from the apartment. Just as he was about to rest on a bed for being tired, Droopy appears asking if he was enjoying the trip. The Wolf was confunded as to how he escaped, and he ties the dog with bed sheets before making a slide down the stairway. Droopy again appears behind the Wolf as they both slide, causing the latter to retreat back to the apartment, only to find Droopy again reading a Dick Tracy comic book and escaping once more.

Droopy's sudden appearances continue to haunt the Wolf in every turn. He escapes to a long travel to the North Pole, before retreating back to New York where he enters a manhole; at one point, he almost goes out of bounds from the film strip. The wolf's constant run-ins leads him to dash on top of a skyscraper, and after being confounded with Droopy for the umpteenth time, announces that he would jump out of the skyscraper. An uptaker observes the Wolf falling down and jumps out to make some measurements before the Wolf could meet his doom. But just as the Wolf was about to crash, he immediately stops at the last second and makes a safe landing. However, Droopy drops a giant boulder at the unassuming Wolf, which crushes him.

After a Hollywood Express report on Droopy's capture, the city's mayor grants Droopy a large stack of money. Upon recieving the reward, Droopy drops his slow demanor by jumping in complete enthusiasm, before bluntly informing the audience, "I'm happy..."

Memorable quotes

Droopy: Hello, all you happy people... You know what... I'm the hero...

Wolf: Sure was a cinch gettin' rid of that little mutt.
Droopy: That's what you think, brother... You stay right here while I go and call the cops... Now, promise me you won't move...
Wolf: Uh. Okay, Doc. (to the audience) Sucker!

Droopy: You moved... Didn't ya?

Wolf: Oh, not again! Listen, hotshot. I'm plenty fed with this chasin' stuff, see? You come one step closer and... I'll jump! (to the audience) And I will to.

Droopy: I'm happy...

Characters

Legend
Character debut	Speaking debut	Ep. debut	No lines	Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character	Actor
The Wolf	Frank Graham
Droopy	Bill Thompson

Locations

• Earth
  • United States
    • New York
      • Swing Swing Prison
      • Apartment building
      • Skyscraper
    • Illinois
      • Chicago
    • Florida
      • Miami
    • Ohio
      • Cleaveland
    • Texas
      • Dallas
    • California
      • Hollywood
    • Wooden cabin
  • North Pole
    • Igloo

Vehicles

• None

Music

The music was composed by Scott Bradley.

Release

Dates are in order of release:

• United States: March 20, 1943

Behind the scenes

• The MPAA certificate number is 8709.

Home availability

• In the United States: