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
At the Swing State Prison, the Wolf makes his escape by exiting out his cell. Just as he was about to sneak through, 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, informing the audience 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 tells 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, warns 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, Droopy appears asking if he was enjoying the trip. The Wolf was confused as to how he escaped and questions him about it. When Droopy tells the him to "not get nosey," 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 fed up with Droopy for the umpteenth time, he announces that he would jump out of the building. After he jumps out, undertaker observes the Wolf and follows to make some measurements, before the Wolf could meet his doom. However, just as the Wolf was about to crash, he immediately stops at the last second and makes a safe landing. Droopy drops a giant boulder at the unassuming Wolf, immedietely crushing him.
After a Hollywood Express report on Droopy's capture, the city's mayor grants the dog a large stack of money. Upon recieving the reward, Droopy drops his slow demeanor 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 too.
Droopy: I'm happy...
Characters
In order of appearance: | ||||||||||
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Locations
- Earth
- United States
- New York
- Swing Swing Prison
- Apartment building
- Skyscraper
- Illinois
- Florida
- Ohio
- Texas
- California
- Wooden cabin
- North Pole
- Igloo
- New York
- United States
Objects
- Dick Tracey comic
Vehicles
- None
Production
Development
Filming
Music
The score was composed by Scott Bradley.
Release
Dates are in order of release:
- United States: March 20, 1943
Behind the scenes
- The title is a play on the phrase "dumb-founded".
- The MPAA certificate number is 8709.
Errors
Legacy
Critical reception
Home availability
- In the United States:
