Red Riding Hoodlum

Red Riding Hoodlum
Woody Woodpecker series
Directed by Paul J. Smith
Produced by Walter Lantz
Story by Milt Schaffer
Dick Kinney
Voices by Grace Stafford
Dal McKennon
June Foray
Music by Clarence Wheeler
Animation by Robert Bentley
Les Kline
Raymond Jacobs
Art Landy
Studio Walter Lantz Productions
Distributed by Universal International
Release date(s) February 11, 1957
Color process Technicolor
Running time 6' 08"
Country United States
Language English
Preceded by Woody Meets Davy Crewcut
Followed by Box Car Bandit

Red Riding Hoodlum is the 74th animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on February 11, 1957, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.

Plot

Woody Woodpecker's nephew Knothead and niece Splinter are reading the story of Little Red Riding Hood when Woody sends them on an errand to deliver a basket of goodies to their grandmother's house. They encounter a wolf and soon realize that their trip is occurring just like the original Red Riding Hood story. While the wolf takes a shortcut, Knothead & Splinter take a "short-shortcut" to get to Granny's house first. But along the way, Knothead & Splinter encounter the homes of The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears and the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe, before Smokey Bear informs the two that the next house is Granny's.

Knothead & Splinter convince Granny to read them the story of Little Red Riding Hood to distract her while they deal with the wolf. Granny eventually encounters the wolf, but instead of being frightened, Granny puts on a red wig and make-up and gives the wolf a big kiss. The cartoon ends with Granny and the wolf getting married by a dog minister while Knothead & Splinter hold Granny's wedding dress train.

Notes

  • Though this short is a part of the Woody Woodpecker series, its main stars are Woody's nephew and niece Knothead and Splinter, making their second appearance since the previous year's Get Lost.
  • Smokey Bear, advertising mascot for the United States Forest Service, makes three appearances in the cartoon. First Smokey tells Knothead and Splinter where Granny's house is, then he says that he hopes party attendees are "careful with their cigarettes", and finally warns the wolf about being careful with matches.
  • The ending is similar to another Woody Woodpecker cartoon, A Fine Feathered Frenzy. In that cartoon the elderly yet rich and well manicured widow Gorgeous Gal falls in love with Woody the second she lays eyes on him. Gorgeous Gal makes not one costume change but several while constantly winking and flirting with her "Baby!" She wastes no time trying to put her arms around the Woodpecker so they can smooch. Much like Granny she too manages to marry the object of her heart's desire against his wishes. The film ends with her becoming Mrs. Gorgeous Gal Woodpecker.

References

  • Cooke, Jon, Komorowski, Thad, Shakarian, Pietro, and Tatay, Jack. "1957". The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia.
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