The Screwball (1943)
A classic Woody Woodpecker animated short packed with baseball mayhem, slapstick chaos, and irresistible cartoon energy from Walter Lantz Productions.
The Screwball - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1943
- Directed by: Alex Lovy
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation, Comedy
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 7m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 14, 1943 (United States - NR)
- Production Companies: Walter Lantz Productions, Universal Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Screwball - Plot
It's the day of the big baseball game between the Drips and the Droops and Woody Woodpecker is trying to crash the gate and get in without paying for a ticket. A policeman keeps tossing him out but Woody puts on a baseball uniform---including a baseball-cap, since baseball players do not wear hats---gets inside and soon gets involved with the game. He ends up pinned to the scoreboard by a deluge of baseballs thrown by everybody in the ballpark.
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The Screwball - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Alex Lovy
Main Cast
- Mel Blanc
- Kent Rogers
- Harold Peary
Writers
- Ben Hardaway
- Milt Schaffer
Producers
- Walter Lantz
The Screwball - FAQs
What is The Screwball (1943) about?
The Screwball follows Woody Woodpecker as he tries to sneak into a baseball game without buying a ticket. After outsmarting a policeman by disguising himself in a uniform, he ends up on the field causing mayhem and ultimately gets pinned to the scoreboard by a barrage of baseballs.
How does Woody Woodpecker sneak into the game?
Woody slips past the policeman by putting on a baseball uniform, cleverly blending in with the players. It's a classic Woody move — using a simple disguise to bypass authority and get exactly what he wants, setting up the chaotic fun that follows inside the ballpark.
Who directed The Screwball animated short?
The Screwball was directed by Alex Lovy, an animator and director who worked extensively at Walter Lantz Productions. Lovy contributed to many Woody Woodpecker shorts during the character's early golden era in the 1940s, helping shape the series' energetic visual style.
Who voiced Woody Woodpecker in this short?
Kent Rogers provided Woody Woodpecker's voice in The Screwball, with Mel Blanc contributing archive sound. Harold Peary rounded out the cast as the Policeman. Rogers was one of several voice actors who portrayed Woody during the character's early years at Walter Lantz Productions.
Is The Screwball based on a true story?
No, The Screwball is a purely fictional animated comedy short. The story is a classic piece of cartoon slapstick built around baseball — a popular American pastime that served as a natural backdrop for Woody Woodpecker's mischievous antics and anarchic sense of humor.
How long is The Screwball (1943)?
The Screwball runs just 7 minutes — perfectly typical for a theatrical animated short of the 1940s. These compact cartoons were designed to play before feature films, packing maximum laughs and energy into a very tight runtime. Short but absolutely packed with Woody's signature chaos.
Who wrote and produced The Screwball?
The short was written by Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer, two experienced animation writers who contributed to many Woody Woodpecker cartoons. Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker himself, served as producer, with the film distributed by Universal Pictures.
What are some similar cartoons to The Screwball?
If you enjoy The Screwball, check out Baseball Bugs (1946) featuring Bugs Bunny in a similar sports-themed romp, or Flirty Birdy (1945) for more classic 1940s animated comedy. Chips Ahoy (1956) and Winter Storage (1949) also capture that golden-era cartoon energy and slapstick charm.
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