Ceiling Hero is a 1940 Merrie Melodies short directed by Tex Avery.
Plot[]
Through the medium of the motion picture screen are brought the latest developments in the science of modern flying. At a midwestern airport, all pilots must receive a licence. Eventually, a six-motor airliner starts to take off, but only the wings of the plane flies off. Another tip given is that the larger the tires, the softer the landing. A small plane with over-sized tires demonstrates this advice.
After a preview of a rocket ship experiment that explodes into fireworks saying "Eat Tony's Hot Dogs", a mobile home appears. The narrator states that planes are used for vacation travel, advertising, and cabin cruising. In addition, military planes use camouflage, covering the entire plane in sky background except for the propeller. Lastly, a pilot showcases using a parachute after his plane encounters engine trouble.
An airline cruiser starts to take off for flight, following a "highway passage" with traffic waits. After passing bad weather, it makes it past the California coastline to land. Next, a team of stunt pilots explains that blind flight is important for pilots. A new model is then ready to take flight, and a test pilot takes the risk. The test plane flies so high that the plane begins to freeze as it exits the atmosphere, and then eventually flips over to descend rapidly. After reporting an accident, the test pilot crashes onto the ground. The narrator questions if the test pilot was hurt, but the test pilot, still alive and well, replies "Could be."
Availability[]
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Volume 4, Side 7
HBO Max (restored)
Gallery[]
Censorship[]
Versions shown on Cartoon Network and Boomerang in the United States in the 1990s delete a brief sight gag involving a Chinese airliner with features resembling a stereotypical Asian face, including the accompanying narration "Winging it's way to the Orient, we pass the China clipper".
The Chinese plane gag which is often censored from US television airings. This scene is however not censored on television airings outside the United States.
Notes[]
- This is the final short to use the 1940 black, red, blue and white rings. The next short, "Malibu Beach Party" would use the orange rings.
- In both the USA and EU 1995 Turner "dubbed version" prints, there are visible screen shakes at certain points of the cartoon, especially in the title card,[1] perhaps due to minor film damage of the source negative from which this Turner print is remastered.
References[]