The Hardship of Miles Standish (1940) User Reviews

Traffic owes Warner Bros. royalties

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 18 March 2010]

Yes, "The Hardship of Miles Standish" contains racial stereotypes. As long as we understand that, we can laugh at the cartoon. Friz Freleng's cartoon is a fracturing of the Miles Standish story, with Elmer Fudd playing John Alden, who delivers the telegram (yes, a telegram) to Priscilla - an Edna Mae Oliver lookalike - and sings her a Bing Crosby song.

I noticed in Miles's phone book right before John Alden, there's John Barleycorn. That name is most recognizable from the song "John Barleycorn Must Die" by Traffic. I don't know whether or not there was a famous person with the name. Whatever the case, it's a pretty funny cartoon, as long as we understand the racist images.

You didn't even touch me. Bwa-hah-hah-hah!

Warner Bros. warns U.S. of Cubs breaking World Series curse . . .

[oscaralbert · 7/10 · 21 June 2017]

. . . 76 years in advance with THE HARDSHIPS OF MILES STANDISH. Most of this offering from Warner's Animated Shorts Seers squad (aka, the Looney Tuners) centers around an attack by what turns out to be the Cleveland Indians upon Priscilla's Cabin at Plymouth Plantation. A close examination of this cabin reveals that there are Chicago Cubs symbols and Bric-a-Brac squirreled away in every corner of the place. When the Indians snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by breaking the only window of Priscilla's cabin, forcing them to retreat in disarray, Priscilla already has THREE arrows sticking out of her butt, symbolizing Cleveland's THREE triumphs over Chicago during the first four games of the 2016 World Series. Perceptive viewers will notice that the Indians fire 121 arrows that miss. This is the Looney Tuners' way of spelling out the Upcoming Curse of the Broken Window (at that bar where the Indians were celebrating their World Series win eight years AFTER this brief cartoon was released). Warner Bros. is warning America that these Deplorable "Indians" will not win the Series again until 2069, a Dry Spell that will break the Cubs' current record for World Championship Futility by 13 years. Who knows what the Racist "Indians" will call themselves then? After all, this bunch of chokers started out as the "Grand Rapids Rustlers" back in Michigan during the Gay '90's (1894, to be specific).

Some funny jokes, but Native American stereotypes hard to watch

[mooveeguy · 5/10 · 2 March 2004]

Elmer Fudd is funny as singing telegram messenger John Alden, trying to defend Priscilla from an Indian attack. There are a few enjoyable gags, but the negative depiction of Native Americans as dopey savages makes this difficult to watch and inappropriate for the children who are probably its primary target audience. As someone else correctly points out in the trivia for this cartoon, one of the Native American characters can be seen mouthing obscenities at a comrade who has shot him with an arrow. More valuable today for academic purposes than as entertainment, THE HARDSHIP OF MILES STANDISH is undone by its offensive content.

The Coming Together of the Man Himself

[richard.fuller1 · 6 December 2004]

Arthur Q. Bryan would first do the familiar voice we know as Elmer Fudd in "Dangerous Dan McDoo" (1939), with the voice applied to a dog living in the Klondike.

The name Elmer Fudd had appeared in Merrie Melodies cartoons, usually associated with a small man with a red nose and a bouncy derby.

At one time, there was a rotund Elmer Fudd, who as a photographer was tormented by Bugs Bunny.

But it was the Hardship of Miles Standish (1940) that first saw the name, the voice and the look all brought together for the first time.

Whom we now know as Elmer would appear as John Alden in this cartoon. Hugh Herbert was the inspiration for MIles Standish. Herbert was the comedian who made the "woo woo woo" noise (which ironically enough would be imitated by the early Daffy Duck characterization).

Too funny is Prisilla, modeled after Edna May Oliver.

The Indian attack was emulating Oliver's Oscar nominated performance in Drums Along The Mohawk, where she was in a cabin attacked by Indians.

Oliver as Prisilla would get some zingers in this cartoon. Her laundry is endangered, she runs out and brings it all in, then takes one back.

"This one isn't dry," she says.

I always liked the Indians who now were scared when one of them broke the window, like boys playing baseball, and Elmer came out demanding to know who broke it.

Yes, we have Indians on the warpath. Several cartoons from this era are full of this image.

To dismiss this history tho runs the risk of repeating it. The cartoons were made, and from what has been posted here that I never knew, it seems like an Indian got the last word on the matter.

Nevertheless, this was the whole, complete Elmer Fudd's first appearance, so this cartoon has it's place in cartoon history as well.

"Nyah, nyah, yuh didn't even tuh-uch muh-ee, yuh didn't even tuh-uch . . . . muh-ee."

Prisilla had several arrows in her lower posterior.

Now she runs and yelps.

Not Exactly "Timeless"

[Pumpkin-22 · 6/10 · 9 June 1999]

Elmer Fudd is quite good as John Alden, seen here as a singing telegram messenger. Unfortunately, for the most part this is one Warner Bros. cartoon that hasn't aged too well.

Unexpectedly funny.

[povertyhill · 9/10 · 12 May 2009]

Timeless is a subjective evaluation with several different meanings. I consider this one timeless because it has stood the test of time, if only by living so vividly in my own memory and those of many others. The cartoon was 6 years old when I was born and now that I'm 63, it's one of the few that stands out in my memory from childhood.

While it's true that the Native Americans in it were portrayed as goofs, so were the Pilgrims; therefore it's hardly racially prejudiced. It's a cartoon and should be revered for its sheer ability to entertain and make even adults laugh.

A delight from long ago, I'd be happy to show it to my great-grandkids; if only so they could see a cartoon that is truly full of humor.

Definitely recommended.

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 19 March 2018]

CAST: "Edna May Oliver" (Priscilla), "F. Hugh Herbert" (Miles Standish), "Elmer Fudd" (John Alden).

Director: I. FRELENG. Story: Jack Miller. Animation: Gil Turner. Musical director: Carl W. Stalling. Song: "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby". Color by Technicolor. Producer: Leon Schlesinger.

Copyright 27 April 1940 by The Vitaphone Corp. A Warner Bros. "Merrie Melodies" cartoon from Leon Schlesinger Productions. U.S. release: 27 April 1940. 1 reel.

COMMENT: Not only fascinating for lovers of vintage Hollywood, but an entertaining cartoon in its own right with some splendid visual and verbal gags.

The lay-out and backgrounds are agreeably quaint.

Fudd as a singing telegram boy rendering "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" to Edna May Oliver is a stand-out sequence, though there are others ("IN CASE OF INDIANS BREAK GLASS") that come close in wit and style.

Definitely recommended.

Not for sissies

[Pianoboi84 · 10/10 · 17 March 2021]

This is one of my fav cartoons ever. I love the parody of Edna Mae Oliver me and my childhood friend still use her voice to this day. I love when the Indians attack especially the goofy one. Love the early Elmer fudd also his voice is great. Anyone who is offended by this needs serious therapy