B.C.: The First Thanksgiving (1973)

That horrifying, blood-curdling baritone scream after the caveman burns his hand, and a curiously lengthy pause, as the burning tree stump looks as though it has come to demonic life, and the flames dance and lick the air, ... accompanied by that hideous, genuinely frightening scream, ... will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.I'm not joking, that is a genuinely frightening moment ( which is replayed a second time only moments later ) in this lazily animated, unapologetically awful adaptation of John Hart's comic strip cavemen, who, in this TV film, supposedly somehow celebrate Thanksgiving, despite the fact that cavemen existed hundreds of millions of years before the celebration of Thanksgiving even began. Furthermore, they seem to be preparing food they are familiar with, and seem to be aware of the fact they are acknowledging some sort of holiday, so it doesn't appear to be the * first * of anything. This is not even unintentionally funny, it's lazilly animated, poorly voiced ( the characters' voices change from one scene to the next ) and aside from the title, it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but, you know, Happy Thanksgiving. It really doesn't even do anything with the fact​ that they're cavemen. The jokes would be the same, regardless of what time period the story was set, and they would still suck.

While writing in "Thanksgiving Cartoons" in the search blank in YouTube, I discovered this B.C. animated special was listed. What a great surprise to find this cartoon after partially knowing about it for years! Directed by Warner animation veteran (and Chuck Jones protégé) Abe Levitow, "B.C.: The First Thanksgiving" does Johnny Hart's classic comic strip a great service to its creator which is not surprising since Hart co-wrote the script. Hilarious stuff like B.C.'s discovering fire (not to mention his Jack Benny-like voice and characterization) and the other cavemen chasing the turkey as the turkey keeps playing tricks on them are among the highlights of many in this inventive and satirical animated special. I also loved the jazz-rock with a little bit of country-flavored score. There was also another character who talked liked Bogart. Among the voices were Daws Butler, Don Messick, and singer Joanie Sommers as both the Cute Chick and the Fat Broad. I highly recommend this for anyone searching on YouTube.

When I first saw the show, it was absolutely hilarious. The old cave woman was like a cheerleader exhorting the men to go after the turkey like it was a football game. The men went wild after being pump up by the cave woman. I can't understand why CBS did not show B.C.: The First Thanksgiving every Thanksgiving Day or at least before Thanksgiving. I wonder what were the ratings for that show went it first went on the air back in 1973? After the first time, it seem to just disappear. It seems to be the same with Garfield's Thanksgiving and Garfield's Halloween. At least CBS had shown Garfield's Halloween for a couple of years, then decided not to show it anymore.

This older cartoon is an absolute classic, with tons of sight gags, puns, and plays on words. Our bumbling hero, 'B.C.' accidentally discovers fire, which it turns out The Fat Broad needs to start her pot of rock soup. And the only way to flavor rock soup is with a dead turkey. So our intrepid hunters go after the turkey, despite the fact that none of them really knows what a turkey is. Sample conversation: Peter: "Wiley, ya got a minute?" Wiley: "Yessir?" Peter: "What the heck is a turkey?" Wiley: "You don't know what at tur..." Peter: "SHH! They'll hear us!" (indicates the rest of the cavemen) Wiley: (sotto voce) "You don't know what a turkey is?" (Peter shakes his head) Wiley: "Well, she's got a big nose like this... and a lonnng neck like this... with skinny legs, an' a beautiful tail feather." Peter: "You sure that's a turkey?" Wiley: "It ain't Barbara Streisand!" The opening scene where the different characters are waking up is priceless.