The Oily American (1954) User Reviews

Normally, Warner Bros. cannot be accused of Racism . . .

[oscaralbert · 6/10 · 19 October 2016]

. . . though THE OILY AMER!CAN may look like an exercise in Bigotry to the untrained eye. However, for those of use who've lived at least half our lives next door to Indian Reservations, it's easy to attest that title character "Moe Hican" looks NOTHING LIKE a Native American. On the other hand, "Moe Hican" is a dead ringer for U.S. Presidential Candidate Donald J. Duck. The fact that all the animal spirits on "Moe's" front gate totem poles are sacrilegiously clasping pots of gold to their tummies provides further evidence that Warner's always prophetic Looney Tuners are focusing (decades before the fact) on the Trumpster's current Threat Against America. Displeased with the outcome of the U.S. Civil War, this historically feeble elderly candidate has pledged to "Make America Hate Again." As countless TV interviews have caught Haters-for-Trump Taking a Vow to Commit Jihad in the form of "Civil Disobedience" or "Holy War" or "Revolt" on Election Day three weeks from now, what does THE OILY AMER!CAN predict about the Final Result? Picture this: Hillary paddles Trump's bare butt with his pants pulled down. Humanity prays that this Looney Tuner climax will come to pass in Real Life!

US hubris represented by an Indian

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 16 November 2008]

"The Oily American" could have easily been a Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote cartoon, except that the embarrassment affects a different character. American Indian Moe Hican, in the oil business, is going for his daily hunt, and everything backfires on his increasingly frustrated butler (as opposed the the Indian, which would have been exactly like the aforementioned cartoons).

Of course, I can't think of petroleum without thinking of everything that's happened in the world during the past few years, much of it relating to control of the oil supply. Hopefully Barack Obama's election and coming inauguration will change things.

Anyway, really funny. And I'm not resigning from reviewing movies.

Great concept but full of missed opportunities

[phantom_tollbooth · 2/10 · 22 April 2009]

Robert McKimson's 'The Oily American' represents a serious missed opportunity for some strong satire. Sid Marcus's script has a wonderful premise; an oil-rich millionaire has animals shipped to his mansion so he can hunt them and mount their heads as trophies without ever leaving the comfort of his own home. However, Marcus seriously drops the ball by making this millionaire a Red Indian, which adds a rather unpleasant, un-PC element. Even discounting that, the script is full of missed opportunities for some amusing dialogue between the tycoon and his stuffy English butler. The whole thing amounts to little more than some chaotic flailing about, gallantly held together by a doing-the-best-he-can McKimson. The ending, in keeping with the rest of the cartoon, is suitably lame and the sole enjoyable image one takes away from 'The Oily American' is that of a pygmy moose, far from enough to justify this grossly unfunny cartoon's existence.

Me smell Mohican burning... ME last Mohican... Must be ME!!!!

[Kiddman · 10/10 · 22 October 2006]

Hilarious cartoon about an oil-rich Indian's daily hunt gone wrong. The title to my rant is my favorite line from the 'toon, said after the sneaky moose Moe Hican's chasing gives the Indian a hotfoot! Many great gags in this 'toon! I hope that Warner Bros. sees fit to include this in one of their "Golden Collection" DVD sets soon. It's VERY mildly "politically incorrect", but it's a fine example of the perfect comic timing of the crew at Warner Bros, and nothing like some of the racially insensitive 'toons that they sometimes made, like the ones with "Inki", an extremely stereotyped black tribesman. I just hope the law advisers at Warner Brothers can see the difference.

Hilarious and creative

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 4 July 2013]

Maybe not one of my all-time favourite cartoons, but one that still hits all the right buttons. The animation is fluid and colourful, with the character animation of the moose standing out among the WB characters. The music is lushly orchestrated and energetic with the ability to add to the humour and action, as any great music for a cartoon should do, the pre-existing tunes are recognisable and still appeal. The writing is fresh, witty with a little bit of a satirical edge without going overboard. The gags are just as hilarious and imaginatively timed, and the crisp pace and creative story(another very good example at Merrie Melodies/Looney Tunes/WB doing something different and succeeding at that) help a lot. The characters are great, the moose is just hysterical- not in a long time have I seen a foil this funny-, the butler is delightfully snooty that shows disdain so entertainingly at still endearing Moe's incompetence. Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations in another one of his one-man-shows are dead on. To conclude, hilarious entertainment with a great premise done in a creative way. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This is one of the funniest cartoons I've ever seen.

[MartyD82-1 · 10/10 · 9 November 2008]

Moe Hican, the wealthy Native American, is having his daily hunt. This time with a hideously deformed moose. Unfortunately, the hunt doesn't quite go as planned, particularly with Moe's butler inadvertently getting caught in the middle of it.

Robert McKimson directed many excellent one-shots during his time with Warner Brothers (The Hole Idea being probably his most famous), but this has to be his funniest. The peppy Moe and his cynical butler are such great characters that I'm surprised McKimson never used them again. But they're nothing compared to the moose, who has to be one of the funniest "victims" ever in a WB cartoon. Seeing Moe's traps constantly turn on the butler is consistently chuckle-worthy, only strengthened by the Butler's increasing frustration with the Native's incompetence. And the ending, which I won't spoil here, will leave you rolling.

An easy 10/10.

Back in the 1900's, lots of kids liked to play a game . . .

[pixrox1 · 8/10 · 31 July 2022]

. . . commonly called "Cowboys & Indians." THE OILY AMERICAN is a spin-off on this pastime, sometimes denoted by the tagline of "Butlers & Indians." Jarvis, apparently a grown man--perhaps a tutor--and his young charge Moe pretend to be servant and master. However, Moe is totally inept at everything he tries, whether it's proficiency with a bow & arrows, or slinging a tomahawk. Jarvis mostly grins and bares it, as tools of the Rich must. Finally Little Lord Fauntleroy breaks Jarvis' last nerve, causing him to break character and wallop the young whelp's rear end. Doubtless Jarvis will be discharged when Moe's parents return to America, but his rebellion may salvage a crumb of his self-respect.