Puny Express
Encyclopedia
Puny Express is an American
cartoon, and the 32nd animated cartoon
short subject
in the Woody Woodpecker
series. Released theatrically on January 22, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International
.
Woody comes to town and notices an ad at a western post office
advertising for a new mail delivery rider. He is hired but is warned about the bandit Buzz Buzzard
who has been stealing the mail and killing the carriers. Ignoring the warning, Woody sets off. Eventually, Woody runs into Buzz and they begin battling for Woody's mail pouch and it contents. After they use every trick and move they can against each other, Woody finally is able to both outwit and outlast Buzz, and finishes their long battle by knocking him out
. Then with his pouch in hand, Woody goes to finish delivering the mail.
. In addition, the diminutive woodpecker became shorter.
Woody was not the only one to get a new look as his main foil Buzz Buzzard has been redesigned as well. In the previous films, Buzz had brown or black feathers on his head; beginning with this film he would now sport a red/crimson head for most of his appearances in the series.
Puny Express also marked the beginning of a more refined trademark laugh, courtesy of Grace Stafford
. Stafford eventually provided the voice for Woody regularly in 1953, while just providing his laugh for the 1951-52 releases. This new version of Woody's trademark cackle is heard at the beginning and end of Puny Express. Mel Blanc
's more infectious version of Woody's laugh (heard in all previous Woody entries) was utilized during the short as well. Blanc's laugh would be used sporadically moving forward, until Stafford's version became the "official" sound. However, Woody's "Guess Who?", also supplied by Blanc, would be utilized until the end of the series in 1972.
Beginning with this entry, all Woody "cartunes" would have very little (if any) dialogue in them. The voice artists would instead be mainly called upon to do vocal effects (shouting, yeowing, gasping, etc.) for the characters when needed. Other times, Lantz would use archive recordings for the characters' voices. In fact Woody's only line in Puny Express's cartoon proper is his signature line "Guess Who", which is recycled audio of Mel Blanc
from 1941's Woody Woodpecker
. It would be very similar to other theaterical cartoon series from other studios like Tom and Jerry
(MGM), Road Runner
(Warner Bros.), and The Pink Panther
(UA/D-F Enterprises). This would continue in the series until 1954.
Puny Express also marked producer Walter Lantz
's return at directing a Woody Woodpecker "cartune" since the early 1940's. Before the 1948 layoff, director Dick Lundy had begun production on Puny Express, which along with Sleep Happy
was one of two Woody Woodpecker shorts that storymen Ben Hardaway
and Heck Allen had storyboarded and scripted. As such this is Lundy's final effort as director on a Woody short, although he does not have on-screen credit. When the studio reopened in 1950 neither three would return, and Lantz finished production on both films as writer (he had written addition material on both) and director. Lantz would then serve as director, and become head writer, for the next nine entrys in the Woody Woodpecker film series. He, of course, does not receive on-screen credit on any Woody "cartune" as writer or director.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoon, and the 32nd animated cartoon
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
short subject
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
in the Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker is an animated cartoon character, an anthropomorphic acorn woodpecker who appeared in theatrical short films produced by the Walter Lantz animation studio and distributed by Universal Pictures...
series. Released theatrically on January 22, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
.
Plot
In the old west, CowboyCowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
Woody comes to town and notices an ad at a western post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
advertising for a new mail delivery rider. He is hired but is warned about the bandit Buzz Buzzard
Buzz Buzzard
Buzz Buzzard is a fictional animated cartoon character who appeared in several films produced by Walter Lantz Productions in the 1940s, '50s, and 70’s.-History:...
who has been stealing the mail and killing the carriers. Ignoring the warning, Woody sets off. Eventually, Woody runs into Buzz and they begin battling for Woody's mail pouch and it contents. After they use every trick and move they can against each other, Woody finally is able to both outwit and outlast Buzz, and finishes their long battle by knocking him out
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
. Then with his pouch in hand, Woody goes to finish delivering the mail.
