One Froggy Evening (1955)

Director:

Chuck Jones

Writer:

Michael Maltese (story)

Release Date:

31 December 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family | Musical

Plot:

A man futilely struggles to make his fortune with a frog that sings and dances, but only when it is alone with the owner.

Plot Keywords:

Michigan J. Frog | Future | Ray Gun | Vaudeville | Ragtime

Awards:

1 win

Cast

(in alphabetical order)

Bill Roberts

...

Michigan J. Frog (singing voice) (uncredited)

Runtime:

7 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #16892)

Company:

Warner Bros. Animation

Trivia:

When the frog is released from the cornerstone, he starts singing ragtime tunes such as "Hello Ma Baby", leading some observers to speculate that he is singing tunes he remembers from before the time he was placed in the cornerstone. In the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection", the various commentaries and special features make this point. However, not all the songs are from before the time he was imprisoned, which according to the cornerstone and the documents placed within, was April 16, 1892. (Since "The Michigan Rag" was written for the cartoon, it can be credited as being older than 1892.) "Largo al factotum", "Come Back to Erin," and "Throw Him Down, McCloskey" were written before the frog's supposed entombment (in 1816, 1866, and 1890, respectively), while "Hello, Ma Baby", "Won't You Come Over to My House," "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" were written afterward (in 1899, 1906, 1921, and 1930, respectively).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the owner of the frog gets thrown out of the talent agency, there's a hand-print on the wall to the side of the door he is thrown from. In the next shot it's gone.

Quotes:

Michigan J. Frog: [singing] Everybody do the Michigan Rag / everybody likes the Michigan Rag / every Mame and Jane and Ruth / from Weehawken to Duluth / slide, ride, glide the Michigan / stomp, romp, pomp the Michigan / jump, clump, pump the Michigan Rag / that lovin' rag.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NewsRadio: Friends (#2.6)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Won't You Come Over To My House?

Michigan J. Frog as he was before the WB Network

Some of the sparkle may have faded on this one since I'm sure that everyone who likes cartoons has seen it often enough to have every scene memorized. Still, it dazzles. Look at those expressions - face and body! No one can make non-speaking characters say more than Chuck Jones. My advice is for Jones fans to wait about ten years before seeing it again. You'll have a chance to forget a few details and then be dazzled again.