INCREDIBLY solid opening courtesy of the ace direction of Frank Tashlin, solid animation by Bob Bentley, as well as the vocal talents of Tedd Pierce and Mel Blanc.
Tashlin’s cinematography is immediately the most eye-catching, especially his use of camera pans. the scene of Porky sliding down the staircase is INCREDIBLY well executed; the fast pan, crescendo in music and sound effects all coming to a halt in an instant with a sloooow downward pan (not a complete stop, which would break the momentum), softer clarinet score and lack of screeching brake SFXs make for an easy transition in tone and speed and for a great laugh.
LOTS of continuity between shots too that really ease the flow of scenes, from the crossfade of the church bells ringing (or, being hit with a mallet for that matter) to the horizontal concealed camera pan as Porky leaves the house in profile when the entryway is at a 3/4 angle.
Porky’s casting as a child as opposed to full-grown adult feels very purposeful in regards to the plot (he gets suckered into smoking a cigar after betting a bully and is launched into a Busby Berkeley-esque nightmare sequence about the dangers of smoking) rather than plain confusion in terms of who he’s supposed to be or what he’s supposed to do. the sailor cap he wears almost feels a bit tongue-in-cheek and a facetious commentary to really sell his innocence and youth.
i think this is a GREAT example of the authenticity exclusive to Porky that other characters lack--his complaints about being wrapped around his mother’s finger feel genuine and is a rather universal feeling that audiences could/can relate to. there are PLENTY of jokes packed in such a short time (such as Porky’s mother as a whole--major props to Tedd Pierce for INSANELY FUNNY VOICE ACTING) but there’s also a very STRONG sense of authentic, endearing charm to this little scene that’s not as strong in other cartoons with other characters