The Practical Pig 1939
Directed by
Dick Rickard
Made by
Walt Disney Productions
The Practical Pig Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Practical Pig (1939). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Practical Pig Pinto Colvig is hard at work building a new anti-wolf contraption, this time a lie detector, to keep the neighborhood safe. His two brothers, Fiddler Pig Mary Moder and Fifer Pig Dorothy Compton decide to go swimming by the pond, despite Practical’s cautious warning about the looming Big Bad Wolf. The scene blends a calm summer vibe with a thread of danger, as the trio’s routine day threatens to derail when the forest hides a cunning predator nearby and the pigs’ bravado meets a very clever deception.
The Big Bad Wolf Billy Bletcher disguises himself as a mermaid to lure the two young pigs away from the safety of land and traps them at an old windmill, where his three young wolves await their dinner. He tells his cubs they must not eat until he captures Practical, setting up a plan to draw the inventor into a trap. Meanwhile, the Wolf plots to ensnare Practical with a fake letter that supposedly requests help from his brothers. The windmill becomes a ticking time bomb of tension as the wolves move toward their dinner, and the two unsuspecting pigs are pulled deeper into the trap’s shadowy web.
As the Wolf heads off to capture Practical, the Three Little Wolves spring into action, aiming to bake Fifer Pig and Fiddler Pig into a pie. One cub sneaks a peppery touch to the plan, and a mishap with the lid causes a cascade of sneeze-induced chaos that splatters the crust and foils the kitchen scheme, trapping the Wolf cubs against the wall. The two pigs seize their chance, escaping and rushing back toward Practical’s house, their voices bright with relief and a touch of mischief at narrowly avoiding fate.
Back at the house, the lie detector proves to be a formidable tool as Practical confronts the Wolf with proof of his deception. The Wolf’s attempts to dodge the truth crumble under the machine’s scrutiny, and the device administers a series of consequences—brushes to wash the mouth out with soap and a stinging spanking, along with knuckles being tapped with rulers—each denial met with a firm, measured response. The Wolf tries one last gambit, insisting that he and Practical are pals, but the lie detector sees through the deceit and delivers the full set of corrective actions.
They’re in the old… the old mill
The Wolf crumbles under the pressure and is finally forced to reveal his brothers’ whereabouts. With this truth uncovered, Practical prepares to rescue his siblings, while the Wolf is knocked out of the house by a firecracker and appears to explode in the sky. When Fiddler and Fifer return, Practical chides them for disobedience, but they insist they hadn’t gone swimming. The lie detector’s final twist flips the pigs over, drops their shorts, and administers a playful spanking, while Practical’s own boast—“Remember, this hurts me worse than it does you!”—is humorously misread by the device as a lie, resulting in a last, comic spanking for Practical. The scene closes on a note of triumphant mischief, as order is restored but the old warnings linger in the punchy, animated cadence of the tale.
The Practical Pig Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Practical Pig (1939) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Practical Pig builds the lie detector
Practical Pig works on a new anti-wolf contraption, a lie detector, hoping to outsmart the Wolf's tricks. He engineers the machine to test truthfulness and to punish deception. He sets up the device as a safeguard for his brothers and the family, signaling a shift toward proactive defense.
Fiddler and Fifer decide to swim despite warning
Against Practical's warning about the Big Bad Wolf, the brothers sneak off to the pond for a swim. They underestimate the danger as the Wolf lurks nearby in disguise. The scene sets up the Wolf's later kidnapping.
Wolf disguises as mermaid to lure and capture them
The Wolf disguises himself as a mermaid to lure Fiddler and Fifer into danger. He captures the two pigs and brings them to the old windmill, where his wolf cubs await their dinner. The Wolf reveals his plan to eat the pigs only after he captures Practical.
Wolf plans to entrap Practical with fake letter
While the Wolf plots, the Three Little Wolves begin plotting to trap the others and prepare to bake them. The Wolf aims to entrap Practical by sending a fake letter requesting help from his brothers. The ruse is designed to lure Practical away from home.
Wolf departs to capture Practical; Three Little Wolves prepare to cook pigs
The Wolf heads out to capture Practical, leaving Practical's two brothers vulnerable at home. Meanwhile, the Three Little Wolves start to set their plan in motion by preparing to bake Fiddler and Fifer. The tension rises as the family braces for an attack.
Fake letter delivery reveals the ruse
As a messenger, the Wolf delivers the fake letter under Practical's door and blows his cover. Realizing the ruse, Practical becomes wary and prepares for a counter-move. The deception is uncovered just in time.
Trap in the house with the lie detector
The Wolf tries to lure Practical into a trap, but the welcome mat opens and he falls into a pit. Practical captures the Wolf and straps him to a chair in the basement, turning on the lie detector. The device begins testing truthfulness, promising punishment for lies.
First round of lies and punishments
The Wolf denies knowing Practical's brothers and claims innocence, but the lie detector exposes the lies and punishes him with a mouth wash and a spanking. He fights back with evasive answers, but the machine keeps him honest and uncomfortable. The punishment underscores the device's power.
Second lie attempt about friendship
The Wolf tries a final lie, claiming he and Practical are pals, but the lie detector sees through it and administers more punishment. He endures the combined scolding, spanking, and mouth washing as the machine presses the point. The Wolf grows increasingly desperate.
Three Little Wolves' baking plan goes wrong
Back at the wolves' hideout, the Three Little Wolves' baking scheme begins. One cub sprinkles pepper and the lid is knocked off, causing Fiddler and Fifer to sneeze violently. The crust falls apart and the pigs' plan is thwarted, trapping the wolf cubs instead.
