Old Glory (1939) User Reviews (18)

A Reminder

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 26 April 2007]

This was an old-fashioned patriotic cartoon, not intended for laughs but to remind those at the time what "Old Glory" means. They didn't have to remind U.S. citizens for long since they learned a few years later with their entrance into World War II.

In this cartoon, Porky Pig is upset because he has to memorize the Pledge Of Allegiance. He tosses away a book where the Pledge is written and takes a nap. Suddenly, Uncle Sam appears and explains to the sleeping-yet alert Porky why he should learn it. One of the first things he tells him is "I'm afraid there are a lot of us who don't appreciate our freedom." Wow, how true, especially today when it seems fashionable by a number of ungrateful people to bash this country.

Uncle Sam's history lessons begins in 1775 with Nathan Hale and goes quickly through the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, the exploration and sacrifices made by pioneers going West, and finishing with the eloquent writing of Abraham Lincoln.

The artwork in here is super, just a great restoration job done by the people who present this one and many others on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs. To be fair, for those disappointed because they expect laughs in a cartoon, that's understandable.

Good. No "under God".

[lee_eisenberg · 5/10 · 10 July 2007]

If we're going to take "Old Glory" as a lesson, it should be a warning about the government using tragedies as excuses to practically shred the Constitution (you know what I mean). As for Uncle Sam teaching Porky Pig a lesson about what great men Patrick Henry and George Washington were, that remains debatable since both those men owned slaves. And of course the Bill of Rights originally only gave rich white men voting rights, so it's always worth noting that it has always been popular movements that brought progressive change to our country.

So it's worth seeing as long as you can analyze it. And I wish that we'd kept the Pledge of Allegiance like it is here (with no "under God").

Uncle Sam teaches Porky Pig a history lesson...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 22 February 2008]

At a time when the war clouds in Europe were gathering and it looked as though America might be drawn into the conflict of WWII, this Looney Tune with Porky Pig, OLD GLORY, served as a patriotic reminder to everyone about America's place in history. Only the politically correct hard line liberals who object to any show of patriotism would be objecting to this sort of thing today.

The human characters are drawn more realistically than usual for a cartoon, and this is appropriate since this not your typical slapstick cartoon. Fans expecting the usual from Porky Pig are bound to be a bit disappointed, but it's worth viewing for the brief history lesson it gives, full of pioneer spirit and uplifting words from men like Patrick Henry, Paul Revere and Abraham Lincoln. Well done.

A brilliant cartoon!

[slymusic · 31 May 2006]

Directed by Chuck Jones, "Old Glory" is a wonderful Warner Bros. cartoon starring our favorite pig Porky. This cartoon is quite unique for one very simple reason: there is absolutely no humor! Porky is a schoolboy who struggles to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and eventually gives up when his speech impairment gets the best of him. But just then, Uncle Sam appears and, through a series of flashbacks, calmly and gently instructs Porky about a little American history so that he may understand why it is important to learn the Pledge of Allegiance. Porky learns a fair amount concerning the Revolutionary War days, and with a fantastic music score by Carl Stalling, the most memorable and exciting flashback sequence is that of Paul Revere warning his fellow colonists of the British army's approach. By the end of this short, Porky wises up and, with a little stuttering, successfully recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

If I only had one concern about "Old Glory," it's the fact that this cartoon attempts to capsulate the history of the United States of America within a brief nine minutes; Uncle Sam's talk about the Americans' migration to the West is especially brief and ends quite abruptly. Nevertheless, "Old Glory" is undoubtedly a memorable film that really touches Porky's heart as he learns about American history. Part of the charm and brilliance of this cartoon is the presence of such important Americans as Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Equally astonishing are the authentically reproduced signatures of John Hancock (for the Declaration of American Independence) and George Washington (for the Constitution of the United States).

Handsome but not entertaining at all

[phantom_tollbooth · 2/10 · 1 October 2008]

Chuck Jones's 'Old Glory' is an totally serious Warner Bros. cartoon which typifies Jones's early attempts to emulate Disney in its cutesy approach. Longer than the average Warner cartoon, 'Old Glory' is also notable for its complete lack of gags. A patriotic message cartoon, it features an apple-cheeked Porky Pig as a schoolboy who is bored by his attempts to learn the pledge of allegiance until the ghost of Uncle Sam explains why it is so important. Cue lots of rotoscoped animation of American history. Hardly the recipe for a laugh riot, 'Old Glory' doesn't even try to tickle our funny bone, aiming instead for a rousing effect. Being neither American or particularly patriotic, 'Old Glory' was never going to have much of an effect on me and, while I do recognise it as a handsome piece of animation, it's a misfire in the entertainment stakes. Jones would later make some far stronger patriotic propaganda films that managed to be both informative and entertaining (the wonderful 'So Much for So Little' for example) but 'Old Glory' always leaves me yelling "For the love of god, somebody drop an anvil"!

