| Defeatist Limited 1929 | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Thomas E. Dewey |
|
First Appearance |
Hell-Bent for Election (1944) |
|
Original Publisher |
United Auto Workers |
|
Created by |
Chuck Jones |
Origin[]
Defeatist Limited 1929 with the Win The War Special
Defeatist Limited 1929 is a Villainous, creaky old steam tender engine locomotive with a 2-2-4 Configuration representing Republican opponent Thomas E. Dewey.
He is shown pulling various cars representing hot air, high prices, taxes, business as usual (a sleeper car), poor housing for war workers, a hearse for labor legislation, a small two-wheel cart with just a few apples inside for unemployment insurance, and finally a caboose with iron bars for windows named the "Jim Crow Car".
In cutaways, the Limited tries to slow down the Win the War Special (e.g. blowing smoke on him, and squirting oil from his pistons). After a notable nightmare sequence, in which Joe fights his way through sales taxes (tacks), 'frozen' wages, and rising prices (depicted by a boxcar always increasing in height so that he is never able to climb on to the roof), he pulls the switch to sideline the Defeatist Limited. The train tries to stop by running into reverse, which damages many of its cars, but when he is not able to slow down and hits the switch which is against him, the train engine and his cars derail and crash. The "Win the War Special" advances down the track toward Washington, full steam ahead.
Public Domain Appearances[]
- Hell-Bent for Election (1944)
Notes[]
- Defeatist Limited 1929 is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1929 and 1963, and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice, the copyright was not renewed.
- The short focuses on contrasting attitudes toward World War II, with the contest between the "Win the War Special" (representing Roosevelt) and the "Defeatist Ltd" (representing Dewey). The argument between Joe and The Wrecker refers to the War and attitudes toward it. Joe argues that "we" [Americans] are out to win the war, while The Wrecker snarls that this is Roosevelt's war. As he says that, the Wrecker transforms into a caricature of Adolf Hitler. After a psychedelic dream sequence, Joe's awakening results in him sending the munitions-laden Special on its run toward victory. On the road to Washington, which characterizes the hope for a peaceful post-WW2 world, a billboard depicting Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and a caricature of Hideki Tojo is featured. The "Post War Observation Car" displays veterans' benefits and full employment as post-war goals.