A Bird in a Bonnet is a 1958 Merrie Melodies animated short starring Sylvester and Tweety. Released September 27, 1958, the cartoon is directed by Friz Freleng. The voices were performed by Mel Blanc and June Foray.
Plot
In New York City, Granny is in a hat shop looking for a new hat. The sales lady has her try on several hats, but Granny seems unsatisfied with each choice (a Napoleon chapeau makes her imitate Napoleon's hand in coat pose and chuckle "Not tonight, Josephine!"). At the same time, Sylvester is chasing Tweety outside and Tweety makes his way into the hat shop. Just as Tweety hides at a table, Sylvester runs in and tries to rummage through the hats to look for him, but the sales lady catches him in the act, and using the broom, chases him out. Just as the sales lady comes to the table where Tweety is hiding, Tweety stands real still on a hat, making the sales lady think that he's a cute little stuffed bird on a hat. After Granny tries it on, she thinks the same thing and buys the hat.
Tweety soon realizes the joys of being said "stuffed bird" has a two-fold purpose, the second being that it is perfect refuge from Sylvester. But as usual, the puddy tat does everything to get at the bird, first following Granny out of the hat shop. The first time, Granny turns around, but sees Sylvester sleeping peacefully. The second time, Granny quickly gets wise and swats the cat with her umbrella.
Other failed attempts for Sylvester to get Tweety include:
- Perching himself atop a delivery truck. Just as he is about to grab dinner, the truck speeds away, requiring the cat to take the crosstown bus to return downtown. Sylvester then barely avoids getting hit by an oncoming car, causing his heart to beat fast and his fur to go white.
- Hiding inside an English gentleman's hat. The man walks up beside Granny and makes a snide remark, just as Sylvester is making a grab for Tweety. Granny uses her umbrella to clout the man and — unwitting — the cat.
- Following Granny into Lacy's Department Store (a play on Macy's) and into an elevator. The cat's tail gets stuck in the elevator door, and when he finally disembarks the elevator, his tail has been stretched from the store's eight floors.
- At J.C. Denny's (a pun on J.C. Penney), the cat snatching Granny's hat with the obvious intent of getting Tweety. Granny follows the thieving cat outside, but Sylvester makes his getaway by putting the hat on and using a balloon to float to safety ... until Tweety pops the balloon. The hat glides to the street undamaged (where Granny retrieves it), while Sylvester plummets into a manhole ("Whoo-hoo-hoo. Hey, look at this, Ralph! A pussycat!" says a Ed Norton-esque sewer worker).
- Later, using a bellows to blow Granny's hat from her head, causing it to go onto the street. Sylvester barely avoids getting hit by several cars and recovers the hat, but he is struck by a motorscooter driving from an alley. Granny manages to retrieve the hat safely.
In the ending gag, Sylvester uses a fishing rod and reel to latch onto the hat. Granny gets into a taxi, and Sylvester is pulled away by the speeding driver. After being an unwilling car skiier for several city blocks (and nearly getting hit by two trucks), Sylvester eventually realizes he needs to reel himself in ... which he does to open the taxi's sunroof and grab Tweety. Just after saying his only line in the cartoon — "Now I've got you, buster!" — the car drives into the Holland Tunnel, where the cat hits his head against the side of the entrance; the bird flies out of his hand and back safely onto the taxicab's roof. "You know, I wose more puddy tats that way!" remarks Tweety as the cartoon ends.
Score
"A Bird in a Bonnet" is one of six cartoons scored by John Seely of Capitol Records using stock music from the Hi-Q library because of a musicians' strike in 1958; the others are Weasel While You Work , Hip Hip-Hurry! , Hook, Line and Stinker , Gopher Broke , and Pre-Hysterical Hare . This cartoon is the only Friz Freleng cartoon to have a Seely score; two others were directed by Chuck Jones (both starring Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner), while the remaining three were helmed by Robert McKimson.
Granny's two for one gag
Granny walks up to the camera. English Gentleman wearing a top hat catches up to Granny and eyes her admiringly. As Sylvester reaches out from the hat to grab Tweety, English Gentleman turns around to face Granny and prepares to tip his hat.
English Gentleman: ( to Granny ) Morning, madam! Goin' my way?
Granny turns around with a sour look and Sylvester ducks back into hat.
Granny: ( to English Gentleman ) Masher!
Granny hits English Gentleman over the head with her umbrella and walks away, leaving English Gentleman looking dazed and battered. Sylvester pokes up from English Gentleman's hat, also looking dazed and battered.
Censorship
Succession
References
- Friedwald, Will and Jerry Beck. "The Warner Brothers Cartoons."
Felt Catnip Tweety Bird Cat Toys
Fall Coats + Rain Gear; Cozy Sweaters; Winter Coats + Outerwear; Bathwear + Pajamas ... Our Felt Catnip Tweety Birds feature potent organic catnip + a velcro pocket for catnip ...
Savannah animals’ coats and hides
Find the right coat or hide for each savannah animal. If you get the right one, you'll ... A sweety tweety bird Sweety tweety bird print and paint - print out this chirpy chappy and ...
Tweety Bird Cage - Low prices, plus free shipping!
Tweety Bird Cage. Non-Toxic and Bird Safe! Exterior Dimensions: Width 14" Depth 11" Height 19" ... ALL COLORS ARE 100% NON-TOXIC. COATING IS "SUPER TOUGH" BAKED-ON POWDER COAT FINISH.
Tweety Bird Button
Blazer & Coats; Bone & Horn; Braided; Enamel; Fashion; Flowers & Shapes; Glass; Holiday ... Tweety Bird Button Style: 32137 • Rounded plastic Tweety button • Shank back attachment
Disney(R) Toys, American Tweety Bird Angel, other stuffed funnables
Plush Tweety Bird Angel Tweety Bird Angel stuffed DISNEY® plush toy is dressed in a white robe with ... Scooby Doo Stuffed Toy: Scoobie With Hearthrob Rain coat, Stuffed Toy: Stuffed ...
A Bird in a Bonnet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Bird in a Bonnet is a 1958 Merrie Melodies animated short ... Napoleon chapeau makes her imitate Napoleon's hand in coat ... Just as the sales lady comes to the table where Tweety is ...
tweety: Information from Answers.com
Ladies Womens Size Medium 4-6 Tweety Bird Jacket Coat TWEETY BIRD DIVA DESIGN -PURPLE AND BLACK DIVA DESIGN -JACKET COAT - NEW - BRAND NEW WITH TAGS - BY JH DESIGN - WOMENS LADIES ...
Tweety Bird Cage - FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING WE SELL!
Tweety Bird Cage. Non-Toxic and Bird Safe! Exterior ... ALL COLORS ARE 100% NON-TOXIC. COATING IS "SUPER TOUGH" BAKED-ON POWDER COAT FINISH.
Tweety Bird Cage - FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING WE SELL!
Tweety Bird Cage. Non-Toxic and Bird Safe! Exterior Dimensions: Width 14" Depth 11" Height 19" ... ALL COLORS ARE 100% NON-TOXIC. COATING IS "SUPER TOUGH" BAKED-ON POWDER COAT FINISH.
Tweety Bird fashion on sale in Beverly Hills - StyleList
Tweety Bird fashion on sale in Beverly Hills. Posted Jul 20th 2007 at 9:45AM by Jonathon Morgan ... Coats; ALDO - Shoes; White House/Black Market - Jewelry