Old hat!

[JohnHowardReid · 3/10 · 8 March 2018]

"Porky Pig" (voiced by Mel Blanc), "Patrick Henry" (voiced by John Litel), "Uncle Sam" (voiced by John Deering).

Director: ROBERT McKIMSON. Supervision: CHARLES M. JONES. Screenplay: Dave Monahan, Robert Givens, Richard Hogan. Music director: Carl W. Stalling. Music arranger: Milt Franklyn. Producer: Leon Schlesinger. Color by Technicolor.

Copyright 1 July 1939 by The Vitaphone Corp. Merrie Melodies. U.S. release: 1 July 1939. 1 reel. 9 minutes.

COMMENT: Although Steve Schneider rates this as one of the best of the Porky Pigs, I'm afraid I would place it in the also-rans. Disregarding all the outdated pep talk from a James M. Flagg of an Uncle Sam, it's still pretty boring, both visually and also on the sound track. The illustrations look like the sort of crudely reverential cartoons you find in early 20th century schoolbooks.

Worse still, there is not an ounce of imagination, wit or vitality evident at any stage of this potted history of the land of the free. It proves that even the Warner cartoon people can be far more blandly dull than Terrytoons at their worst when they go all serious.

Porky one of the easily influenced

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 7 August 2017]

"Old Glory" is an American cartoon from 1930, so two more years and this one has its 80th anniversary. Maybe it already did by the time you read my review. Anyway, this may seem like generic cartoon comedy when you see the names Jones and Blanc here, but taking another look at the year, the names and characters, it becomes obvious that we are quickly approaching the era of political cartoons and even if it is probably not a propaganda work yet unless some other WB / Schlesinger cartoons from the years of WWII, it is really full of politics. Porky struggles with motivation and appreciation for the Pledge of Allegiance. But Uncle Sam appears in his dream and leads him to the "right" path. Overall, not a very smart or funny cartoon sadly. And I also would not say it offers historic insight on a level where it could be a good watch for pupils or even students. The only perspective I can see it being worth the watch is to check out how mass media in Europe, America and Japan changed people's minds in the first half of the 20th century, especially between 1933 and 1945. I give these 9 minutes a thumbs-down. Not recommended.

A cartoon doesn't have to be funny to be good...

[hcshannonart · 7/10 · 21 July 2017]

I remember seeing this cartoon as a child and I have always enjoyed it. Porky is having trouble learning the Pledge of Allegiance, when he's about to give up, Uncle Sam himself shows up and gives him a history lesson. I like the semi-realistic portrayal of Uncle Sam and the historical figures, though it's nothing like later Looney Tunes and/or Chuck Jones' trademark style. Also, I'm surprised most people don't know that the "Under God" line is a later addition! It was always in heavy rotation around the 4th of July on various syndicated Looney Tunes packages, so I and lots of others my age are very familiar with it.

American history with Chuck Jones

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 30 November 2017]

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

Chuck Jones is one of the greatest geniuses in animation history, or at least to me and many others. 'Old Glory' is a different effort for him, being focused more on history and education rather than wit and humour (fans of the Jones and Looney Tunes that they're familiar with will be disappointed). It's a pretty decent one too and an interesting look at what he was capable of in his early days before he found his style. It is fair to say though that Jones did go on much better things when his cartoons became much funnier, wittier, more inventively animated and iconic characters introduced and made household names.

'Old Glory' does have segments that are agreed on the brief side and end rather abruptly.

Porky is likable enough but a bit bland (with all of the featured supporting historical characters and Uncle Sam making more of an impression), while the story tends to be episodic.

However, the animation is very good. It's beautifully drawn, very detailed and the colours are vibrant, complete with some great expressions for particularly the rabbit.

Carl Stalling's music score is typically lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms, it's also beautifully synchronised with the action and gestures/expressions and even enhances the impact. All of those things Stalling was an unparalleled master at in animation, or at least in my view.

Despite it lacking Jones' usual wit and humour, 'Old Glory' offers a very interesting glimpse at American history, doing it in a way that's educational and makes some good points without laying it on too thick. Any patriotism feels neither too preachy or tacky. The supporting characters are fun to spot and the voice acting is good.

