Dumb Patrol

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title: "Dumb Patrol" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1964-films", "1960s-english-language-films", "1960s-warner-bros.-animated-short-films", "american-aviation-films", "bugs-bunny-films", "films-directed-by-gerry-chiniquy", "films-scored-by-william-lava", "films-set-in-1917", "animated-films-set-in-france", "films-set-in-germany", "looney-tunes-shorts", "military-comedy-films", "porky-pig-films", "warner-bros.-cartoons-animated-short-films", "world-war-i-films-set-on-the-western-front", "yosemite-sam-films", "films-with-screenplays-by-john-dunn-(animator)", "american-world-war-i-films", "english-language-short-films", "1964-animated-short-films"] description: "1964 short film by Gerry Chiniquy" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumb_Patrol" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1964 short film by Gerry Chiniquy ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]

Field	Value
image	Dumb Patrol (1964) title card.jpg
caption	Title card
director	Gerry Chiniquy
animator	Virgil Ross
Bob Matz
Lee Halpern
Art Leonardi
story	John Dunn
starring	Mel Blanc
(all voices)
music	Bill Lava
layout_artist	Bob Givens
background_artist	Tom O'Loughlin
editing	Treg Brown
producer	David H. DePatie
William Orcutt
studio	Warner Bros. Cartoons
distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures
Vitaphone
released
color_process	Technicolor
runtime	6 minutes
language	English
::

| image = Dumb Patrol (1964) title card.jpg | caption = Title card | director = Gerry Chiniquy | animator = Virgil Ross Bob Matz Lee Halpern Art Leonardi | story = John Dunn | starring = Mel Blanc (all voices) | music = Bill Lava | layout_artist = Bob Givens | background_artist = Tom O'Loughlin | editing = Treg Brown | producer = David H. DePatie William Orcutt | studio = Warner Bros. Cartoons | distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures Vitaphone | released = | color_process = Technicolor | runtime = 6 minutes | language = English Dumb Patrol is a 1964 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon short directed by Gerry Chiniquy. It was released on January 18, 1964, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. Director Gerry Chiniquy was a longtime animator in Friz Freleng's unit. The cartoon is set during World War I opening 'somewhere in France' in 1917, and it also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the war.

Plot

Set amidst the backdrop of World War I in France in 1917, the French Air Force convenes to address the threat posed by the formidable German pilot, Baron Sam Von Shpamm. A decision is made through the drawing of straws, with Captain Smedley emerging as the chosen aviator tasked with confronting the enemy. Things take an unexpected turn when Bugs Bunny, disguised as Captain Smedley, incapacitates the real pilot, Porky Pig, to assume his identity. This subterfuge is driven by Bugs' concern for Porky's familial responsibilities.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Baron Sam Von Shpamm expresses disillusionment with his military accolades and yearns for respite. He receives a taunting message from Bugs, further provoking his ire.

As aerial confrontations ensue, Baron Sam's ineptitude is highlighted through a series of mishaps, including failed attempts to engage his aircraft and futile pursuits of Bugs. Despite his persistent efforts, Baron Sam's endeavors are consistently thwarted by Bugs' cunning evasion tactics. Baron Sam ultimately resorts to increasingly desperate measures, culminating in his demise amidst a calamitous explosion.

Production

The title is an allusion to The Dawn Patrol, a 1930 movie by Howard Hawks that also deals with World War I pilots. The same title was also used for an unrelated early Looney Tunes short starring Bosko, released in 1931.

Reception

Animation historian Jerry Beck considers Dumb Patrol to be among the worst Bugs Bunny cartoons.

References

References

1. Webb, Graham. (2011). "The Animated Film Encyclopedia: A Complete Guide to American Shorts, Features and Sequences (1900-1999)". McFarland & Company, Inc..
2. (1989). "Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons". Henry Holt and Co..
3. Lenburg, Jeff. (1999). "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons". Checkmark Books.
4. [https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/flights-of-fancy-part-22-here-there-in-the-air/ Flights of Fancy (Part 22): Here, There, In the Air]
5. Herald, Brian. (January 18, 2024). "DUMB PATROL". [[Meta Platforms.
6. Beck, Jerry. (April 12, 2021). "My Least Favorite Warner Bros. Cartoons".

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