A new era
Puny Express was the first Woody Woodpecker short made after a two-year hiatus. Several changes took place in the interim. For starters, Woody's top knot was pushed forward (instead of slicked back), and his head became rounder, thanks to a redesign by animator LaVerne HardingLaverne Harding
Laverne Harding was an American animator.Harding, who worked for the Walter Lantz studio for much of her half-century career in animation, is among the earliest woman animators....
. In addition, the diminutive woodpecker became shorter.
Woody was not the only one to get a new look as his main foil Buzz Buzzard has been redesigned as well. In the previous films, Buzz had brown or black feathers on his head; beginning with this film he would now sport a red/crimson head for most of his appearances in the series.
Puny Express also marked the beginning of a more refined trademark laugh, courtesy of Grace Stafford
Grace Stafford
Gracie Lantz , also known by her stage name Grace Stafford, was an American actress and the wife of animation producer Walter Lantz. Stafford is best known for providing the voice of Woody Woodpecker from 1950 until 1972.-Career:Grace appeared in feature live action films from 1935, Dr...
. Stafford eventually provided the voice for Woody regularly in 1953, while just providing his laugh for the 1951-52 releases. This new version of Woody's trademark cackle is heard at the beginning and end of Puny Express. Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc
Melvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
's more infectious version of Woody's laugh (heard in all previous Woody entries) was utilized during the short as well. Blanc's laugh would be used sporadically moving forward, until Stafford's version became the "official" sound. However, Woody's "Guess Who?", also supplied by Blanc, would be utilized until the end of the series in 1972.
Beginning with this entry, all Woody "cartunes" would have very little (if any) dialogue in them. The voice artists would instead be mainly called upon to do vocal effects (shouting, yeowing, gasping, etc.) for the characters when needed. Other times, Lantz would use archive recordings for the characters' voices. In fact Woody's only line in Puny Express's cartoon proper is his signature line "Guess Who", which is recycled audio of Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc
Melvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
from 1941's Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker (cartoon)
Woody Woodpecker is the first animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on July 7, 1941, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
. It would be very similar to other theaterical cartoon series from other studios like Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
(MGM), Road Runner
The Road Runner Show
The Road Runner Show was an animated anthology series which compiled theatrical Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, which were produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons between 1948 and 1966. The Road Runner Show ran for two seasons on CBS , and then on ABC...
(Warner Bros.), and The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (character)
The Pink Panther is the main and title character in the opening and closing credit sequences of every film in The Pink Panther series except for A Shot in the Dark and Inspector Clouseau. His popularity spawned a series of theatrical shorts, merchandise, a comic book, and television cartoons...
(UA/D-F Enterprises). This would continue in the series until 1954.
Puny Express also marked producer Walter Lantz
Walter Lantz
Walter Benjamin Lantz was an American cartoonist, animator, film producer, and director, best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker.-Early years and start in animation:...
's return at directing a Woody Woodpecker "cartune" since the early 1940's. Before the 1948 layoff, director Dick Lundy had begun production on Puny Express, which along with Sleep Happy
Sleep Happy
Sleep Happy is the 33rd animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on March 26, 1951, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal International.-Plot:...
was one of two Woody Woodpecker shorts that storymen Ben Hardaway
Ben Hardaway
Joseph Benson "Ben/Bugs" Hardaway was a storyboard artist, animator, voice actor, gagman, writer, and director for several American animation studios during the The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He was sometimes credited as J.B. Hardaway, Ben Hardaway, Buggsy Hardaway, and B. Hardaway.While...
and Heck Allen had storyboarded and scripted. As such this is Lundy's final effort as director on a Woody short, although he does not have on-screen credit. When the studio reopened in 1950 neither three would return, and Lantz finished production on both films as writer (he had written addition material on both) and director. Lantz would then serve as director, and become head writer, for the next nine entrys in the Woody Woodpecker film series. He, of course, does not receive on-screen credit on any Woody "cartune" as writer or director.