Overall, not one to be seen for humour's sake but well-made and interesting. 7/10 Bethany Cox

The Symbolism of the American Flag

[Vimacone · 10/10 · 4 July 2018]

With the rise of facism in Europe and war right around the corner, there was a concern in America about the future of Democracy. Hollywood produced a number of films illustrating American History and the importance of democracy.

Chuck Jones had fairly recently become a director and was trying to emulate Disney by using extensive realism in his shorts. An approach that was very contrary to his colleagues. However, that is probably what led him to producing a contribution to the patriotic films that were being produced in 1939. It's been noted as one of the few WB cartoons that was devoid of any gags or humor. Yet, it is one of the greatest that the studio ever produced.

It's a concise overview of American history with an emphasis on the struggles for liberty and freedom; the theme being the importance of reciting The Pledge Of Allegiance as told by Uncle Sam to Porky Pig.

It's a very stirring and patriotic film. The lush visuals and strong orchestra make this a timeless American classic.

Far From The Average Merrie Melodies Short

[Dawalk-1 · 6/10 · 29 September 2017]

I have mixed feelings about this Merrie Melodies short. What I mean is, I don't love it as much as I do some, certain others, but at the same time, I don't detest it either. Since it deviates from the norm of these usually comedic cartoons, it would come as both an unexpected surprise and a disappointment. I agree that not all cartoons have to be comedy-driven and this educational rather than entertaining one is alright for what it is. But regardless, many people still would expect all of them to bring the funny to them simply because it's for which they're known in most cases. It was a fair attempt at doing something different.

As other reviewers have explained, Porky Pig, as a schoolboy, finds learning the Pledge Of Allegiance dull, since he can't quite get the hang of the recitation. But after falling asleep, he meets the spirit of Uncle Sam, who explains the significance of it. And we're shown some scenes that go over the history of how that came to be. Another reason why I may not frequent viewing this short on the third disc of Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2 (other than on the special occasion of Independence Day) as much as I do several others whether on DVD or online, is because of the reputation of the two historical figures who are discussed, the very first U.S. president, George Washington and Patrick Henry, as both of them are slave owners. So the fact that they were touted as so-called great men is iffy. This is not even edu-taining, but purely educational. Like I said, I found it alright, but not among the best for me. Do I recommend this to others who may be reading this? Well, it all depends if anyone doesn't mind the break too much from the hilarity and thrill of the WB cartoons. But for those who don't have a high enough tolerance and appreciation for that, then you're all welcome to skip it.

Porky Pig gets an education in Old Glory

[tavm · 10/10 · 4 July 2007]

I first saw this Porky Pig educational cartoon short on Buskin Bill's Storyland in the Bicentenial year of 1976. I later saw it after James Cagney's Yankee Doodle Dandy on a Saturday night on that same channel of WAFB-9, Baton Rouge, La. (possibly on the 4th of July). Having recently seen it on YouTube, I must marvel at how bright the colors are compared to the washed-out tones I remember from way back when. Great use of having Uncle Sam telling our stuttering hero about the American Revolution and subsequent events with wonderful realistic animation throughout to make their point. Highly recommended to any child who wonders why history is so important to learn.

Great Patrotism

[movieman_kev · 8/10 · 30 October 2005]

Porky Pig learns why the Pledge of Alligence is important when he has a dream of Uncle Sam who tells him about the founding fathers in this educational short. You can practically hear the liberals of today groaning and bitching at the mere prospect of even thinking about watching this short, but it is very well put together and makes one proud to be an American so it accomplishes what it's intended porpoise was. Hell, I still think this short should be shown in classrooms, but that will in all likelihood never happen due to the loony Left 9th Circuit of Appeals in California, although Michael A. Newdow might be happy to get the pre-1954 version of the Pledge back (I strongly doubt that he'd stop at that though). This animated short can be seen on Disc 3 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2 and also features an optional commentary by Jerry Bech & Inker and Painter Martha Sigall

My Grade: A

Excellent!!

[Bill-181 · 10/10 · 19 April 2005]

This is one of those Looney Tunes cartoons used by Warner Brothers to educate kids in the '30s and '40s about the USA and about their fantastic heritage. It is too bad that it was released in 1939, too early to contain information about how our soldiers and sailors fought and died in Europe to ensure the freedom for those people, so that they could live to post disparaging comments about this cartoon and about our country. The cartoon tells the children how good and brilliant and important the USA is and how many good and brave people died for this great country so that weenies like the reviewer from the Netherlands could survive the Nazi invasion of their country and post ridiculous comments on this and other websites. There is no attempt to be funny, because this cartoon wasn't made to be funny. Everything wasn't funny back in 1939. You had to be there to understand this. In the era that this little film was made, it wasn't unusual to promote the greatness and beauty of the USA or to make the USA-enemies look dumb/stupid, which they were. We see Porky Pig in 'Old Glory' studying and dreaming of the greatness of his country. With Uncle Sam explaining to him (and the patriotic young viewers, like myself) all about how important and loving the USA is, it was a good lesson to little people of the '30s. It is still a good lesson today, but, sad to say, it wouldn't be as well-received as it was when it was released. It should, however, be a good lesson to people who owe the US a great deal of gratitude for kicking the Axis powers out of their countries, the Netherlands for example, and allowing them the freedom to run down the United States and its patriotism, even with the most atrocious use of the English language as I have ever seen. Three cheers for Porky, Uncle Sam, and the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America.

This civics lesson brought to you by Warner Brothes and Porky Pig

[llltdesq · 10/10 · 13 July 2001]

With the amount of attention being currently given to the Pledge of Allegiance and when (or even whether) it should be said, this cartoon sets forth a very direct and basic value to those words that still holds over 60 years later. Allegiance should (actually I feel that it MUST) be given freely and by choice or its valueless. This cartoon, through effective use of rotoscoping (at least it looks like rotoscoping), is an enlightening look into the value of patriotism and makes some compelling arguments in its favor. Recommended.

Best historic animation dialog

[63x927is58401 · 10/10 · 19 March 2012]

I wish there were additional animated characters, like Bugs Bunny, Sylvester the Cat, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd having to learn the Pledge of Allegiance, and with different historic events for each one. Then, additional history facts would be taught, along with each character. Such as Nathan Hale being caught and hanged by the British, in August of 1776, as one fact. It was in January of 1959 that Alaska became the 49th United State and in August of 1959, Hawaii became the 50th United State. Then the current United States of America Flag of 50 stars would be shown. There also should be previous Flag designs, before Betsy Ross' ideal flag creation.

Old Glory? Yes. Fun? No way.

[k_luifje · 25 February 2002]

This is one of those Looney Tunes cartoons used by Warner Brothers not mainly to entertain kids, but to educate them about the USA. In other words: Tell the children how good and brilliant and important the USA is and how many good and brave people died for 'this great country'. This is why Uncle Sam tells a dreaming Porky Pig to learn his Pledge of Allegiance. That's obviously the educational part of this 9-minutes long film, logically would be to start with the entertaining/funny things now, but in 'Old Glory' there is no fun. There isn't even an attempt made to be funny! As if the creators forgot that Looney Tunes cartoons are supposed to be witty or spoofing or something, but this particular one is tasteless in it's lack of entertainment what so ever!

In the era this little film was made, it wasn't unusual to promote the greatness and beauty of the USA or to make the USA-enemies look dumb/stupid. For instance in 'Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips' (1944) Bugs blows up several Japanese with exploding ice-cream! This all happened during the Second World War and although it's immoral to influence children the way it's done in this cartoons (and other Looney Tuners), you have to admit it's smart to use the Looney Tunes for this purpose. The cartoons are funny ('Old Glory' being the exception to this rule) and kids (and adults as well) adore Bugs, Daffy, Porky and all the others.

And that is why we see Porky Pig in 'Old Glory' studying and dreaming of the greatness of his country. With Uncle Sam explaining him (and the unknowing little viewers) all about how important loving the USA is. In an immoral, joke-less, spoof-less, un-witty cartoon.

Even a young Porky Pig knew right from wrong . . .

[oscaralbert · 9/10 · 1 August 2015]

. . . as he recites "one nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." Porky was smart enough to realize that when a phrase is inserted BETWEEN "one nation" and "indivisible," you've just divided your country into Red States and Blue States and nullified your whole Pledge with weak-minded, mealy-mouthed Double Speak. When Porky agreed to star in OLD GLORY, he made it clear that he would have no truck with the Sons and Daughters of High Treason Traitors, who were ramming their Fascist "My way or the highway!" phrases and mottoes onto our coins, into our pledge, and up our flag poles. Brazenly trying to claim with straight faces that their blasphemies setting our Founding Fathers spinning in their graves and pitting American against mind-snatched American were actually innocuous anti-Red code words, they succeeded in branding nearly every forehead with the Mark of the Beast. But NOT Porky's Noggin. In this Warner Bros. animated short OLD GLORY, Porky sticks to his "one nation, indivisible" guns. Beware of those dividing America today, no matter their pretext. As soon as you give in to their bogus premises, you're lost. They define and refine that "innocent" starting point until Satan himself can't distinguish it from Porky Pig.