The Spotlight:
"Golden Yeggs" (1950, Merrie Melodies)
Here's a wonderful mistaken identity comedy from Friz Freleng. Poultry farmer Porky Pig discovers a golden egg in his chicken coop, and when he asks which of his fowl laid it, the goose responsible blames it on Daffy Duck! Of course, the only one who seems to notice the absurdity of a male duck laying a golden goose egg is Daffy himself. He decides to suspend his disbelief and go along with it. Daffy and Porky gain fame and media coverage, and one particular article in Life Magazine attracts the attention of a gang of crooks headed up by the diminutive mob boss Rocky. Rocky decides to "go into the poultry business", thinking that Daffy can lay more eggs and make him rich. After being "talked into it" (a shovel to the head) Porky sells Daffy to Rocky. Daffy, knowing full well that he can't lay golden eggs, decides to stall as long as possible, explaining that he has to be made comfortable and be in the mood. The thugs set up a nest in a swimming pool, and Daffy, with a tropical drink, sunglasses and cigar, explains that he's still not in the mood...at which point one big lug hauls off and shoots him! They bring Daffy into a secluded room and sit him down on a nest, giving him only five minutes to lay an egg, or Rocky will kill him. Every escape attempt is foiled by Rocky, everything from walking out the door to escaping through a laundry chute to the old sheets-tied-together out the window bit. He tries smashing the clock, but it's too late...no egg and no escape. Rocky shoots him point blank in the head, which doesn't kill him but scalps him...and lo and behold, he's laid a gold egg! "You never know what you can do until you've got a gun pointed at your head", Daffy tells us, relieved. Rocky stops him from walking away though...pointing to a room filled with empty egg crates. "Fill 'em up"! Daffy simply faints. Wonderful cartoon with great timing and a funny concept-one of Friz Freleng's best Daffy cartoons.
