Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Slowpoke Rodriguez

Slowpoke Rodríguez ("Lento Rodríguez" in Spanish, though some more recent translations call him "Tranquilino") is described as "the slowest mouse in all Mexico" from the country side of Mexico, and is a cousin to Speedy Gonzales, who is known as the fastest. However, he mentions to his cousin that while he may be slow in the feet, which he is best known for, he's not slow in "la cabeza" (the head). He speaks in a monotone voice and seems to never be surprised by anything. While he is the slowest mouse in all of Mexico he has been shown to have certain other (more extreme) methods of protecting himself, such as being armed with a gun.
Slowpoke only appeared in two cartoons alongside his cousin. The first, Mexicali Shmoes (1959), ends with two lazy cats, Jose and Manuel, the former learning the hard way that Slowpoke carries a gun (though the gun bit has been edited out of this cartoon in recent years). The second, Mexican Boarders (1962), revolves around Speedy trying to protect Slowpoke from Sylvester the Cat, but in the end, Slowpoke demonstrates his ability to hypnotize Sylvester into becoming his slave. This short (which was later edited into Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales) contains a possible allusion to a marijuana habit when Slowpoke sings La Cucaracha. Despite his few appearances, "Lento Rodríguez" is an immensely popular character in Latin America.
Slowpoke Rodriguez appears in The Looney Tunes Show episode "The Black Widow" voiced by Hugh Davidson. Besides being the cousin of Speedy Gonzales, he is depicted as the Sheriff of Tacapulco. After Daffy Duck and Porky Pig are arrested for streaking, Slowpoke allows Daffy Duck to make one call. When Daffy Duck is unable to reach Bugs Bunny, he calls up Speedy Gonzales who races to Tacapulco and convinces his cousin to let them out. Slowpoke Rodriguez does let Daffy Duck and Porky Pig out of jail and allows them to take part in Tacapulco's festivities.

Speedy Gonzales

2 comments:

  1. Mi è sempre stato sulle paaa... speedy gonzales!
    Ho sempre tifato per il gatto Silvestro!
    Come d'altronde per Taddeo contro Bugs Bunny e Wile Coyote contro il Road runner!

    Adoro le puntante dei Griffin dove i miei sogni si avverano!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeRMOOg9ztw
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz3b2S5GwUU

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    1. Il post e' solo introduttivo per qualcosa che seguira'... volevo stuzzicare un po' i ricordi di noi diversamente bambini...

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