Detouring America (1939)

[thedannyplayer1]

AH! SO YOU'RE WONDERING, TOO!

[MsPandaRosa]

Okay, I've often wondered about the black fellow at 2:59, what's he been doing in Alaska? Is he lost, and if so, how did he get so far off track?

Like the Eskimo's face at 3:10, "Okay, whatever." Obliging guy, isn't he?

Very VERY disappointed that this didn't end with them going, "Sa-right?" "SA-Right!" and high-fiving.

[blukmage19R2]

Alaska didn't become a US state until January 3, 1959; about 9 months shy of 20 years when this picture was released.

[OldsVistaCruiser]

Alaska? It wouldn't become a state for another 20 years!

[OldsVistaCruiser]

At the very beginning, where the disclaimer says that there is no relation to actual states, the music starts with "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", then segues into "Arkansas Traveler", then "California, Here I Come" and finishing up with "Dixie".

[MrMusicXNinja]

I've been searching for this for AGES!! I'm 18 and used to stay up as late as I could on weekends to try to catch this , Wacky Wildlife, Circus Today and Fresh Fish. In my opinion these are FAAAR better than the cartoons my little brother watches now.

[Suedeheadlover]

Was it just me or did the narrator pronounce "tour" as "tur"? I swore I heard that correctly.

[Stavol2Dual]

cow puncher, wtf O_O

[mason8398]

That guy was a spoiled Brat

[TeamRocket2010]

3:29 Isn't that "Return my Love" from "What's Opera Doc"?

[ACcountryFan]

@TeamRocket2010: just a piece of it, yes. Chuck Jones, the director of "What's Opera, Doc?", used actual music from operas in that cartoon. "Return My Love" is actually based on the Tannhauser Overture. If you look it up on You Tube it starts out slow but by the two minute, 28 mark the melody everyone knows from that cartoon begins.

[kollhans]

exactly my humor :D at 2:29 the cowpunsher^^ avery is the best!!

[beasst94]

anyone remember a cartoon with a ( native american) who was really rich and had a big mansion and such?

[andrewparrot21]

@beasst94 maybe you are refreing to "The Oily American", directed by Robert McKimson

[Rubbergluvs]

Ho-hum. Thanks for posting, but was this 'toon ever funny? Did audiences back in the day split their sides at the lame gags, chuckle mildly, or just shrug their shoulders? The papoose bit was amusing, but not much else. Thanks just the same!

[beasst94]

@Rubbergluvs do u prefer the fart, sex, and toilet humor of todays so-called "cartoons" im sure thats probably easier for you to follow

[Rubbergluvs]

@beasst94 No, it's not that, though I AM a big fan of (some of) Kricfalusi's sick li'l oeuvre. Living in the 21'st century, I expect a degree of sophistication that is lacking in many of the older G.A. 'toons. In this case, I'm referring to the jokes. And that's all I've to say on the subject! Thanks for your response.

[beasst94]

@Rubbergluvs one of the creative geniuses behind such a classic as ren & stimpy

[diddymuck]

Actually the Black guy here seems a lot more naturalistic than most other toon depictions.

[beasst94]

@diddymuck yes

[totenkopf999]

Mongo from Blazing Saddles.

[SammiAJ]

TIMBERRRRRRRR! LOL! xD

[CartoonCookie93]

I taped this exact uncut version on TCM, only it had the TCM bug and began with the Turner logo you see on old MGM tapes of classic movies.

[YouToons100]

@CartoonCookie93 when did TCM show this?

[CartoonCookie93]

@YouToons100 They showed this at an Oscar marathon as an interstial back in 2009.

[busessuck1]

One of the best drawn... and least racist of these old warner cartoons

you can't not love it

[WackyWadslow]

L-M-A-O at 2:14 ! OUCH!

And ahahahahaha! Take that PETA @ 2:30

[GoblinXXX]

@WackyWadslow He's tenderizing the cow for later.

[TevinMoore1234]

Butter finger- Yes.... Hellllllllllppp!!!! Hahahaha

[wilhelm1974]

we're all americans plain and simple...no labels

[byw613]

at 2:18 OUCH LOL!!

