Mississippi Slow Boat is a 1961 Inspector Willoughby short directed by Paul J. Smith.
Plot[]
Inspector Willoughby is a Fells Bargo agent who has captured some bandits and is shipping them (and a big bag of money), via steamboat, down the Mississippi to New Orleans. As the bandits, bound together by a rope, are lowered into the hold, Willoughby walks the gangplank to accompany the prisoners to their destination. A typical riverboat gambler spots Willoughby and his bag of money, and he immediately conceives a scheme to liberate the money. He tries various schemes, but Willoughby always gets the better of him. The gambler disguises himself as a poor troubled widow, and he attempts to play on Willoughby's sympathy by telling him a sordid sob story of "her" troubles (a sick mother and no job). Willoughby, with tears in his eyes, opens a door and says, "Step in here and tell me more." "She" steps through the door and onto the paddlewheel at the stern of the riverboat. Thrown into the river, "she" is immediately confronted by an alligator and escapes its snapping jaw by an eyelash. Back on the riverboat, the gambler endeavors, by various and devious methods, to acquire the money, but Willoughby thwarts each and every attempt. He tries dressing up as a redcap and asks to take Willoughby's bags- but Willoughby karate-chops him. Then the crook tries some "Southern hospitality," offering him a drink (poisoned)- but Willoughby turns the table (literally). Next, he tries to win at poker, but Willoughby is a bit suspicious when the crook has 53 aces in his hand. Finally, after he tries one last desperate effort (with a gun) to get the money, Willoughby sends him through the door onto the paddlewheel again, and the alligator gets him. Willoughby fishes them all out and takes them in. The gambler finds himself in the hold of the riverboat with the rest of the bandits. Upon arrival at New Orleans, all are led from the steamer onto the gangplank and off to prison.
Characters[]
Notes[]
- Marks a big change in the opening title sequence. The Inspector Willoughby The normally light blue background utilized during the opening theme when Willoughby walk and jump, announcing (used on the previous three entries), is replaced with a blue-colored light backdrop starting with this entry. This light blue background would be used until 1965 The Case of the Elephant's Trunk when it was final entry.
- CTC aired a restored master from the 90s of the cartoon on same one aired.
- The narrator introduces the Inspector by this full name: Inspector Seward Willoughby.
- At the time, that Lantz Studio was located at 861 Seward Street in Hollywood, California (and, we should note, that a Willoughby Ave. crosses Seward Street at that corner).
- MeTV airs an unreleased restored print of the cartoon on Saturday Morning Cartoons.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Cooke, Jon, Komorowski, Thad, Shakarian, Pietro, and Tatay, Jack. "1961". The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia.