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Honey's Money is a 1962 Merrie Melodies animated short featuring Yosemite Sam.[1] The short was released on September 1, 1962.[2]
Plot
Yosemite Sam endeavors to exploit a local widow's $5 million inheritance by marrying her, intending to acquire financial control and execute various nefarious schemes. However, upon discovering the widow's unattractive appearance, Sam initially recoils but relents when enticed by the prospect of sharing her wealth. Subsequent to the marriage, the widow reveals her true temperament, transforming into a domineering figure who compels Sam into servitude, relegating him to menial household tasks while she assumes a passive role.
The situation escalates with the introduction of the widow's son Wentworth, a physically imposing yet mentally immature boy. Unwilling to risk any chance of being denied of his share of the wealth, Sam reluctantly engages in paternal duties, enduring discomfort and humiliation. Driven by avarice, Sam seeks to eliminate Wentworth to secure sole access to the wealth. Sam's first attempt involves throwing a ball into the street (occupied by driving cars) for Wentworth to catch, but the widow foils this and forces Sam to get the ball himself, resulting Sam to be run over by cars. Sam's second attempt involves putting alligators in the pool where Wentworth is about to swim in, but this backfires as Wentworth's massive jump into the pool caused the alligators to be thrown out, resulting Sam to be attacked by the alligators.
Sam initially attempts to leave as he doesn't want to endure more of the widow and Wentworth's antics, but decides to stay with them as he feels that enduring their antics would be worth getting the money.
Production notes
Honey's Money serves as a reimagining of two 1950s animated shorts, namely His Bitter Half and Hare Trimmed. In His Bitter Half, Daffy Duck enters a marriage of convenience with a wealthy female duck, only to find himself grappling with unforeseen challenges when his spouse transforms into a demanding figure, imposing household duties and revealing the existence of a previously undisclosed son. This narrative framework is replicated in Honey's Money, with Yosemite Sam assuming the role originally held by Daffy Duck, albeit accompanied by some altered sequences. The character of Wentworth, portrayed as an innocent and physically imposing child of limited intellect in Honey's Money, diverges from the depiction of a mischievous youngster in the original short. While elements from Hare Trimmed are incorporated into Honey's Money, such as certain comedic motifs, the involvement of Bugs Bunny, a prominent character in the former, is omitted from the latter adaptation.
Honey's Money marks a notable departure from the traditional pairing of Yosemite Sam with perennial adversary Bugs Bunny, a dynamic observed in most of the original theatrical cartoons, save for Along Came Daffy (1947). This entry stands as Yosemite Sam's sole venture as sole protagonist, deviating from his customary interactions with Bugs Bunny.
The thematic premise of Honey's Money would resurface in 1970 within the Roland and Rattfink series, titled "A Taste of Money."
Despite the April 1962 death of composer Milt Franklyn, he contributed the musical score for Honey's Money, as the production was finalized before his death. This occurrence is consistent with the circumstances surrounding two subsequent shorts in late 1962. The introduction of replacement composer William Lava's credit in the opening sequence commenced in November, coinciding with the release of Good Noose.
Reception
Animation historian David Gerstein writes, "Desperate to make married life endurable under the circumstances, Yosemite is driven to some of the darkest plots ever seen in a Looney Tune — efforts to murder his young stepson via alligators and speeding cars. Only Sam's sheer bombast and exaggerated evil make the material funny rather than tragic. Freleng takes an admirably successful risk. Sam's own risks aren't as successful... for him."[3]
Music
- "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)", c. 1933, lyrics Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren
- "Ain't We Got Fun", 1921, Richard A. Whiting
Home media
This cartoon has been released on Blu-ray and DVD on the 2014 Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Vol. 3.