[clarkstuff]

Oh god, I just LOVE Robert Bruce (the guy that narrated this cartoon)! BTW- Robert Bruce also narrated other Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, such as "A Gander at Mother Goose" (1940), "Aviation Vacation" (1941), "Crazy Cruise" (1942), "Brother Brat" (1944), and "Plane Daffy" (1944) =)

[Talion45]

This Is Not 1939 This Is 1989

[busessuck1]

@Talion45 you're fukin kidding

[ufee]

@Talion45

NO.

[PaladinMC8]

@Talion45 , @busessuck1, @ ufee:

You are all right to varying degrees.

The cartoon was 1939 and though I can't quite make out the copyright at the beginning, clearly the Merrie Melodies label at the beginning was likely attached to it later. The copyright has to be renewed every five years (up to 1-1-1978) if memory serves or the film goes into P.D (Public Domain). Therefore, even though the film may have been made many years earlier the current copyright shown would be much newer.

[Black30truth]

I love that part when the deer comes up to the door "Hey in there, How about a handout!!"

[phaota]

The actual release date for this film was August 26, 1939 and was nominted for the Academy Award that year. Even though it doesn't say Directed By, it is a Tex Avery classic.

[only257]

hiliarous

[vintagevic1]

wonder what you want a 'stereotype" to not be

int the 1940's? politician, a doc, rap artist ?

Stereotypical its what cartoons are & it's old humor, which was corny then.

seems like youre trying to undo a past you cant undo.

its like stores, chain stores that hire all black people for the checkout or counter jobs to make up for their past.

you want 90% of people of color representing more than the ~20% of their actual numbers..

it seems like you like to carry a torch for people who are now free.

[1aundulxaldin]

I didn't mean to be negative or anything. I'm just saying that back then, americans had a bleak and petty opinion of my african american people. I'm African american myself, and proud of it.

[vintagevic1]

italians can say mob movies & tv series about mafia are stereotyping.

some of its controversial & some is real but we watch it huh?

in the US Blacks didnt start getting a solid identity till-70's 80's, so its hard not to "typecast" a bit. but the character could sing so is that all stereoptype?

Tom & Jerry had an italian mouse episide was it racist ?. On the same hand some laughed that the mouse was quite emotional.

trust me no one's throwing it in reverse any more

the present is finally good.

[TeamRocket2010]

@vintagevic1 Napolitian Mouse wasn't a racist Tom and Jerry cartoon.

[manhoot]

Question?

Were you born in America?

If so, dump the chip on your shoulder African American moniker and call yourself an American.

[1aundulxaldin]

@manhoot

hey, You're right about that. Yeah! I am an American. No question about it.

[UofLCardFan08]

@manhoot

When you think about it, the term 'African American' is goofy. I doubt many white people call themselves European American. I sure don't.

[RadDreamer1]

@1aundulxaldin

Yes, that looks great on an after school special. I can't wait for fucking February to be over with.

[SxExYKiSsEs08]

its no big deal really you cant erase what has basically been set in stone (copies of cartoons are everywhere)... you have to look at the date that this cartoon was made...

a black person that is secure about their race would find it funny... because we have pasted that and are moving on

you make it seem as if this cartoon was made a few years ago...

[Julian9ehp]

I wish we had moved on. Because we haven't -- because some newspapers and rabble-rousers still use those stereotypes -- these cartoons are still dangerous. I am against cutting them: but I still wouldn't show the unedited ones when children are watching.

[Ogiichidawg]

hahaha bein a n8ive i got a good laugh about the indian snake dance

[aAastaRR]

ahaha cool!

[InvaderPet]

3:52 sounds like the music from What's opera Doc

[looneywoman]

It is -- it's Wagner. You also hear it in "Cross Country Detours," among others...

[fromthesidelines]

Originally released in August 1939, and nominated for the Academy Award as "Best Cartoon of 1939". Robert Cameron Bruce is the narrator...there's a Jerry Colonna impression (via Mel Blanc) at 2:39 [he was the reason some people tuned in to hear Bob Hope's "PEPSODENT SHOW" at that time].

[solesirching73]

AHH! So you're wondering, too! LOL

[Bigstarrocker9]

thank you thank you! u my new friend

[Sylderon]

Probably the funniest part for me is when the Eskimo comes across the hitchhiker, looks at the camera, and shrugs.

[Happytreefriendsfan3]

thank you you are my hero!