Thumb Fun is a 1952 Looney Tunes short directed by Robert McKimson.
Title[]
The title is a pun on "some fun" or "dumb fun", with "thumb" referring to a synonym for hitchhiking.
Plot[]
Daffy Duck scoffs at a flock of ducks flying south for the winter and announces that he'll be hitchhiking his way south this season. After one car zooms by blowing off Daffy's feathers, another motorist in a Tin Lizzie and old fashioned driving regalia stops long enough to tell Daffy that he never picks up hitchhikers. Frustrated, Daffy finds a can of paint and paints what appears to be an excavation in the road. Porky Pig arrives in his red sports car and stops in front of the "hole." Daffy is delighted that Porky is driving to Miami. He gathers his luggage and tosses it into the trunk of the car. Porky is astonished that Daffy was able to fit all of his luggage into his small trunk. Daffy invites Porky to look into the trunk to see how he did it. As soon as Porky grabs for the trunk handle, the luggage flies out and sends Porky flying with it.
Porky and Daffy are driving along the road when a tiny yellow car starts sounding its horn and tailgating their car. Porky pulls over to let the car pass, but Daffy doesn't want to be pushed around by such a small vehicle and grabs the steering wheel to continue blocking it. After Daffy and Porky struggle with the steering wheel a bit, Daffy slams on the brakes and the tiny car collides with their rear bumper. Daffy steps up to the tiny car, opens the door, and challenges "Junior" to a fight. A gigantic, scary man exits the car, prompting Daffy to behave like a friendly dog. The man ignores Daffy and pummels Porky with a pile driver punch that sends Porky's head through the radiator cap of his car.
Porky and Daffy continue driving. Daffy wants to drive faster, but Porky says that he always obeys the speed limit. Daffy tells Porky that there are no traffic cops around and forces Porky's foot down on the gas pedal. Immediately, a cop on a motorcycle starts pursuing them along a "hairpin turn." Daffy declares that the "long arm of the law" will never reach them just as the cop grabs both Daffy and Porky by their collars with an arm about ten feet long. Daffy tricks the cop into peeking into the trunk by saying that Porky is carrying something suspicious, despite Porky pleading the cop not to look in the trunk. As soon as the luggage flies out of the trunk and launches the cop away, Daffy and Porky try to make a quick getaway, but fail as the cop sends the two to the police station.
Daffy is waiting outside the police station in the next town when Porky comes out, happy that he was fined only two dollars. Daffy thinks this is an outrageous amount and enters the police station to protest, only to elevate the fine another fifty dollars. Porky is furious, especially when Daffy has the gall to tell him how much he's helped him, and plots revenge. Porky then goes to a gift shop and buys Daffy a gift. Daffy is excited and wants to open it right away, but Porky hides the gift in the trunk of his car, telling Daffy not to peek. Daffy is angry that he can't open the gift and decides to peek in the trunk. Sure enough, the luggage flies out and launches Daffy away. Seeing that his scheme has worked perfectly, Porky snickers evilly and speeds off. Daffy opens his gift and finds that it is an Acme Hitchhiker's Thumb. Daffy wears his huge false thumb, shivering in the snow as he vainly tries to summon a ride.
Availability[]
Porky Pig Days of Swine and Roses
Ham on Wry: The Porky Pig Laser Collection
Special Bumper Collection (Vol. 2)
Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition Volume 15: A Battle of Wits
Looney Tunes Super Stars Family Multi-Feature Vol. 2, Disc 3
Streaming[]
Notes[]
- The first scene of Porky's car and the cop speeding down the road was reused from Fast and Furry-ous. The shot of the "Hairpin Turn" sign also greatly resembles the title card of that short.
- After Daffy stomps on the accelerator, the car passes a billboard advertisement for "Chef Thomas Restaurant," a reference to background artist Richard H. Thomas.
Gallery[]
_-_Big_Man.jpg "Thumb Fun (1952) - Big Man.jpg (296 KB)")
