MartinHafer This is a great Tex Avery cartoon that suffers slightly from its age. That's because the film creates literal representations of all the "hip slang" that the main character says--and I mean LITERAL! The problem is that this guy died and is trying to explain his life to the guys at the Pearly Gates but they have absolutely no idea what he's saying. Phrases such as "chew the rug" and "cat got your tongue" are completely beyond these heavenly beings. And these hip phrases (for the early 1950s) come one after another after another. So much that you barely have time to even think about them because the next one comes so quickly. A few modern kids might be stumped at what these phrases actually mean, so I advise kids to watch this with an old person to act as translator!

63x927is58401 Tex Avery is my all-time animation writer & director. Symphony In Slang is my all-time favorite cartoon. If I could , I would rate it one-hundred stars. Cartoon writer, Rich Hogan done the best work in Symphony In Slang, putting together at least sixty slang clichés & the animation that shows as the voice, John Brown, perfectly said numerous slang terms, throughout this all-time classic cartoon. Tex Avery's mind of continuous & numerous creations throughout his career, at any studio, is definitely that of an animation genius. Tex Avery's works & animation creations are extremely unique, especially during his fourteen plus years at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In my dictionary, Symphony In Slang is Extremely & Hysterically Humorous, from beginning to end!

Robert Reynolds This cartoon is typical of Tex Avery in that there are a lot of sight gags, but is atypical in that the running monologue is as important to the humor as the sight gags are. Avery cartoons tend to be more weighted towards visual gags and placed less emphasis on verbal humor, but the premise of the short-how slang would seem to someone who didn't understand what was meant-required a more verbally oriented approach. In less rational moments, I wonder what Avery would make of some modern expressions. Then I go lie down until the feeling goes away. Recommended.

Popeye-8 Rich Hogan was hugely underappreciated as the hidden fuel to Tex Avery's fire. Here, he proves himself to be George Carlin's comedic father, with his schizoid tribute to our mangled "mother tongue". The images that come to mind every time I hear "She sent me a cable, so I sent her a wire"; or especially "I was up against it, but I carried on" will delight me forever. A visual triumph, but mostly because Hogan's turn of a phrase works so well. Indescribably essential viewing.