Wags to Riches (1949)

The Worst Film Ever

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

. . . so it's quite predictable that WAGS TO RICHES revolves around a series of assassination plots. Mr. Avery was born in Taylor, TX, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the only U.S. Presidential Whacking Site in ANYONE'S Living Memory, Dallas. So whether the power-hungry Lyndon "Spike" Johnson mutt featured in RAGS TO RICHES is using a revolver, shot gun, artillery shell, or sabotaged tree, it's all so much "Col. Mustard with a Candlestick in the Conservatory"--that is, old hat--to a guy like Tex. Perceptive viewers will see some predictive shots taken here from behind Dallas' infamous Grassy Knoll, so perhaps it's incumbent upon Today's Secret Service to study WAGS TO RICHES frame-by-frame in pursuit of any clues Tex may have buried there pertaining to the likely demise of Red Commie KGB Chief Vlad "The Mad Russian" Putin's White House Puppet, Rump. Better yet, why look this Gift Horse of RICHES in its mouth? Why not wall up Rump in his Tower like Rapunzel, since he has such an affinity for the safety afforded by walls?

Droopy is an heir of a million dollars by his owner, but the will also states that the other pet dog, "Spike," gets the money if Droopy dies. Hmm, that gets big Spike to thinking....Spike is absolutely hilarious, especially in the reading of the will. Talk about someone who's jaw drops!! The sight gags in here, especially with this dog, are Tex Avery classics - just really funny stuff. I almost felt sorry for sadistic Spike as, of course, everything he tries in eliminating Droopy backfires. This must have been an inspiration to the guys who did the Road Runner cartoons, with Wile E. Coyote having the same fortune as Spike.This is another winner from The "Tex Avery's Droopy - The Complete Theatrical Collection" DVD.

There was a later remake of this cartoon (Millionaire Droopy). In fact, aside from cheaper backgrounds, it's really the exact same film. So, considering this is the original and it looks a heck of a lot better, try seeing this film first or don't even bother with the other one.Tex Avery did a good job here in creating an entertaining short cartoon featuring Droopy Dog. He and his "friend" Butch the dog are both named in the will of a millionaire. Droopy is the sole heir but Butch is to inherit everything should anything happen to Droopy--so you can easily guess where the cartoon is going next! Well, despite Butch's efforts, he keeps being the recipient of all the tricks and traps and Droopy is left unharmed. A good cartoon and a lotta fun.

This cartoon was re-done about seven years later as Millionaire Droopy with little changed, for reasons I can only guess at. Millionaire Droopy is the ultimate "cheater" short, in my opinion. A "cheater" is a short where much of the short is comprised of cribbed scenes from other cartoons, with some new animation as a framing device around it to make a "new" cartoon. This was done so that distribution contracts could be adhered to when they fell behind the production schedule (as they inevitably did), as a cheater required less time to produce than a completely new short did. While a good cartoon, Wags To Riches wasn't good enough to be cloned! Good to see it's in print, though. Well worth watching. Recommended