The Penguin Parade (1938) User Reviews

One of the more interesting questions fielded by Warnologists . . .

[oscaralbert · 6/10 · 19 March 2017]

. . . (the is, the folks who make a study of Warner Bros. always psychic prognostications about America's upcoming Calamities, Catastrophes, Cataclysms, and Apocalypti) is whether Warner ever prophesies in regard to the future of ITS OWN personnel. The answer to this query, of course, is a resounding "Heck, yes!" and the animated short THE PENGUIN PARADE is an excellent case in point. THE PENGUIN PARADE is one of the few offerings from the Looney Tuners which mentions "Warner Bros." and long-time Warner cartoon producer "Leon Schlesinger" by name during the mid-cartoon dialog (specifically, during the otherwise unintelligible penguin emcee's monologue). Fittingly enough, this particular outing is directed by Tex Avery, who was on the verge of defecting to rival cartoon studio MGM (a dead-giveaway that Tex sensed, at least on a subconscious level, Schlesinger's upcoming debacle less than seven years later). When you consider its clairvoyant Big Picture, THE PENGUIN PARADE is about "Draining the Swamp," warning America that everything Red Commie KGB Mastermind Vlad "The Mad Russian" Putin's future MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE Puppet Rump would utter on the stump was the exact opposite of his actual Marching Orders from Uncle Vlad. That's why Washington's swamp was expanded ten-fold by a Parade of Penguin-Like Oligarchical Billionaire Traitors as soon as Putin successfully Rigged America's 2016 Election. But the Looney Tuners were never sticklers for "tunnel vision," so one dual purpose of THE PENGUIN PARADE was to warn of Warner's in-house Deplorable One Per Center Fat Cat Traitor Schlesinger and his upcoming Court Martial for depriving the U.S. Army of who knows how many crucial bullets and tank shells when Mr. S. cheated on his expense account for Warner's "Private SNAFU" U.S. Army propaganda training cartoon series. Unfortunately, Warner's Cassandras were ignored just as much when they were forecasting imminent scandals undermining "Termite Terrace" as they were when they were warning us of our own on-going tragedies in America's (Then) Far Future.

One of my favorite Tex Avery shorts.

[llltdesq · 9/10 · 12 November 2002]

This is one of my favorite Tex Avery cartoons. It's Tex in full stride and typical of his Warner Brothers work. It even has Tex doing voice work (appropriately, because he was a big man) as a walrus. There are celebrity caricatures sprinkled here and there, but the music is what sets this apart. Just a bit of trivia: Warner's caricatured many famous stars, most of whom didn't seem to mind terribly, at least not out loud. But Bing Crosby did mind and once apparently talked of suing. I doubt he would have. Likely, he would have lost and he would have come off looking more than a bit foolish. Great cartoon and a very rapid-fire, almost manic delivery. The closing line is a scream! Most definitely worth tracking down and watching. Most recommended, particularly for anyone who likes Avery or swing/jazz (and we do mean you!).

Any penguin fans will find The Penguin Parade a treasure!

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 27 November 2012]

I certainly am a penguin fan, as well as one of Tex Avery, and I did find The Penguin Parade a treasure. One of my personal favourites from Avery, that's for sure. Okay maybe Avery has better cartoons technically, but the visuals are still quite attractive and charming. I adore the soundtrack, Carl Stalling's scoring has his trademark orchestral liveliness and infectious energy, and the musical numbers are really catchy. The humour is very manic especially with the scats, and is delivered in a very fresh and witty way. A definite standout was the closing line, which is just priceless. The caricatures are right on point as well with nothing coming across as questionable. The penguins are both endearing and very funny. Both Avery's and Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations are brilliant, they've never put a foot wrong as far as I'm concerned.

In conclusion, a treasure for anybody who loves animation, penguins or both. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Jazz Crazed Penguins Get Hot at Club Iceberg

[brucepantages-1 · 10/10 · 30 June 2005]

It is a big night on the ice-flows. The Penguins are all headed to the grand opening of their hottest new night club, The Club Iceberg. Dressed in their best formal attire, they drink, they dance and they tell naughty stories. The master of ceremonies speaks fluent "scat" but somehow makes perfect sense. The singing acts are equally vague, yet never miss the target. These are no naive birds from the North Slope - they may be zany, but they definitely know the score. First we have the penguin's version of Bing Crosby crooning "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" before his backup trio belts out a hot "scat" chorus. Fats Walrus coolly riffs out his hot piano solo, while never venturing into the realm of racial slur. He is neither black nor white. He is a Walrus. It should be said the music track is as important as the animation in Penguin Parade. Songwriter Byron Gay, whose illustrious and varied career included being a member of Admiral Byrd's Expedition of 1933, appropriately composed the words and music - while Carl Stalling's handiwork burns up the soundtrack. Gay and Stalling must be given equal credit with Avery on this one. Our feathered entertainers give it their all and when they tire out they tell the viewers that "If you people out there in the audience think we are going to keep this up all night, you're screwy & and we DO mean YOU!" Don't be surprised if you wish they would keep it up all night. This reviewer did. Arguably, there may be technically better cartoons, but rarely is one more completely enjoyable than Tex Avery's "Penguin's Parade." Worth seeking out!

marks of the penguins

[lee_eisenberg · 8/10 · 19 September 2007]

If you know what sorts of gags Tex Avery's cartoons contain, just insert members of the family Spheniscidae* and you have "The Penguin Parade". It portrays a gigantic musical performance in Antarctica featuring penguin celebrity caricatures such as Bing Crosby. Among the scenes are hot jazz melting the instruments, and...well, I don't know how much I can tell you without giving away the really funny parts. But I will say that this is one cartoon that you're sure to like. Above all, it just goes to show that there will probably never be a genre of cartoons like these in our lifetimes. Really great. Available on YouTube.

PS: writer Ben "Bugs" Hardaway drew the Bugs Bunny prototype.

*That's the taxonomic family to which penguins belong.

Just awesome

[Kieran_Kenney · 24 February 2004]

Penguin Parade is a classic Tex Avery musical comedy, with sassy anthorpormorphic animals who run a nightclub up in the frozen arctic short.

Here's your concept. Penguins who run a night club. A genius idea that is pulled off very well. The penguins look like famous celebrities, i.e. Bing Crosby, Durante (I think) and a few others.

Most of the details are a little foggy, since I haven't seen it in a while, but the last few moments are unforgettable. I won't give them away. All I will say is that this movie gives the word "screwy" a new meaning. See if you can find this film. It's really, really, really worth the effort. 8/10