The Reluctant Dragon (I) (1941)

Barnett Parker: The Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon")

Photos 

Quotes 

• The Dragon : Sweet little upside-down cake / Cares and woes, you've got'em / Poor little upside-down cake / Your top is on your bottom / Alas, little upside-down cake / Your troubles never stop / Because, little upside-down cake / Your bottom's on your top.

• The Dragon : You've got to be mad to breathe fire, but I'm not mad at anybody.

  The Boy : But try real hard. Concentrate.

  [the dragon tries, but all he can muster is a puny smoke ring] 

  The Dragon : Not very good, is it?

  The Boy : Nope. Too bad you're not a real dragon, instead of a punk poet.

  The Dragon : [Angry]  "Punk poet"?

  [Now fire is coming out of his mouth] 

  The Dragon : Ooh, say that again.

  The Boy : Punk poet.

  The Dragon : Again.

  The Boy : Punk poet.

  The Dragon : Again.

  The Boy : Punk poet.

  The Dragon : [Delighted]  Ooh, I'm mad! I'm mad! I'm mad!

  The Boy : Punk poet! Punk poet! Punk poet!

• Sir Giles : Uh, the time has come, you know.

  The Dragon : [clapping excitedly]  You mean... I die now?

  Sir Giles : Oh yes indeed. As per-agreed, we'll seal our pact, old thing.

  [placing the lance under the Dragon's arm] 

  Sir Giles : Take that!

• The Boy : Do you mind if I recite a poem?

  The Dragon : You, boy? Why, well, oh, not at all!

  Sir Giles : Oh, of course, of course. Rather, rather!

  The Boy : 'Tis evening / From the stars above / A soft mysterious light / Brings thoughts of friendship, joy and love.

  [shouts] 

  The Boy : Now how 'bout that fight?

• The Dragon : Well, that's splendid!

• The Boy : Have you had any nice battles lately?

  The Dragon : Battles? Oh, no, no, no battles. No.

  The Boy : Oh. Oh, probably too busy scourging the countryside and devouring fair damsels, then.

  The Dragon : Scourging? Devouring? Good heavens, no.

  The Boy : But don't you ever do anything desperate?

  The Dragon : Well, yes, I... I do make up poetry.

  The Boy : Poetry?

  The Dragon : Verses, you know? Care to hear my latest sonnet?

  The Boy : Well, I...

  The Dragon : Oh, you'll love this. I call it, "Just A-Drifting".

  [sings] 

  The Dragon : Just a-drifting o'er the leaves/Like a dewdrop, fancy free,/Playing with the gentle breezes,/Romping with the bumble beezes./Oh, what fun! Joy never ceases,/Just a-drifting.