The Night of the Living Duck (1988) User Reviews

A rather mild cartoon

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 7/10 · 23 March 2005]

This late-80's cartoon is quite easy-going but not that funny. Still, it's Daffy Duck and he's very cute. It begins with Daffy reading a horror comic book (having already read his Mad Magazine) and going crazy when he can't find the second issue of a two-part cliffhanger. In his desperate search a heavy clock falls off his bookcase and whacks him on the head. Now begins a dream sequence in which Daffy is a lounge singer for all the classic movie monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and his bride, the wolfman, creature from the black lagoon, Leatherface and er...Alfred E. Neuman.

Daffy gets over his nerves by swallowing a few cloudbursts of voice tonic, which does wonders for his lisp, thus turning him (almost) into Frank Sinatra. He then sings an easy-going song called 'Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives' which seems to make everyone happy. As his dream ends he finds his missing comic and all is well. A strange, offbeat Looney Tunes short indeed and a rather somber note for Mel Blanc to go out on.

This cartoon was part of Daffy's feature-length Quackbusters cartoon.

The end of Mel Blanc.

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 10 November 2006]

So, Mel Blanc lent his voice to a cartoon short for the last time. It was an OK effort. Maybe not quite like their work from the '40s and '50s, but a colorful jab at classic horror flicks, as Daffy Duck dreams that he's performing for an audience of monsters...until he antagonizes Godzilla. And with another Mel (Torme, that is) doing the singing, how can you go wrong? All in all, "The Night of the Living Duck" was a worthy end for The Man of 1,000 Voices. And he left this life the very next year (he was actually the first famous person whose death I was aware of; I was only five years old, but I knew the names of Bugs Bunny's creators). You can luxuriate in Mel Blanc's voices and Carl Stalling's music (happy birthday, Carl!).

"But where are the Zombies?!" . . .

[oscaralbert · 7/10 · 8 January 2017]

. . . literal-minded viewers might scream at their screens as the end credits roll for one of the final Looney Tunes of the 1900s, THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DUCK. When a clock falls from his comic book shelf, conking Daffy Duck on the noggin and transporting him to LA LA LAND, he has no trouble tracking down Frankenstein and his Bride, along with Dracula and HIS brides, not to mention The Mummy, The Fly, various Ghosts and Ghoulies, Smogzilla--even Alfred E. Neuman pops up here and there for 37 cents worth of Product Placement. But there's never a trace of George Romero's slow-moving Zombies, or even Rob's fast ones. Instead, cartoon fans are treated to the sonorous (or is it somnolent?) golden tones of a sleep-walking Mel Torme Sashing out (which I believe is the opposite of "belting out") some never-ending lyric about "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives." Surely this is a clear case of Daffy being saddled with at least one "Mel" too many!

This is a SPOILER WARNING!!! I can't review this one without details. Sorry.

[llltdesq · 9/10 · 13 October 2000]

I've debated reviewing this one because I generally don't like to discuss significant details, instead preferring to go into atmosphere and general discussion. But this cartoon has one pint that I have to discuss directly, and since there is no plot outline, it can be considered a spoiler. You are forewarned. The cartoon is principally given over to Daffy as nightclub performer to an audience straight out of Universal, for the most part: Dracula, Frankenstein and others. Spraying his throat with Eau de Torme (yes, Mel Torme), Daffy, voiced by Torme, sings,"Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives". An otherwise unremarkable cartoon is made noteworthy by the voice of the Velvet Fog! The idea still enchants me some twelve years later! It's also why I gave it a nine rather than the seven it would have had otherwise. Mel Torme, I salute you!

Not hilarious but very interesting to watch

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 16 July 2010]

I do agree it isn't as good as the Looney Tunes cartoons of the 40s-50s, as it isn't as witty or as clever, and it is perhaps too short at only 7 minutes. However, it is an interesting watch, with a good enough story. There is nothing hugely hilarious, but there are some amusing enough moments, due to some sharp dialogue especially. The animation is fine, the backgrounds are lovely and the colours are vibrant. And the music is wonderful, perhaps a recycling of Carl Stalling's work, but I didn't mind, as he was for me the best composer of the music of the Looney Tunes cartoons. The highlight however is Daffy singing "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives", the song is wonderfully sung by Mel Torme, who has a beautiful velvety voice. Daffy is great here and is excellently voiced by the wonderful Mel Blanc, and it was nice to see Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and the Wolfman. Overall, very good and interesting, if nothing hilarious. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This cartoon is an animated masterpiece!

[penagosfernando · 10/10 · 10 August 2022]

I'd say this cartoon deserves the highest rating ever. Even if I was never a fan of the cartoons where Daffy was paired with Speedy Gonzales or anything like that, the way that Daffy with Mel Torme's voice is absolutely wonderful. The song that he sings in this last short with Mel Blanc voicing one of his characters is just outstanding. I loved how Daffy sang "MONSTERS LEAD SUCH INTERESTING LIVES" in this cartoon. Too bad it was only a dream. I absolutely loved this last cartoon featuring the voice of Mel Blanc and even the voice of Mel Torme.

This great animated Looney Tunes short is a classic!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 4 July 2005]

This short is a special feature is on before the classic Daffy Duck's Quckbuster movie! I thought that the characters were really funny and all had great personalities. The animation in My opinion was crisp, clean, and really clear. Not to mention beautiful! Most of the characters in this show are hilarious Looney Tunes characters that we all love. in My opinion these characters are the funnies and talented ever seen. In fact, The things that goes on in this series' cartoons are in My opinion nuts which that is what makes them hilarious! There are so many to like and laugh at and the silly things they do! If you like the original Looney Tunes then I strongly recommend that you buy the film today!

Monsters lead such interesting lives

[Rectangular_businessman · 8/10 · 31 October 2022]

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters was one of the first movies I ever saw in my life, and this short was used as its introduction.

A fun, charming short which workd perfectly well as the beginning of said movie.

The short was directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon, directors of other "horror-themed" Looney Tunes shorts such as The Duxorcist (also included in Daffy Duck's Quackbusters) and Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers, which sadly, was also the final animation directed by the duo.

The nice song by Mel Torme sang by Daffy made the short for me back then, and also in the present.

I personally think it deserves a higher imdb score.