Bell Hoppy 1954

Sylvester, a classic cartoon character voiced by Mel Blanc, finds himself once again on the outs with the Loyal Order of Alley Cats Mouse and Chowder Club, a prestigious fraternity of alley cats he desperately aspires to join. Despite his efforts, he has been “blackballed” from gaining membership, leaving him frustrated and determined to succeed in his next attempt. Meanwhile, in the bustling city zoo, a mischievous young kangaroo named Hippety Hopper escapes from his cage and quickly seeks refuge in a nearby trash can. The Grand High Exalted Poobah of the Order, rummaging through the trash for something to eat, voices his disappointment at not finding anything appetizing. He then humorously remarks that he’d eat “the largest mouse possible,” unwittingly setting the stage for chaos, as he soon discovers Hippety hiding nearby.

The Poobah, hungry and distracted, encounters Hippety and, mistaking him for the notorious mouse the Poobah desires to catch, is suddenly attacked by the playful young kangaroo—an act that echoes the classic Sylvester-and-Hippety antics. This incident prompts the Poobah to call a special meeting to discuss the matter, setting the scene for Sylvester’s latest endeavors to gain acceptance into the fraternity. In a bid to join, Sylvester receives an unusual challenge from the Poobah: he must place a bell around the neck of the largest mouse he can find. The idea is for the cats to be alerted by the bell whenever the mouse is nearby, allowing them to ambush their prey.

The story quickly picks up pace as Sylvester and Hippety unintentionally cross paths multiple times, leading to a series of comedic skirmishes where Sylvester ends up getting the worst of it—being repeatedly pummelled and humiliated in his attempts. Each encounter involves clever gags, with Sylvester often being outsmarted and beaten up by Hippety, who continues to mistake Sylvester for a giant mouse. Despite his determination, Sylvester’s plans continually backfire until he finally devises a clever mirror trick. This scheme tricks Hippety into allowing Sylvester to secure the bell around his neck, giving Sylvester a moment of triumph in a long-standing rivalry.

However, Sylvester’s excitement is short-lived. Just as he calls the cats to pounce on what they believe is a huge mouse, Hippety swiftly hops into a city zoo truck with his new toy—the bell—leaving Sylvester behind. The cats, oblivious to the deception, rush into the truck’s path and are swiftly run over, adding a slapstick twist to the tale. Taking advantage of the chaos, Sylvester proclaims himself the Grand High Exalted Poobah, assuming leadership of the fraternity since he is now the only active member—though this turns out to be a brief victory. In a humorous turn of events, he ends up being “blackballed” once again after confidently pounding the gavel on the table so hard that it causes a black 8 billiard ball on the table to bounce up and strike him on the head, highlighting the comedic futility of his ambition.

Throughout the cartoon, the humor and timing are typical of classic animated shorts, blending witty gags with playful dialogue. The animation sequence showcases the ever-charming misadventures of Sylvester and Hippety Hopper, emphasizing themes of rivalry, persistence, and comic misfortune, all wrapped in light-hearted slapstick comedy. This story is a delightful example of the timeless antics that made characters like Sylvester and Hippety Hopper household favorites, entertaining audiences with their humorous pursuits and inevitable pratfalls.