Woody Woodpecker and Friends

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company 'B' (1941x10)

: 01, 1941

Walter Lantz uses an all-black cast and swings the heck out of the story. Hot-Breath Harry (The Harlem Heatwave) is "the hottest trumpet man in town" until he's drafted by the army. When he gets his draft notice, he's sure that he can get out of serving, but no such luck. His sarge assigns him as the new bugle boy. But that's no great honor- the last one was done in by the guys in the squad. Harry's only chance is to swing it. Like many Lantz cartoons of the era, this combines a hit song of the day with broadly-drawn racial stereotypes.