Fresh Airedale
Fresh Airedale
| 25 August 1945 (USA)
Fresh Airedale Trailers

Shep the dog is seen by his master as loyal and loving, but the cat knows he is really a self-centered, conniving weasel who lets burglars in the house and takes credit for the good deeds of others.

Reviews
Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Steineded How sad is this?
WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
TheLittleSongbird That Fresh Airedale is directed by Chuck Jones and has Mel Blanc doing voices is reason enough to see it or any cartoon for that matter. Fresh Airedale does have much to admire about it, at the same time however it is very easy to see why anybody would dislike it. It is very different to what we usually see with Jones, here is a darker and much more scathing approach in alternative to the witty laugh-a-minute one we are used to. There have been times where being different can work and others where it doesn't, Fresh Airedale is an example of the former though it does have a tone and approach that either will take some getting used to or is not going to bode well with people. Like with me this said, you may be one of those who didn't care for it first time, finding the change of pace not easy to swallow or finding it went over your head but on repeat viewings you pick up on what was missed first time round and you appreciate it more. Talking about what is so good about Fresh Airedale, the animation is fine, objects, character designs and frame blend and flow smoothly, effort clearly was made in making it as detailed as possible and the colours are still lush while maintaining the darker tone of the story. Fresh Airedale is also beautifully scored, with great energy and also sensitively to the more dramatic bits. The writing, remarkably ahead of its time, takes a scathingly cynical edge and is satirical in tone without coming across as too overly mean-spirited, it is very sharply observed throughout and manages a couple of funny moments. The story is paced well and even though in terms of plotting you are never quite sure of what it's trying to do the message makes its point, and while it's a depressing one it doesn't come across as too heavy-handed. In terms of characters, the most relateable is definitely the cat and it is him you find yourself rooting for. The dog Shep is portrayed as a sociopath with no redeeming qualities, and a great job is done making the audience hate him, not everybody will like having the main character being the one you dislike most but the approach works wonderfully within the cartoon and what it's trying to say. The voice work is excellent, Mel Blanc has had more to do before but he still puts a lot of vigour into his characterisations, while Frank Graham is also great. The ending in a way does underwhelm in the sense that there is no justice when the cartoon is literally crying out for it, however Fresh Airedale while not appealing to all tastebuds is most interesting and really well done in almost all respects. 9/10 Bethany Cox
agj8012 I absolutely LOVE this cartoon. It may very well be my all-time favorite cartoon. But I must warn people of this cartoon, because people either understand the message that this cartoon is attempting to convey and love the cartoon, or people don't understand it and hate the cartoon. Now why would anyone hate a cartoon? Because this cartoon has one of the most sadistic plots in Hollywood history. An evil dog named Shep is continuously stealing, attempting to kill other dogs, and many other things. Meanwhile, a cat is continuously saving the day, only to be accused of the incident in the first place. The thing that really bothers people, though, is that justice is not served at the end. Shep the dog becomes a national hero after the cat saves two dog's lives and Shep takes the credit. I am glad that the cartoon ended this way, because too many movies and cartoons end with the good guy always winning, and that takes away some of the credibility of the story. This is a very bold cartoon, and is also absolutely hilarious, but its not for everyone. I believe that the message that this cartoon tries to make is about how the media always tries to find some scapegoat for every problem in America, and people always blindly follow the media without checking the facts. WATCH IT.
terry40601 Yes it is only a cartoon and evidently the previous posters that gave this cartoon a poor review may not have had the misfortune of working with an individual who was as two faced as the dog. I and many others have! This cartoon is so representative of the "luck" of the rat, it's a true classic. I have used snippets of it so many times in my classes and in the proper setting they have ALWAYS got the laughs and the comments they deserved. I believe it was made as an observation of Society and done so with tongue in cheek for our amusement. It's entertainment, and a lesson that not every negative act has a bad ending, it's made for laughs, enjoy and don't waste energy.
luv-kick ...you'll dislike this one. I first saw 'Fresh Airedale' on the compilation 'Canine Corps'. I am an avid fan of Looney Tunes and impressed with their idiosyncratic blend of enjoyment, humor, and cleverness. 'Fresh Airedale' is a gross aberration: unenjoyable and outright difficult to watch. The plot, which is painfully simple, features an unscrupulous, nasty, and greedy dog named 'Shep' getting his own way. That's basically it. His house-mate, a faithful and heroic cat, is framed and left out in the dark. OK, it's just a cartoon, but cartoons are supposed to be fun, and I don't understand what message Chuck Jones was trying to convey. This episode certainly does not seem fit for a compilation.