Woody's Magic Touch
Woody's Magic Touch is a Woody Woodpecker cartoon that was released in theaters on May 1, 1971.[1] It was one of the first Woody cartoons in 5 years that was animated by someone, other than Les Kline or Al Coe. In that case, it was Virgil Ross who animated this and the next four cartoons in that same year.
| Woody's Magic Touch | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Paul J. Smith |
| Produced by | Walter Lantz |
| Story by | Dale Hale |
| Starring | Grace Stafford Dal McKennon |
| Music by | Walter Greene |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date | May 1, 1971 |
Running time | 6 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
In addition to Grace Stafford, who provides Woody's voice, Dal McKennon guest stars.
Plot
The cartoon opens with a view of a big fancy castle, as a knight (Sir Woody) riding a horse (Sugarfoot) passes by. The narrator explains that during the day of knights, many gallant warriors wander around the realms, looking for any good deeds to do. Sir Woody notices a sign with a proclamation saying Anyone who can break the witch's spell, and turns back the purple dragon into my son, won two weeks vacation to Acapulco. Woody always wanted to spend a vacation on Acapulco, so he accepts the quest. He meets with a wandering minstrel, and asks him where is the location to the purple dragon. The minstrel starts to sing a song about the dragon's location, which is in a cave. He also adverts Woody that he should not enrage it, otherwise he would end up with his feathers burn down.
Woody goes to the cave the minstrel cited, and calls for the dragon, only for it spits its fire, causing his horse to run away like a chicken (and turning into one). Woody stops his horse, then he rushes to a nearby lake to fill his helmet with some water. His plan is to throw that water into the dragon, extinguishing his flame power. As he does that, the dragon appears, asking who put out his fire. Woody is surprised once he found out that the purple dragon is very small, and not that mean or groucheous. The dragon says he isn't a dragon, but the king's son who turned into the dragon by the spell of a wicked witch. Woody promises to the dragon that he will locate the witch's lair, found her magic wand, and turning him back into the king's son.
Next scene, Woody found the witch's lair. He tries the direct approach, by simply knocking the door. The witch who appears cooking something in her caldron, goes to attend the woodpecker. Woody nicely asks for the witch if she could gives her magic wand for him for a minute. The witch denies it and threatens to turn him into a lizard if he doesn't get out of her lair. Woody just found one wandering in his own, so he put it in the front of the door and he knock it again. The witch opens it again, only to found nothing but a small lizard. She says she doesn't remember turning him into a lizard. She then goes back into her house. She thinks she must be working too hard. She goes back to her caldron, while preparing a soup to her old grandma, as it's good for her lumbago. After putting some spider legs, she proves it and puts some into a bottle for her grandma. She also picks up her wand, before she flies away with her broom.
Woody is now at a hole in a tree, just waiting for her come. When she does, he picks up her hat and hides it. The witch notices someone stole her hat, and goes back retrieve it. When she does, Woody put the hat in the front of her way, covering her head, causing the witch to doesn't know where she's going and hit another tree. While the now dizzy witch is laying down, Woody uses the situation to his side, stealing the wand and using her broom to escape. The witch mentions that the wand it's not worth without knowing the magic word. To her dismay, Woody is flying back, following her. When they meet each other, Woody asks her about the magic word. The witch says she'll never tell him that word. Woody then says she doesn't even know that word. The witch denies by saying it right at Woody's front that is Humperdinck. She realises the error she made and cover her mouth, but is too late, as Woody runs back to the dragon.
When Woody comes back with the wand and with word memorized, he uses it to break the spell, by turning the dragon into the king's son. To his surprise, the king's son is now a hippie. The hippie sing for a while, until Woody interrupts the song, ordering him to talk to the king. Once in the king's castle, Woody announces to the highness that his son has been returned. The king is happy to see his son again... Until he starts talking and sings another song. The king is not amused, and tells Sir Woody to comes with him. He whispers something in his ears. Knowing what to do, Woody uses the wand to turn the now-hippie king's son back into a dragon, to the former dismay.
For Woody's action, the king gives him his reward: a ticket for a two-week vacation in Acapulco. In the final scene, we see Woody enjoying his prize relaxing in a chair. A gorgeous Mexican waitress in a red bikini and a sombrero comes, offering the woodpecker a drink of lemonade. Woody thanks her, and ends the cartoon with his laugh.
References
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 157–158. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7.