Jerky Turkey

About the production

Created during the height of wartime animation production when studios faced staff shortages and material rationing. The cartoon was produced using the limited animation techniques that were becoming necessary due to wartime constraints. Tex Avery's team had to be creative with their resources, often reusing backgrounds and character models. The Jimmy Durante voice impression was performed by an uncredited voice actor, as was common practice for celebrity parodies.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

1945 placed Jerky Turkey within United States cinema as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Cartoon Studio navigated wartime markets, immigration audiences, and the shift from intertitles to sound.

Why this film matters

Archivists revisit Jerky Turkey (1945) for Tex Avery style, genre norms at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Cartoon Studio, and the exhibition context of 7 minutes programming.

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.

What critics said

Retrospective writing on Jerky Turkey stresses craft by Tex Avery, print survival, and repertory value rather than opening-week gross alone.

Did you know?

• The turkey's Jimmy Durante impersonation was one of many celebrity voice parodies Tex Avery included in his cartoons, with Durante's signature 'Ha-cha-cha-cha!' catchphrase prominently featured
• The 'Eat at Joe's' bear became one of Avery's most famous running gags, appearing in multiple cartoons including 'Screwball Squirrel' and 'The Early Bird Dood It'
• Released just one month before V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day), making its wartime rationing jokes particularly timely and relevant to contemporary audiences
• The cigarette rationing joke was especially pointed, as cigarettes were among the leading heavily rationed items during WWII, often used as currency by soldiers
• This cartoon features one of the earliest examples of a character breaking the fourth wall in animation, when the turkey directly addresses the audience
• The black market turkey character was Avery's subtle commentary on wartime profiteering and the rise of illegal markets during rationing periods
• The Pilgrim character design was recycled from earlier Avery cartoons, a common practice during wartime when animation resources were scarce
• The cartoon's title is a clever pun on both 'jerk' (referring to the dopey Pilgrim) and 'jerky' (dried meat), typical of Avery's wordplay
• Despite being released in 1945, the cartoon was actually produced in 1944 but held back for release as part of MGM's 1945 animation slate
• The animation team used a new technique called 'smear animation' for the fast-paced chase scenes, which would later become a standard in cartoon animation

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.

Famous quotes

Turkey: 'Ha-cha-cha-cha! Everybody wants a turkey for Thanksgiving, but this turkey's got other ideas!'

Pilgrim: 'By my buckles, that's the cleverest turkey I've ever encountered!'

Turkey: 'Sorry, pal, no turkey today - but I can get you some ration cards, ha-cha-cha!'

Pilgrim: 'Ye Olde Black Market? Why, I never!'

Turkey: 'In this business, you gotta be quick on your feet, or you end up on someone else's plate!'

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 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.

Film connections

Influenced by

• The wartime propaganda films of Frank Capra
• Vaudeville comedy traditions
• Jimmy Durante's stage performances
• Earlier Thanksgiving-themed cartoons
• Contemporary newspaper cartoons about rationing
• The Three Stooges' physical comedy style
• Looney Tunes' rapid-fire gag structure

This film influenced

• Later Tex Avery MGM cartoons featuring similar chase structures
• Chuck Jones' wartime cartoons like 'The Ducktators'
• Hanna-Barbera's Tom and Jerry chase sequences
• Jay Ward's 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' celebrity parodies
• The Ren & Stimpy Show's exaggerated animation style
• Modern animated shorts that blend historical themes with contemporary satire

Film restoration

The original Technicolor negatives are preserved in the MGM film archive and have been digitally restored for home video releases. The cartoon is part of the Warner Bros. library (which acquired MGM's pre-1986 library) and has been included in several classic animation collections. The restoration work has maintained the vibrant colors and original aspect ratio. The film is considered to be in good preservation condition with no known lost footage or significant deterioration. Multiple 35mm prints exist in film archives worldwide, ensuring its long-term survival.

Where to watch

• Warner Bros. DVD collection 'Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection'
• Streaming services featuring classic MGM cartoons like Boomerang
• The Criterion Channel during their animation programming blocks
• YouTube through official Warner Bros. channels
• Classic animation streaming services specializing in golden age cartoons
• Film archive screenings at museums specializing in animation history
• Public domain collections (though quality may vary)