Another fun entry in the Private Snafu series made for use by the US Army during World War II. This one's directed by Frank Tashlin and focuses on wasting food. It's a pretty interesting cartoon. First, it's narrated by a bull. He tells the story of how, on his honeymoon with his new bride, the news comes that the US has entered the war. So the brave bull decides to make the ultimate sacrifice and be turned into food for the soldiers. Already we're dealing with an amazing concept for a cartoon, but it gets better. So the bull becomes part of some kind of canned food and is sent to the battlefront, where Private Snafu promptly makes an ass of himself by eating only some of the food and letting the rest go to waste. So the bull's ghost goes ballistic, kicks the crap out of Snafu, and lets us know what he thinks of his wasted sacrifice. I like this series and shorts like this are a good example of why. It's just so bizarre and creative in a way you didn't see that much in mainstream cartoons of the time. Plus it has a good message and nice animation. It's not my favorite of the series but I like it a lot.
6 Reviews
"I joined up as food for Snafu . . . "
oscaralbert1 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
" . . . but all I became was just waste," laments Brown Cow's Ghost at the end of World War Two's Army-Navy Screen Magazine Issue #29, also known as THE CHOW HOUND. The late Mr. Cow's lamentations come as he stares at the juicy remnants of his bodily self deposited into a camp garbage can by Private Snafu (who's just admitted that his eyes were bigger than his stomach when he somehow managed to squirrel away a platoon's worth of Fresh Holiday Fare on a large plate heaped with food two feet high, plus another couple pounds of chow concealed down his trousers, not to mention a five-gallon helmet full of the Good Grub). However, the specter of being stared down by the spirits of the animals one is consuming is more than enough to put anyone off his feed. Though the classic flick ALIVE documents a cannibalistic strain among Uruguayan soccer guys, such a Tradition is nowhere to be found in America's Military Code of Conduct. That goes for anthropomorphic meat dishes, as well. If Foghorn Leghorn asks, "Who wants a drumstick?" just say "NO!"
Kinda creepy
planktonrules14 May 2009
The Private Snafu films were clearly made to be seen by soldiers and not by the general public. Their point was to illustrate important messages to the troops in a humorous manner. In this case, the film is about the importance of not wasting food--though the film didn't turn out to that funny and was actually pretty creepy.
The film begins with a couple of cows falling in love. However, the war arrives and the male cow decides to sacrifice himself for the war effort. So, the cute cow is made into canned meat for the soldiers! However, Snafu is his usual idiotic self and he wastes the food--not appreciating that food is precious.
As I said, this seemed creepy. The idea of the cow's ghost standing there and proudly waiting to see his flesh get eaten must have seemed clever in 1944, but now it seems more like a recruiting film for PETA! Not among the best in the series, that's for sure.
The film begins with a couple of cows falling in love. However, the war arrives and the male cow decides to sacrifice himself for the war effort. So, the cute cow is made into canned meat for the soldiers! However, Snafu is his usual idiotic self and he wastes the food--not appreciating that food is precious.
As I said, this seemed creepy. The idea of the cow's ghost standing there and proudly waiting to see his flesh get eaten must have seemed clever in 1944, but now it seems more like a recruiting film for PETA! Not among the best in the series, that's for sure.
Don't waist food!
emasterslake7 December 2006
A bull was about to live a settle life with a cow, till war occurred and Snafu was drafted to fight in the war. The bull realizes that the Snafu needs food in order to prevent hunger while fighting in the war.
So the Bull turns himself in to the slaughterhouse and his meat was canned and shipped to Snafu's Army Corp. But will Snafu eat the meat of the Bull he gave his own life away for a soldier? I won't give away on what the ending is like, but just know that this short has a simple lesson in not to waist food. Which gives Soldiers the idea to eat small and not too much.
This one has some usual gags. As well as some humor expected in all Snafu cartoons. Another WW2 short to check out.
So the Bull turns himself in to the slaughterhouse and his meat was canned and shipped to Snafu's Army Corp. But will Snafu eat the meat of the Bull he gave his own life away for a soldier? I won't give away on what the ending is like, but just know that this short has a simple lesson in not to waist food. Which gives Soldiers the idea to eat small and not too much.
This one has some usual gags. As well as some humor expected in all Snafu cartoons. Another WW2 short to check out.
Rather strange but interesting short in the Snafu training film series
llltdesq9 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of a series of training films featuring Private Snafu, which were done under contract to the US Army by Warner Brothers during World War II. There will be spoilers ahead:
The purpose of this short was to teach soldiers not to waste their food, as a great deal goes into making certain they get their provisions. Narrated in rhyme, we get the story of a bull who, on his wedding night, instead joins up after World War II starts. Obviously, the bull is turned into meat, but his ghost follows his canned remains through the dangerous and arduous process of getting food to the troops in the field.
