The Reckless Driver

Infobox Hollywood cartoon
cartoon_name = The Reckless Driver
series = Woody Woodpecker


caption =
director = James Culhane
story_artist = Ben Hardaway
Milt Schaffer
animator = Philip DeGuard
Arthur Heinemann
Myron Natwick
voice_actor = William Demarest
Ben Hardaway
musician = Darrell Calker
producer = Walter Lantz
studio = Walter Lantz Productions
distributor = Universal Pictures
release_date = flagicon|US August 26, 1946
color_process = Technicolor
runtime =
movie_language = English
preceded_by = "Bathing Buddies"
followed_by = "Fair Weather Fiends"
imdb_id = 0152155

"The Reckless Driver" is the 19th animated cartoon short subject in the "Woody Woodpecker" series. Released theatrically on August 26, 1946, the film was produced by Walter Lantz Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures.

Plot

Woody discovers that his drivers' license is due for reneweal, and quickly heads for the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles. Upon arrival, Woody attempts to awaken sleeping Officer Wally Walrus (voiced by William Demarest) so he can complete the test.

First up is the eye test, complete with an eye chart whose letters spell out "I CAN'T SEE A THING." Then comes the reflex test, in which Woody violently pecks as Wally's head whenever he gets his knee jabbed. Next, Wally tries to get a fingerprint from Woody, only to have the two stack their hands high into the air.

Finally, Woody must complete the actual driving test. The careless woodpecker accidentally backs up into a wall. A fire extinguisher then falls off the wall and onto the back of Woody's car, providing him with steam propulsion. With this new power, Woody starts zooming in the air and in and out of the office, driving Wally insane. At the conclusion of the driving test, Woody blurts out, "Say, I've changed my mind. I want a pilot's license!"

Notes

The normally Swedish Wally Walrus sports a New York accent in this film. William Demarest replaced Hans Conreid in supplying the voice of the walrus as well.

References

*Cooke, Jon, Komorowski, Thad, Shakarian, Pietro, and Tatay, Jack. " [http://lantz.goldenagecartoons.com/1946.html 1946] ". "The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia".