Jerky Turkey is an animated theatrical short, directed by Tex Avery, released on 7 April 1945 by MGM. The story for this cartoon was written by Heck Allen, the music by Scott Bradley, and the animation was done by Preston Blair, Ed Love and Ray Abrams. Voices were provided by radio actors Wally Maher and Leone LeDoux[1], who specialised in baby cries. Internet sources claiming Daws Butler provided a voice are incorrect, as he did not arrive in Hollywood until after World War II.[2]
On the music video channel VH-1, this short became an animated video for "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass.
Plot[]
The Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock and found a colony. A very large number of Pilgrims (some of them caricatures of Avery's animation crew) can be seen standing in line... for their cigarette rations. A Pilgrim goes hunting for a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey outsmarts the pilgrim many times and eventually the two make up and decide to eat at "Joe's restaurant" which is being advertised by a bear, at the end the bear has eaten the two and reveals that he is Joe and the two complain inside the bear's stomach. The pilgrim then holds up a sign saying don’t eat at Joe’s.
Availability[]
- The Compleat Tex Avery (1993 LaserDisc)
- Tex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3 (2021 DVD/Blu-ray)
Additionally, the cartoon was included on bootleg VHS tapes and DVDs.
Voices[]
- Tex Avery - Pilgrim, Turkey Call, Pilgrim who says "Land Ho!"
- Wally Maher - Jerky Turkey
- Frank Graham - Half-Breed Indian
- Leone LeDoux - Town Cryer
Gallery[]
Censorship[]
Some Cartoon Network and TBS showings remove the "half breed" scene.
Trivia[]
- This cartoon entered the public domain in 1972 due to MGM failing to renew the copyright in time.
- This is one of two Tex Avery cartoons for MGM to be in the public domain, the other one is Doggone Tired.