. . . sums up the plot of this 6 1\2-minute short, BLACKBOARD JUMBLE. No doubt still taking heat for all the Lynchings inspired by its wrong-headed historical rewrite, GONE WITH THE WIND, 17 years earlier, MGM takes a stab at making amends here. A rookie school teacher with a Southern drawl enters the BLACKBOAD JUMBLE with a personal agenda of reviving the Confederacy by forcing a classroom full of likely Yankee kids (they're all so hyper) to paint the hateful "Stars and Bars" Confederate Battle Flag. Recognizing this logo of the "Peculiar Institution" once hell-bent on classifying American Blacks as non-human tools of perpetual servitude, these right-thinking kids quickly declare war on their racist bigot instructor. Though the would-be child corrupter is taller than any three pupils stacked, the ingenious tykes slowly prevail in a campaign of attrition. Naturally, the Rebel teacher resorts to cheating with weapons of mass destruction when the tide of battle turns against him. But since Right makes Might, the forces of Truth triumph over this Ultimate Evil, permanently routing it.

After about 35 years of originally seeing this on an afternoon Tom and Jerry show, I watched this cartoon again as an extra on the Blackboard Jungle DVD. It has the voice of Daws Butler-employing the one he would eventually use for Huckleberry Hound-as a wolf who ends up taking a teaching job after the previous one runs out of the schoolhouse all crazy-like. This wolf finds three kids-all resembling Droopy (It seems Bill Thompson wasn't available as none of them talk here)-who cause all kinds of mischief. This wolf's reactions are quite funny especially when put in all kinds of situations. I suppose modern viewers may pause laughing when one scene involves a Confederate flag but since I found out the song he whistles was an anti-slavery song, that may even things out. Besides, I liked how those "stars" appeared on it! Anyway, that's a recommendation of Blackboard Jumble.

Blackboard Jumble (1957) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Hilarious spoof of Blackboard Jungle has a wolf with a Southern accent taking over for a teacher who had a nervous breakdown due to his mean spirited kids, clones of Droopy. Many wonderful gags and plenty of nice action.Blackboard Jungle (1956) **** (out of 4) Explosive drama about a teacher (Glen Ford) trying to reach some troubled students (including Vic Morrow and Sidney Poitier). I've always loved these "teacher" films and this one here is certainly the best of the bunch. While the events are a little over the top in how much actually happens, the message and heart of the film is right on target. Ford is in my opinion one of the most under appreciated actors from his day and he's wonderful here as are Morrow and Poitier. The first rock and roll soundtrack doesn't hurt matters either.

This "Droopy cartoon" takeoff on the hit movie "Blackboard Jungle" was very disappointing. First, it didn't star Droopy, just three little kids who all looked like him, and the wolf," who appeared in a handful of these 'toons. Mainly, it just wasn't that funny.Basically, it was just a collection of pranks by the three little monsters (no one else at this school?) perpetrated against the wolf, a substitute teacher. The latter takes over for the real teacher when the latter runs out of the school a raving lunatic, saying he can't handle this "modern education."Our stereotypical southern drawl wolf with poor grammar takes over espousing a Liberal attitude about kids and education. However, he finds that the softer, liberal approach doesn't work, either, as the kids absolutely demolish him in every way. Okay, but not the normal entertaining fare with "Droopy" in the lead.