While not one of my favourite Looney Tunes characters, Porky is always likable and watchable.
'Bye Bye Bluebeard', despite being directed by a comparatively little-known and less prolific director, is a great cartoon and in the better end of Porky's cartoons. It does peter out ever so slightly towards the end, where the story ideas are not quite as strong as before, but that's the only real thing wrong with it.
The cartoon is superbly animated, all the characters are well drawn especially Bluebeard, it looks vibrant, lush and colourful, the backgrounds are rich in detail and everything flows smoothly. The music score by Carl Stalling also leaves a positive impression, as is characteristic of Stalling there is a wonderful liveliness, terrific atmosphere, beautiful and clever orchestration, an excelling in fitting with the action and an unequalled ability to add to its impact. There is also a very unique arrangement of the cartoon's title song "Bye Bye Blackbird".
Dialogue is fresh, witty and deliciously funny, and the gags are even more imaginative and funnier, the mouse bagging almost all the best material. All three characters are strongly characterised and the chemistry is well done. Porky does fare least, he's amusing and likable but he is one of those characters who can be overshadowed by characters with stronger personalities (especially Daffy) and that is the case here. Bluebeard is imposing and quite terrifying, but stealing the show is the hilarious mouse. Mel Blanc's voice work as always adds so much to the cartoon's success, his most colourful characterisations of the mouse and Bluebeard making more of an impression than his still solid characterisation of Porky.
Overall, great cartoon and while it is one of Porky's better ones it is a case of a supporting character stealing the show, in this case the mouse. 9/10 Bethany Cox