Jerky Turkey

Plot

In this Thanksgiving-themed cartoon, a dim-witted Pilgrim ventures out to hunt a turkey for his holiday feast, only to encounter an unusually clever bird who speaks in a perfect Jimmy Durante impersonation and operates a thriving black market. The turkey, capitalizing on wartime shortages, sells rationed goods to other Pilgrims who queue up behind signs reading 'Ye Cigarettes Today' and 'Ye Sugar Today.' Throughout their escalating chase, a bear wearing an 'Eat at Joe's' sandwich sign repeatedly appears, adding to the comic chaos. The turkey ultimately saves himself by harnessing the power of cartoon gags and physics, turning the tables on his hapless hunter in typical Tex Avery fashion.

Historical Background

Produced during the final months of World War II, 'Jerky Turkey' captured the American home front experience at a pivotal moment in history. The cartoon was created when rationing was at its peak, with Americans facing shortages of everything from meat to sugar to cigarettes. The black market depicted in the cartoon reflected a very real aspect of wartime life, as many Americans turned to illegal means to obtain rationed goods. The film's release in April 1945 came just weeks before the surrender of Nazi Germany and months before Japan's surrender, making it one of the last major wartime cartoons before the post-war era began. The animation industry itself was undergoing significant changes during this period, with many studios facing staff shortages due to military service and government contracts for training films. This cartoon represents the intersection of Golden Age animation creativity and wartime social commentary, using humor to help Americans cope with the stresses and absurdities of life on the home front.

Making Of

Tex Avery was at the peak of his creative powers during the production of 'Jerky Turkey,' working with his core team of animators including Preston Blair, Ed Love, and Walt Clinton. The cartoon was conceived during a brainstorming session where Avery wanted to combine Thanksgiving themes with contemporary wartime humor. The Jimmy Durante voice impression was developed after Avery attended a live Durante performance and was inspired by the comedian's distinctive speech patterns. The production faced typical wartime challenges, including several animators being called to military service during production, which required reshuffling of the animation team. The famous 'Eat at Joe's' bear was actually added late in production when Avery felt the cartoon needed an additional running gag to tie the sequences together. The black market concept was considered somewhat controversial by MGM executives, who worried it might seem unpatriotic, but Avery convinced them it was actually a form of patriotic satire.

Visual Style

The cartoon employs the bold, vibrant color palette typical of MGM's Technicolor process, with rich reds and oranges that complement the Thanksgiving theme. Avery's signature visual style is evident in the exaggerated character expressions and dynamic poses, particularly in the Pilgrim's bewildered reactions and the turkey's confident strut. The animation utilizes innovative camera angles for its time, including dramatic low-angle shots during chase sequences and close-ups that emphasize comedic timing. The visual gags are executed with precision timing, using smear animation techniques to create the illusion of impossible speed during the chase scenes. The background art contrasts the traditional Thanksgiving setting with anachronistic elements like ration signs and black market stalls, creating a visually striking juxtaposition. The cartoon's visual style influenced countless later animators with its bold lines, expressive characters, and creative use of negative space.

Innovations

'Jerky Turkey' showcased several technical innovations that would influence animation for decades. The cartoon pioneered advanced smear animation techniques for the ultra-fast chase sequences, creating fluid motion that defied the limited frame rates of the era. The production team developed new methods for combining traditional cel animation with limited animation techniques to maintain quality while working under wartime resource constraints. The synchronization of the Jimmy Durante voice impression with the character's animation was particularly sophisticated for its time, requiring careful timing to match the distinctive speech patterns. The cartoon also featured innovative use of color to enhance comedic timing, with rapid color changes during gags that added to the visual impact. The technical team at MGM developed new camera movement techniques for this cartoon, allowing for more dynamic tracking shots during the chase sequences that gave the animation a more cinematic quality.

Music

The musical score was composed by Scott Bradley, MGM's longtime composer who worked extensively with Tex Avery. Bradley's jazz-influenced orchestration perfectly complements the cartoon's fast-paced action, incorporating swing rhythms and boogie-woogie elements that were popular in the 1940s. The score prominently features a modified version of 'Turkey in the Straw' as the main theme, cleverly arranged to include elements reminiscent of Jimmy Durante's signature piano style. Sound effects play a crucial role in the comedy, with exaggerated boings, crashes, and slide whistles enhancing the physical gags. The voice work, though uncredited, captures the essence of Jimmy Durante's distinctive gravelly voice and timing, complete with his famous 'Ha-cha-cha-cha!' catchphrase. The soundtrack also includes period-appropriate music that would have been familiar to 1945 audiences, helping to ground the cartoon in its contemporary setting despite the historical Pilgrim theme.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence where Pilgrims line up behind ration signs, with one Pilgrim trading his last button for a cigarette
• The turkey's introduction, emerging from behind a black market counter with a Jimmy Durante-style hat and voice
• The chase scene through the Pilgrim village where the turkey uses cartoon physics to escape, including running through a painted tunnel that becomes real
• The recurring appearances of the 'Eat at Joe's' bear, who nonchalantly walks through the chaos of the chase
• The finale where the turkey turns the tables on the Pilgrim, putting him in a giant cooking pot and serving him to other turkeys
• The scene where the turkey demonstrates his black market goods, pulling impossibly large items from tiny containers

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'Jerky Turkey' for its timely humor and inventive gags, with Variety noting its 'clever wartime references and rapid-fire comedy.' The Motion Picture Herald called it 'another example of Tex Avery's unique ability to blend contemporary issues with cartoon mayhem.' Animation enthusiasts in trade publications particularly appreciated the Jimmy Durante impression and the clever use of Thanksgiving themes. Modern animation historians and critics have reevaluated the cartoon as a prime example of wartime animation at its most sophisticated. Leonard Maltin included it in his list of essential classic cartoons, praising its 'perfect timing and social satire.' Jerry Beck, in his book 'The Animated Movie Guide,' highlighted it as 'Avery at his most topical and inventive.' The cartoon is frequently cited in academic studies of wartime propaganda and animation's role in American culture during the 1940s.

What Audiences Thought

Theatrical audiences in 1945 responded enthusiastically to 'Jerky Turkey,' finding particular humor in its relatable depiction of rationing frustrations and the clever Jimmy Durante parody. Moviegoers of the era would have immediately recognized the black market references and cigarette rationing jokes, making the cartoon especially relevant to their daily lives. The cartoon's fast pace and visual gags appealed to both adults and children, a hallmark of Avery's work. Letters to animation magazines of the period frequently mentioned the 'Eat at Joe's' bear as a favorite element, with some viewers writing in to ask if the bear would appear in future cartoons. The Thanksgiving theme made it especially popular during the holiday season, where it was often re-released as part of holiday programming. Modern audiences discovering the cartoon through classic animation collections appreciate its historical value and timeless humor, though some of the specific wartime references may require additional context for contemporary viewers.

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