The Loan Stranger

Woody Woodpecker cut loose behind the wheel in this brisk 1942 short about a car that won't stay fixed. He tries to get a loan from a sly local wolf to keep the car rolling, promising to pay up within a month. The deal comes with a harsh threat: miss the deadline and the lender will seize the car. What follows is a flurry of gags as Woody dodges notices, fakes, and tricks with a grin and a string of one liners. The animation crackles with snap cuts and exaggerated reactions as Woody outwits the loan shark and keeps the debtor's optimism intact. The chase shifts through disguises and quick wit keeping things lively. Gags snap quickly and draw smiles.

Released in 1942, The Loan Stranger was directed by Alex Lovy and built around Woody Woodpecker, a character created by Milt Schaffer and Ben Hardaway. It sits in the early wave of Woody shorts noted for gags and punchy timing.

Box office data for this 1942 short isn’t publicly documented. As a piece in a theatrical cartoon package, it wasn’t released as a standalone feature so earnings aren’t readily available. Historical records rarely track short film box office, and dedicated figures are scarce.

As part of the Woody Woodpecker canon, The Loan Stranger helps define the era's brisk, gag heavy humor. The wolf lender trope and Woody's sly bravado echo across later shorts, giving fans a snapshot of the series' chaotic energy. It shows how timing and mischief shaped the look of comedy.

Reception hints at a modest response, valuing the brisk timing and cartoonish energy of the era. Woody outsmarts his pursuers in quick, sight gag heavy sequences. Kent Rogers voices Woody, Harold Peary plays the rival, and Mel Blanc's archive sounds color humor; rating sits at 6.5/10 from votes.