The Hypo-Chondri-Cat
The Hypo-Chondri-Cat is a 1950 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies short directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese.[1] The cartoon was released on April 15, 1950 and stars Hubie and Bertie and Claude Cat.[2] The title can be seen as a simple play on "hypochondriac".
| The Hypo-Chondri-Cat | |
|---|---|
 The title card of The Hypo-Chondri-Cat. | |
| Directed by | Charles M. Jones |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer (uncredited) |
| Story by | Michael Maltese |
| Starring | Mel Blanc Stan Freberg (uncredited) |
| Music by | Carl Stalling |
| Animation by | Ben Washam Lloyd Vaughan Ken Harris Phil Monroe |
| Layouts by | Robert Gribbroek |
| Backgrounds by | Phil DeGuard |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date | April 15, 1950 (U.S.) |
Running time | 7:19 |
| Language | English |
Plot
Hubie and Bertie take shelter in a house, but are shortly confronted by Claude Cat. He chases the two, but when he comes to an open window, a draft hits him and he is overtaken by his fear of catching a cold that could develop into pneumonia. He immediately grabs some pills and medicine. The mice see this as an opportunity to dispose of Claude. They trick him into thinking he is very sick, then they pretend to perform surgery on him. Claude faints and has a surreal dream involving illness and surgery. When he comes to, Hubie and Bertie convince him that he is dead and now a heavenly angel. Then Hubie and Bertie send Claude floating unknowingly on a balloon, in a state of grace, to "Cat Heaven".
Availability
- DVD - Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1, Disc 3
References
- Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 209. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 66. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.