| A Tale of Two Kitties | |
| Director: | Robert Clampett |
| Story: | Warren Foster |
| Animator: | Rod Scribner |
| Music: | Carl W. Stalling |
| Producer: | Leon Schlesinger |
| Studio: | Leon Schlesinger Productions |
| Distributor: | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Color Process: | Technicolor |
| Runtime: | 7 minutes (one reel) |
| Language: | English |
A Tale of Two Kitties is a 1942 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Bob Clampett, written by Warren Foster, and features music by Carl W. Stalling.[1] The short was released on November 21, 1942, and features the debut of Tweety, originally named Orson until his second cartoon, who delivers the line that would become his catchphrase: "I tawt I taw a puddy tat!"[2]
The short was reissued as a Blue Ribbon cartoon on July 31, 1948.[3]
Two cats, Babbit and Catstello, are looking for food to alleviate their hunger. Babbit gets a ladder when they see a bird. Catstello is at first reluctant, but manages to go up the ladder, where he breaks the fourth wall and makes a direct jab at the movie industry's self-censorship bureau by making a reference to the middle finger ("If the Hays Office would only let me, I'd give him the 'boid,' all right!").
After several failed attempts, Babbit and Catstello construct a makeshift glider and try to swoop down and catch the bird, but the bird reports an air raid, followed by a blackout, and Catstello is shot down. The bird walks by acting as an air raid warden and demanding a "total bwackout", and just as Babbit and Catstello are about to catch him, the bird screams at the cats to turn out the lights.