The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos


The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos is a 1937 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Frank Tashlin. The short was released on December 4, 1937.

Plot

The cartoon starts with an owl named "Owl Kott" giving an introduction to the festivities. This is followed by a Ben Bernie caricature called "Ben Birdie", feuding with "Walter Finchell". The same spoof was used in the cartoon The Coo-Coo Nut Grove. Walter Winchell had a well-publicized feud with Bernie at the time, which, like Jack Benny's "feud" with Fred Allen, was faked for publicity purposes - Bernie and Winchell were actually good friends.
Next is "Milton Squirrel" introducing "Wendell Howl" and an audience trying to figure out which page to go to in their songbooks, which results in Wendell getting pelted by the audience's songbooks. Then, "Billy Goat and "Ernie Bear" and everyone else sings a song with the lyrics:
During the song, a fox called "Mr. Allen" is told that he's singing "Swanee River" instead of the actual song. Then the song is sung by "Eddie Gander", "Sophie Turkey", "W.C. Fieldmouse", "Dick Fowl", "Fats Swallow", "Deanna Terrapin", "Irvin S. Frog", "Fred McFurry", "Bing Crowsby", "Al Goatson", "Ruby Squealer", and "Lanny Hoss". Then "Grace Moose" and "Lily Swans" sing notes, each note higher than the other. Comedian and jazz singer Martha Raye makes an appearance in a scatting jazz take. More caricatures appear, including movie critic and gossip columnist "Louella Possums", Raven McQuandry, Joe Penguin, Tizzie Fish, Jack Bunny, Mary Livingstone, and Andy Devine. Finally Owl Kott finishes the cartoon by bidding the audience goodnight, and saying "All is well, all is well..."

Availability