The Tree’s Knees (1931)

1931-the-trees-knees-title “The Tree’s Knees”
Looney Tunes (Bosko title #1)
Released: July 1931
Length: 7:02
Starring: Bosko

Credits:

Supervision by – Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising
Drawn by – Isadore FrelengRollin Hamilton
Musical Score by – Frank Marsales


Summary:

Bosko wanders through a musical forest.

Description:

Bosko is walking through the woods with an axe. As he is about to chop a down a tree, it comes to life and begs for it’s life, surrounded by it’s little tree children. An animal comes out of the tree’s mouth and begs “Oh won’t you spare that tree!”. Bosko puts down his axe and pulls out a harmonica. The baby trees dance around it’s mother as Bosko plays a tune. “Ain’t that cute!” Bosko comments. One tree razzes Bosko, so he chases it and pulls off its bark. When the tree begins to shiver Bosko gives it its bark back, but the tree kicks Bosko in the knee and runs off. “Well shut my mouth!” says Bosko. We then see a tree rocking a nest of baby birds to tune of “Rockabye Baby”. Something then lands on Bosko’s hat, and he looks up to see a bird chewing and spitting tobacco. Bosko then chases a butterfly until he comes across a row of trees and begins playing them like a harp. Another tree comes to life and begins playing itself like a violin, while a weeping willow cries uncontrollably. Two mice are playing seesaw on a saw, but one of them falls into a pond. The other mouse saves his friend, but nearly-drowned mouse has inhaled so much water that his friend must squeeze it out of him. They then take the saw and cut record-sized slice out of a log, and use it and themselves to make a phonograph. A tree begins to dance to the music, using it’s leaves as a skirt, as Bosko comments “Hot dog!”


Notes:

  • The animation of Bosko chasing a butterfly is reused from “Ain’t Nature Grand”.
  • The speech of the mice appears to be various clips of speech joined together and sped up at different rates.
  • Bosko plays “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” on the trees. Also heard on the soundtrack: “Trees”. [LT&MM]

Memorable Scenes:


Video Availability:

VHS: Uncensored Bosko, Vol. 1
DVD: Uncensored Bosko, Volume 1