Title Card
The Screwdriver is the second animated cartoon short subject in the Woody Woodpecker series. Released theatrically on August 11, 1941, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.
Plot
The episode revolves around Woody driving a car in his typical manner, which includes eluding a persistent police officer.
Notes
- Like most of the early 1940s Lantz "cartunes", The Screwdriver carried no director's credit. Lantz himself has claimed to have directed this film, which features animation by Alex Lovy and Ralph Somerville, a story by Ben Hardaway and Jack Cosgriff, and music by Darrell Calker.
- The song, performed by Mel Blanc at the beginning of the film, would make a reappearance in Hot Rod Huckster, performed by Grace Stafford.
- Everybody thinks I'm screwy!
- Screwy as a loon, that's me!
- When I get on the driving spree,
- The coppers all get panicky!
- Honk my horn!
- HONKHONKHONK
- Strip my gears!
- SCREECHSCHREECHSCREECH
- So I'm screwy, what, what, what can I do?
- I ask you!
- The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection incorrectly lists the cartoon August 24, 1941 release date. It is unknown is this problem will ever be fixed.
Censorship
- The scene where Woody dressed up as a Chinese stereotype to trick the cop was removed.
- The scene in which Woody sings at the beginning was cut on Rede Globo due to time.
- The final scene, which the police officer goes crazy, was censored in Brazil.
Quotes
(Woody asks a question about women to the cop.)
- WOODY:: What's the color of Jeannie's light brown hair? (Turns to audience) No coaching from the audience please!
Trivia
The episode title is a spoof of "a screwball" (referring to Woody) and a driver (Woody's activity in the episode).