The Bird Came C.O.D. is a 1942 Merrie Melodies short directed by Charles M. Jones.
Title[]
The title is a play on the 1941 Warner Bros. film The Bride Came C.O.D.
Plot[]
Working for the Arctic Palm Co., Conrad Cat tries to deliver a potted palm to a theater. First, the palm won't fit through the door, then it actually holds the door frame to keep Conrad from going through, then the door won't stay so he can go through. Conrad finally outwits the palm and the door and goes inside. He brings the palm on stage to replace the dead palm which is there but is distracted by a magician's hat. He pretends he's performing, though the theater is empty. He is surprised when he pulls a rabbit out of the hat. A small bird walks out of the hat and threatens to hit Conrad. When the cat peers closer into the hat, the bird smacks him. Conrad smashes the hat but misses the bird, which walks up his arm and pokes him in the eye.
Having learned his lesson, Conrad is now cautious of the bird. He backs away from it and falls into the orchestra pit. He crashes through the instruments and finally makes it back on stage. He picks up the dead palm tree and hurries away with it, but smashes into a wall and stumbles into the wardrobe room. He trips and knocks over a row of six top hats. Six little birds come walking out of them...
Availability[]
Streaming[]
Notes[]
- The European dubbed version keeps the original ending card (no 1995 Turner dubbed disclaimer and no borders on the ending card), while the American print has the altered ending card.
- This the final cartoon to use the 1940-42 WB shield. The next Merrie Melodies cartoon has the 1942-43 shield.
- The tough bird, who previously appeared in "Stage Fright", returns in this short.
- The bird's design appears like a prototype for what would become Henery Hawk, who would be introduced later in 1942 in The Squawkin' Hawk, also directed by Chuck Jones, albeit with grey feathers rather than brown.