Fiddler and Fifer escape and run to Practical's house
With the crust ruined and the cookies spoiled, the two pigs break free from the trap and sprint back to Practical's house for safety. The escape feels urgent and chaotic. They warn Practical of the danger.
The truth about the mill and wolf's location
The lie detector pushes the Wolf until he admits the truth: 'They're in the old... the old mill.' The confession confirms where the brothers are held. Practical bristles with the plan to rescue them.
Wolf is shot out of the house by a firecracker
The Wolf is blasted out of the house with a firecracker and seemingly explodes in the sky. Practically, the danger appears to be resolved momentarily as the Wolf vanishes above. Practical begins to formulate a rescue plan.
Fiddler and Fifer claim they didn’t swim
The two pigs burst in, claiming they did not go swimming after all. The lie detector reacts instantly, flipping them over, dropping their shorts, and delivering spanking. The scene reinforces the device's unyielding scrutiny.
Practical's admonishment backfires on him
Practical tells his brothers 'Remember, this hurts me worse than it does you!' but the lie detector misinterprets this as a lie and spanks him too. The device punishes even the one who created it, adding a final moment of embarrassment.
The Practical Pig Characters
Explore all characters from The Practical Pig (1939). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Practical Pig (Pinto Colvig)
Practical Pig is the cautious, inventor-minded brother who plans ahead and crafts a lie detector to uncover the Wolf’s deception. He anchors the story with rational thinking and a protective attitude toward his siblings. His insistence on avoiding risk contrasts with his brothers’ impulsiveness, driving the tension and eventual triumph over the Wolf.
Big Bad Wolf (Billy Bletcher)
The Wolf is a sly, predatory trickster who disguises himself as a mermaid and uses manipulation to capture the pigs. He relentlessly schemes to separate Practical from his brothers, only to be undone by the lie detector and upended by consequences. His cowardly blustering highlights the predator’s reliance on deceit rather than strength.
Fifer Pig (Dorothy Compton)
Fifer Pig is the carefree, swimming-loving brother who ignores warnings and gets drawn into the Wolf’s ruse. His impulsive nature creates the early danger but also anchors the rescue by Practical. He learns a hard lesson about listening to wiser family members.
Fiddler Pig (Mary Moder)
Fiddler Pig shares the adventurous, lively streak of his siblings and falls for the Wolf’s deception at first. His capture at the windmill heightens the stakes and motivates Practical to deploy the lie detector. He contributes to the humor and peril of the chase.
Three Little Wolves
The Three Little Wolves are the Wolf’s sons who eagerly plan to bake the captured pigs. They provide a parallel, comedic counter-threat to Practical and the original pigs. Their downfall comes as their pepper mishap causes the pie crust to blow away and trap them instead.
The Practical Pig Settings
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Location
Pond, Old Windmill, Practical's House, Wolf's Hideout
The story unfolds across several distinct locations. A tranquil pond becomes the lure for the wolf’s deception as Fiddler and Fifer are tempted to swim. An old windmill serves as the wolves’ lair and the place where the pigs are captured. Practical’s sturdy house, housing his inventions, is where the lie detector is tested and the wolf is confronted. The wolves’ hideout stands as the threat’s base, where the cubs scheme to bake the pigs before their father returns.
The Practical Pig Themes
Discover the main themes in The Practical Pig (1939). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Truth vs Lies
The plot centers on distinguishing truth from deception, with the lie detector acting as a moral compass. The Wolf disguises himself and uses a fake letter to mislead the pigs, testing Practical’s skepticism. The device exposes lies and enforces consequences, showing that deceit ultimately backfires. The short keeps truth at the forefront, even in a humorous, child-friendly context.
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Ingenuity & Defense
Practical Pig embodies practical problem-solving, constructing a lie detector to outsmart a predator. The invention reframes danger as something to be measured and confronted, rather than fled from. The story celebrates clever, rational defense over trickery. Technology here serves as a protective tool for family.
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Family & Caution
The brothers’ relationship drives the action, with Practical enforcing warnings while Fiddler and Fifer impulsively test fate. Their reunion reinforces the idea that safety comes from looking out for kin. The Wolf’s deception tests trust, but the family ultimately seeks each other and safety. The narrative uses humor to reinforce responsible choices.
The Practical Pig Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Practical Pig (1939). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In a sun‑drenched countryside where rolling hills meet a whispering forest, three brotherly pigs share a modest homestead that feels both homey and precariously perched on the edge of wilderness. The charm of the setting is softened by an ever‑present sense of unease, a reminder that the peace of the meadow is not absolute. The world is animated with a bright, slightly exaggerated style that lets playful exaggeration sit comfortably alongside genuine moments of caution.
Practical Pig is the middle sibling whose curiosity and talent for tinkering set him apart from his more carefree brothers. While Fiddler Pig and Fifer Pig revel in the simple pleasures of their pastoral life, Practical spends his days amid gears, levers, and half‑finished contraptions, driven by a desire to keep his family safe. The dynamic among the trio highlights a gentle rivalry—one brother’s inventiveness counterbalanced by the others’ spontaneous spirit—creating a lively, heart‑warming interplay that feels both familiar and fresh.
Beyond the hills, the legend of the Big Bad Wolf looms like a story told around a fire, a figure of folklore that has shaped the pigs’ cautious outlook. The film’s tone dances between light‑hearted comedy and a subtle, underlying tension, hinting that danger may be closer than the characters anticipate. With Practical’s inventive mind already at work on a new device meant to expose deception, the stage is set for a tale where ingenuity, family loyalty, and the gentle push‑and‑pull between safety and adventure intertwine, inviting the audience to wonder how far a clever invention can go when the shadows of ancient warnings begin to stir.
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