The continuing mantra here is that "Snafu must eat!" as the shipment is moved by air, rail, truck and pack animal, through the most horrific circumstances imaginable, at great expense of time and resources, until it's final destination is reached.
Once being served on the chow line, Snafu asks repeatedly for more food, finally getting a vast amount of food, on top of which, he pulls food he's secreted in addition to the mountain he got in the chow line. Full before he's finished it all, Snafu tosses what's left in the trash, which enrages the ghost of the bull. He charges Snafu and launches him through the air and then lamenting the waste of his sacrifice.
The above sounds morbid, I'm sure, but given that it was produced and released in 1944, the bulk of its intended audience had probably done and seen things far worse, so I doubt they found it all that disturbing. This short is available on various DVDs and online. It's well worth tracking down. Most recommended.
The purpose of this short was to teach soldiers not to waste their food, as a great deal goes into making certain they get their provisions. Narrated in rhyme, we get the story of a bull who, on his wedding night, instead joins up after World War II starts. Obviously, the bull is turned into meat, but his ghost follows his canned remains through the dangerous and arduous process of getting food to the troops in the field.
The continuing mantra here is that "Snafu must eat!" as the shipment is moved by air, rail, truck and pack animal, through the most horrific circumstances imaginable, at great expense of time and resources, until it's final destination is reached.
Once being served on the chow line, Snafu asks repeatedly for more food, finally getting a vast amount of food, on top of which, he pulls food he's secreted in addition to the mountain he got in the chow line. Full before he's finished it all, Snafu tosses what's left in the trash, which enrages the ghost of the bull. He charges Snafu and launches him through the air and then lamenting the waste of his sacrifice.
The above sounds morbid, I'm sure, but given that it was produced and released in 1944, the bulk of its intended audience had probably done and seen things far worse, so I doubt they found it all that disturbing. This short is available on various DVDs and online. It's well worth tracking down. Most recommended.
The folly of wasting food with Private Snafu
TheLittleSongbird4 March 2017
Many of the Private Snafu cartoons are very enjoyable, being very well-made, entertaining and educational with good morals and interesting historical and instructional material. Even when inept, Snafu is still very much endearing and fun for a vast majority of his cartoons.
'The Chow Hound' may not be one of the best Private Snafu cartoons, like 'Spies', 'The Goldbrick' and 'Booby Traps'. It is still however very well done and has almost all the ingredients that make the Private Snafu cartoons so worth watching in general. Snafu has admittedly been more likable in other cartoons, he is as inept as ever but he is not as endearing or as fun and comes over as reckless and selfish that one is hardly surprised that drastic measures are taken to teach him a lesson.
It's a very short cartoon and feels it, and while much of the messaging makes its point very powerfully and finds just about the right tone the part with the ghost of the bull waiting to see his flesh eaten was one morbid step too far and not for the easily creeped out.
On the other hand, 'The Chow Hound' is very well-animated though with fluid character designs, detailed and not sparse backgrounds and lively colours/shadings. Carl Stalling always did write outstanding music for the many cartoons he scored for and that is true for 'In the Aleutians', the orchestration is very lush and the pacing is characteristically lively.
As ever the messaging and instructional parts make their point in a way that doesn't preach or disturb, and the narration entertains, resonates and teaches and doesn't fall into the trap of over-explaining or being over-used. Amidst the daring concept and a concept that is really quite brilliantly done there are a few humorous moments too. Mel Blanc as ever voices with zany zest and Frank Graham is a distinguished narrator.
In summary, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
'The Chow Hound' may not be one of the best Private Snafu cartoons, like 'Spies', 'The Goldbrick' and 'Booby Traps'. It is still however very well done and has almost all the ingredients that make the Private Snafu cartoons so worth watching in general. Snafu has admittedly been more likable in other cartoons, he is as inept as ever but he is not as endearing or as fun and comes over as reckless and selfish that one is hardly surprised that drastic measures are taken to teach him a lesson.
It's a very short cartoon and feels it, and while much of the messaging makes its point very powerfully and finds just about the right tone the part with the ghost of the bull waiting to see his flesh eaten was one morbid step too far and not for the easily creeped out.
On the other hand, 'The Chow Hound' is very well-animated though with fluid character designs, detailed and not sparse backgrounds and lively colours/shadings. Carl Stalling always did write outstanding music for the many cartoons he scored for and that is true for 'In the Aleutians', the orchestration is very lush and the pacing is characteristically lively.
As ever the messaging and instructional parts make their point in a way that doesn't preach or disturb, and the narration entertains, resonates and teaches and doesn't fall into the trap of over-explaining or being over-used. Amidst the daring concept and a concept that is really quite brilliantly done there are a few humorous moments too. Mel Blanc as ever voices with zany zest and Frank Graham is a distinguished narrator.
In summary, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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