Review of Hoppy-Go-Lucky

This is an interesting McKimson cartoon because instead of Sylvester Jr. egging Sylvester on to catch the "Giant mouse" he's been replaced by Benny, voiced by the legendary star of records, cartoons, and classic TV commercials, Stan Freberg. Benny is based on the simple-minded character Lenny from the novel and film OF MICE AND MEN. Lon Chaney Jr.'s performance as Lenny in the classic 1938 Lewis Milestone film adaptation was mercilessly lampooned multiple times in the Looney Tune universe, and then Tex Avery continued the tradition when he moved to MGM. Lenny was used as the inspiration for Bugs Bunny's Abominable Snowman adversary, Hugo, in THE ABOMINABLE SNOW RABBIT (1961) and for Willoughby the Dog in OF FOX AND HOUNDS (1940) to name but a couple of characters. The dramatic climax of the novel, when George is about to shoot Lenny in the back of the head out of mercy, Lenny's line heartbreaking line, "Tell me about the rabbits, George," is often echoed in the Looney Tune universe whenever someone gets hit in the head REALLY hard (with birds and stars orbiting around their heads). I always liked the threat of rubbing Sylvester's hair the wrong way.