''The Under Dog'' is a 1932 short animated film produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is the fourth film featuring

Pooch the Pup Pooch the Pup is a cartoon animal character, an anthropomorphic dog, appearing in Walter Lantz cartoons during the studio's black-and-white era. The character appeared in 13 shorts made in 1932 and 1933. Biography In 1931, Walter Lantz was enco ...

Plot

Pooch (now wearing shoes and a hat) is a penniless vagabond wandering the countryside, and carrying a bindle. On his way, he comes across his sweetheart the girl coonhound (now having lighter fur) who is milking a cow. After they greet each other, Pooch sings the song ''A Great Big Bunch of You''. Moments later, an old dog, who is the girl coonhound's employer, shows up and isn't happy to see him. The old dog hurls Pooch past the fences bordering the farmlands where he lands next to a sign saying "No tramps allowed". Still wanting to fit in, Pooch reenters the farmlands and comes to an outdoor dining table where a pack of farmers are eating. Pooch asks for some food but the farmers refuse to offer a piece. One of those who are dining is the old dog who shoos him away. While standing around back outside the fences, Pooch spots an anthropomorphic tornado coming. Pooch returns to the farmlands to warn everybody about the approaching storm. The farmers flee in various directions. Pooch, the girl coonhound, and the old dog take shelter in a shed which is a storage for explosives. The tornado knows about this before picking up and setting the shed ablaze. Pooch helps the girl coonhound and the old dog leave the small house first. As Pooch stays in the shed for a few more moments, he picks up a windmill's turbine which he uses as a propeller to redirect the shed to the tornado. He then notices the farmers showing up to rescue him as they hold a life net. With this, Pooch finally jumps to his safety. The tornado tries to avoid the shed but to no avail. When the shed, at last, detonates, the tornado is completely neutralized. Back on the ground, the old dog is impressed with the heroic act of Pooch whom he now welcomes to the society. Pooch then continues to spend time with the girl coonhound. Pooch and the girl coonhound get themselves a house, a picket fence, and a stroller full of puppies looking identical to the boy beagle from the Oswald cartoons.

Song

Featured in the film is the song ''A Great Big Bunch of You'' which is composed by

Harry Warren Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; December 24, 1893 – September 22, 1981) was an American composer and the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ...

and

Mort Dixon Mort Dixon (March 20, 1892 – March 23, 1956) was an American lyricist. Biography Born in New York City, United States, Dixon began writing songs in the early 1920s, and was active into the 1930s. He achieved success with his first published ef ...

. The song was popularized by artists such as Al Bowlly, Eddie Lane, Cliff Edwards, Syd Lipton, Joe Moss, Harriot Lee, Jack Hylton, Carroll Gibbons, and the String of Pearls. It is also featured in a

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 ...

short which shares the song's title, ''

A Great Big Bunch of You ''A Great Big Bunch of You'' is a 1932 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon, directed by Rudolf Ising. The short was released on November 12, 1932. A ventriloquist's dummy in the city dump improvises a piano, from the junk there, to play an ...

''.

References

External links

''The Under Dog''
at the Big Cartoon Database 1932 animated films 1932 comedy films 1932 films American black-and-white films Films directed by Walter Lantz Universal Pictures short films Walter Lantz Productions shorts 1930s American animated films American comedy short films Animated films about dogs Universal Pictures animated short films 1930s English-language films {{short-animation-film-stub

Plot

Song

See also

References

External links