The Squawkin' Hawk Explained

The Squawkin' Hawk
Director:Supervision:
Charles M. Jones
Producer:Leon Schlesinger
Story:Michael Maltese
Starring:Kent Rogers
Sara Berner
Tedd Pierce (all uncredited)
Music:Carl W. Stalling
Animator:Phil Monroe
Color Process:Technicolor
Studio:Leon Schlesinger Studios
Distributor:Warner Bros.
Runtime:7 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

The Squawkin' Hawk is a 1942 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones.[1] The short was released on August 8, 1942, and is the first to star the young Henery Hawk.[2] It was animated by Phil Monroe and was written by Michael Maltese,[3] the latter being his first collaboration with Jones.

Plot

Junior wants a chicken for dinner, saying that he is a chicken hawk. His mother insists he eat a worm, or he will get no supper. Junior refuses, much to the worm's relief. Junior's mother puts him to bed and tells him to "go right to sleep". Henery sneaks out his house at bedtime, then goes to the chicken coop and soon finds a rooster and his hen, Hazel, who has a panic reaction at the sound of the words "chicken hawk". The rooster chases him until his mother spots him and sends him home. He is again told to eat a worm and again refuses and says he wants a "chicken", at which point the worm gives him a big kiss on the beak.

Reception

The Film Daily called the short "Good", saying, "The adventures of a baby chicken hawk who goes out prowling for chicken after refusing to sup on worms are treated with loads of fun in this Technicolor short."

References

  1. Book: Beck . Jerry . Friedwald . Will . Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons . 1989 . Henry Holt and Co . 0-8050-0894-2 . 132.
  2. Book: Lenburg . Jeff . The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons . 1999 . Checkmark Books . 0-8160-3831-7 . June 6, 2020 . 91.
  3. Web site: Lost Warner Bros. Original Titles . 2022-02-27 . cartoonresearch.com.