Released on April 24, 1944, The Barber of Seville is one of the most celebrated Woody Woodpecker cartoons, directed by Shamus Culhane for Walter Lantz Productions. It’s a brilliant blend of classical music and manic slapstick, set to the iconic music of Gioachino Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville. The result? A lightning-paced, brilliantly timed short that many regard as Woody’s finest performance.
In the cartoon, Woody is the barber, wreaking musical havoc on his unsuspecting customer. The gags are fast and fierce, executed with Culhane’s signature rapid cutting and a wild energy that pushes timing and expression to the edge. The animation is inventive, full of exaggerated poses, clever visual puns, and irreverent takes on high culture.
🎬 Why It’s Worth Watching:
- Considered one of the best Woody Woodpecker cartoons ever made
- Combines highbrow opera with lowbrow chaos
- Innovative and fast-paced directorial style by Shamus Culhane
- Features the timeless “Largo al factotum” aria with comic timing
- A great example of classical music in Golden Age animation
🎼 Legacy and Impact:
- Selected for preservation by the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1994
- Helped elevate the Woody Woodpecker series to greater prominence
- Inspired later opera-themed cartoons like Bugs Bunny’s Rabbit of Seville (1950)
- Seen as a shining moment of cartoon artistry meeting musical sophistication