Film and Radio Guide (Oct 1945-Jun 1946)

January, 1946 FILM AND RADIO GUIDE 55 against this behavioi’, and Goodself tells him he knows it is wrong. But Johnny is adamant. Taking a swipe at Goodself with the back of his hand, Johnny levels off to hit the ball. A closeup of Johnny’s derriere shows that he now has acquired a curly little tail that would look cute on a pig, but seems out of place on Johnny. During the course of the game, Johnny hits a ball and runs for first base. But the ball is thrown in, and Johnny very obviously is out. This isn’t the way Johnny likes it, however, and rather than accept the decision, he starts an argument which, alas, results in a fight. The boys leave him flat. They tell him he is nothing but a pig. Though Johnny is obviously amazed by this pronouncement, the transformation is complete. Johnny now turns completely into a pig, but he doesn’t know it. On his way home, Johnny passes a piggery, full of very dirty little pigs. Because the piggery door is open, and the little pigs have never before seen a pig with clothes on, their curiosity gets the better of them. They start following him. He tries to shoo them home without effect. He has to run away from them. He finally gets rid of them by running inside his garden gate and slamming it. In the garden he sees his little dog. Rover. As the narrator points out, Johnny has no truer friend than Rover. No matter what his other friends did to him, or think of him, Johnny can always rely on Rover. He whistles for the pup. At the familiar sound the dog comes running. But, at the sight of the transformed Johnny, even Rover balks. He skids to a terrified stop. Letting out a dismal howl, he runs off to hide in the bushes. Really dejected at this lack of affection, or even recognition, from his pal Rover, Johnny enters the house. As he walks through the hall, he passes a mirror hanging on the wall into which he casually glances. He looks away, and then, as the light of understanding dawns, he returns for a better look. A porcine image glares back at him from the mirror. For the first time, Johnny sees himself as he is — a pig. With a wail that could be heard half way down the street, he runs to find his mother. His mother, of course, is very sympathetic. But she explains that the reason he looks like a little pig is that he has been acting like a little pig. All he will have to do to look like a nice little boy again, is to act like a nice little boy. She turns on a projector and shows Johnny a film of newsreel clips of champions in all fields of sport. She shows the young future generals at West Point: how neatly they keep their rooms, how well-mannered they are at the table. Demonstrating the lessons on tidiness, good manners, and sportsmanship, she has tried to teach Johnny new habits. When the show is over, Johnny is impressed. He needs no urging to put his new resolutions into practice. Rushing upstairs to his room, he hangs up his clothes and puts away his toys. He makes everything spic and span. Just as his mother has promised, his own hands and feet once more take the place of the little pig’s hooves. Encouraged by this progress, he rushes in and cleans up the mess he has left in the bathroom. He takes time out only to look in the mirror, to see if any more of his unwanted features have left him. He is rewarded to find he has his own hair back again. He knows he is on the right track. At the lunch table, his manners are impeccable. But Badself, who isn’t going to give up without a struggle, makes a vigorous attempt to win Johnny back to his bad ways. However, Johnny has learned his lesson. Picking up Badself, Johnny throws that bad little character into the sugar bowl. Goodself, thoroughly elated, cements the deal by sitting on the lid. By this time, Johnny has lost his pig’s ears, and except for a little snout, is a little boy again. Asking his mother’s permission, he leaves the table and goes out to play baseball with the boys. The boys don’t want to play with him. But when he insists that little Tommy use his new bat, that Freddy wear his glove, and that Billy pitch his new ball, the boys’ resentment grows less. They decide to let Johnny play, even though they are not too enthusiastic about it. But as the game progresses, Johnny proves his sportsmanship. Little by little, the boys accept him. When it is Johnny’s turn at bat, he hits a ball that looks as though it will surely be a home run and takes off for his run around the bases. It’s thrilling. He’s on his way to the home plate as the ball is being thrown in. Both Johnny and the ball seem to arrive simultaneously. The catcher says he’s out. Expecting trouble, the boys gather round. This time they are not going to let Johnny get away with anything. But their fears are unfounded. Johnny tells them he had been too busy running to be able to see exactly what happened, and if the catcher said he is out, then he guesses he is out. He shakes hands with the catchei and tells him it was a wonderful catch. Continued on Page 60