Blackboard Jumble (1957) Online

This "Droopy cartoon" takeoff on the hit movie "Blackboard Jungle" was very disappointing. First, it didn't star Droopy, just three little kids who all looked like him, and the wolf," who appeared in a handful of these 'toons. Mainly, it just wasn't that funny.

Basically, it was just a collection of pranks by the three little monsters (no one else at this school?) perpetrated against the wolf, a substitute teacher. The latter takes over for the real teacher when the latter runs out of the school a raving lunatic, saying he can't handle this "modern education."

Our stereotypical southern drawl wolf with poor grammar takes over espousing a Liberal attitude about kids and education. However, he finds that the softer, liberal approach doesn't work, either, as the kids absolutely demolish him in every way.

Okay, but not the normal entertaining fare with "Droopy" in the lead.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

After being pleasantly surprised by Michael Lah's debut solo-director Droopy cartoon 'Grin and Share It', which is not one of Droopy's best overall but one of Lah's better Droopy cartoons, 'Blackboard Jumble' proved to be a few steps backwards. After starting with one of his better Droopy outings, 'Blackboard Jumble' is the opposite and doesn't compare to any of Tex Avery's efforts (all of which very good, many even are great to cartoon classics). Droopy, as has been noted, is actually absent here and replaced by three young Droopy clones, and his absence is immediately noted and deeply felt.

Just for the record, this is not the only reason why 'Blackboard Jumble' didn't work for me. Droopy's absence and that it lacks Avery's unique visual style, creativity and wild wackiness are big problems, but actually aren't the biggest problems.

'Blackboard Jumble's' biggest issues are that it's very hit and miss in the gags (mostly miss, one misses the inventiveness and wackiness of the best Droopy cartoons and the couple of "racy" jokes while mildly intriguing are pretty tame now) and that it's a one-joke concept basically stretched to beyond breaking point, making things get tired and repetitive too early.

Story-wise, 'Blackboard Jumble' is very predictable and just lacks the wild timing to make it forgivable. The backgrounds are unimaginative and plain and while the animation is not awful (the colours are nice and some of the drawing is decent but there is a general lack of refinement and especially creativity). The Droopy clones are nowhere near as humorous or as charismatic, instead of being cute or funny they veer on the annoying and this dilutes the conflict.

'Blackboard Jumble' has good points though. The best thing about it is the character of the wolf, who is a very amusing character and one that's interesting and easy to root for. Daws Butler voices him marvellously with a voice and accent that one recognises from anywhere if familiar with some of Butler's other voice work.

Every bit as good is the music score. The music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed. Some of the colours and drawing are nice and there are a few amusing moments with the wolf.

In summary, disappointing and one of the weakest of the Droopy cartoons. 5/10 Bethany Cox

A so-so spoof of the classic Blackboard Jungle that does sadly outstay its welcome even at less than seven minutes.

The problem is that, despite a likable characterisation on the Southern-accented wolf (a rare example of a positive Southern American character in the media), the plot relies on repetition. The wolf goes into a classroom situation with earnest albeit dim-witted intentions, only for the kids to turn the tables and cause him physical harm. Over and over.

A customary racy joke is the wolf's cry when a missile accidentally penetrates him anally, and a suspect joke is the wolf, having been blown up, being transformed into blackface. However, this is thankfully understated compared to other instances in cartoons of the period, such as Bugs Buggy in 1953's "Southern Fried Rabbit".

In all, this isn't a bad short, and the one thing that stands out is how endearing the wolf character is, even if the animation now appears primitive and crude, even for the time. Yet it's a one-joke short that quickly becomes tiring.

. . . sums up the plot of this 6 12-minute short, BLACKBOARD JUMBLE. No doubt still taking heat for all the Lynchings inspired by its wrong-headed historical rewrite, GONE WITH THE WIND, 17 years earlier, MGM takes a stab at making amends here. A rookie school teacher with a Southern drawl enters the BLACKBOAD JUMBLE with a personal agenda of reviving the Confederacy by forcing a classroom full of likely Yankee kids (they're all so hyper) to paint the hateful "Stars and Bars" Confederate Battle Flag. Recognizing this logo of the "Peculiar Institution" once hell-bent on classifying American Blacks as non-human tools of perpetual servitude, these right-thinking kids quickly declare war on their racist bigot instructor. Though the would-be child corrupter is taller than any three pupils stacked, the ingenious tykes slowly prevail in a campaign of attrition. Naturally, the Rebel teacher resorts to cheating with weapons of mass destruction when the tide of battle turns against him. But since Right makes Might, the forces of Truth triumph over this Ultimate Evil, permanently routing it.

After about 35 years of originally seeing this on an afternoon Tom and Jerry show, I watched this cartoon again as an extra on the Blackboard Jungle DVD. It has the voice of Daws Butler-employing the one he would eventually use for Huckleberry Hound-as a wolf who ends up taking a teaching job after the previous one runs out of the schoolhouse all crazy-like. This wolf finds three kids-all resembling Droopy (It seems Bill Thompson wasn't available as none of them talk here)-who cause all kinds of mischief. This wolf's reactions are quite funny especially when put in all kinds of situations. I suppose modern viewers may pause laughing when one scene involves a Confederate flag but since I found out the song he whistles was an anti-slavery song, that may even things out. Besides, I liked how those "stars" appeared on it! Anyway, that's a recommendation of Blackboard Jumble.

Blackboard Jumble (1957)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Hilarious spoof of Blackboard Jungle has a wolf with a Southern accent taking over for a teacher who had a nervous breakdown due to his mean spirited kids, clones of Droopy. Many wonderful gags and plenty of nice action.

Blackboard Jungle (1956)

**** (out of 4)

Explosive drama about a teacher (Glen Ford) trying to reach some troubled students (including Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier). I've always loved these "teacher" films and this one here is certainly the best of the bunch. While the events are a little over the top in how much actually happens, the message and heart of the film is right on target. Ford is in my opinion one of the most under appreciated actors from his day and he's wonderful here as are Morrow and Poitier. The first rock and roll soundtrack doesn't hurt matters either.