''Let It Be Me'' is a 1936

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Di ...

Merrie Melodies ''Merrie Melodies'' is an American animation, animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. starting in 1931, during the golden age of American animation, and ending in 1969. Then some new cartoons were produced from the late 197 ...

'' cartoon directed by

Friz Freleng Isadore "Friz" Freleng (August 21, 1905May 26, 1995), credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

. The short was released on May 2, 1936.

Plot

The plot revolves around an

anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...

hen named Emily (a prototype Miss Prissy), whose boyfriend rooster, Clem, is just about to propose marriage to her when she gets infatuated with a passing rooster motorist, the radio crooner Mr. Bingo (a caricature of

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

). She goes with Mr. Bingo instead. Bingo, while dating Emily in a nightclub, gets infatuated with a singing French hen (a caricature of

Irene Bordoni Irene is a name derived from εἰρήνη (eirēnē), the Greek for "peace". Irene, and related names, may refer to: * Irene (given name) Places * Irene, Gauteng, South Africa * Irene, South Dakota, United States * Irene, Texas, United Stat ...

), and after Emily cries that Bingo no longer loves her, has a waiter throw her out into the street. Crying, she then fends for herself selling violets on a winter day. The jilted Clem, meanwhile, overhears Mr. Bingo on the radio. Clem soon goes from jilted to livid when he grabs the radio and smashes it on the ground, with the "boo boo boo boo" sounding as if the radio is in its death throes, then eventually makes his way to the city, goes to the radio station and gives Bingo his just due in the middle of a broadcast. Clem then finds Emily selling violets, forgives her and marries her, and sires her brood. In the concluding scene, both Clem and Emily are lounging in the living room when the scene is cut to one of her brood of chicks singing at the piano the song that Emily first heard when she dated Mr. Bingo. A book is hurled and hits the poor chick, silencing the singing.

Legal cases

This cartoon, along with ''

Bingo Crosbyana ''Bingo Crosbyana'' is a 1936 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon short directed by Friz Freleng, and notable for its title song, composed by Sanford Green and with lyrics by Irving Kahal. The short was released on May 30, 1936. Plot The pl ...

'' were the two

cartoons which Bing Crosby initiated lawsuits to suppress because they portrayed him in what Crosby considered a defamatory light. In this case, he objected to his portrayal as unfaithful to women and to the imitation of his voice.Cohen (2004), p. 39–40

Home media

*LaserDisc - '' The Golden Age of Looney Tunes'', Volume 4, Side 5 *DVD - '' Follow the Fleet''

References

External links

* * 1936 films 1936 animated films 1936 comedy films Films scored by Bernard B. Brown Films scored by Norman Spencer (composer) Short films directed by Friz Freleng Merrie Melodies short films Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short films Animated films about chickens Cultural depictions of Bing Crosby 1930s Warner Bros. animated short films 1930s English-language films {{MerrieMelodies-stub