The Opera Caper



""STOOPID! STOOPID! STOOPID!""

A 1967 short directed by Shamus Culhane for Paramount's animation studio, The Opera Caper is about two unnamed French crooks who repeatedly attempt to break into an opera house to kidnap the star performer. Wile E. Coyote-esque hijinks ensue.

Clearly made on the cheap, the short remains memorable for the humorous antics of the two protagonists.

See it here.


 * Aside Glance: The short crook gives one when the big crook requests a "stupid" ticket for him.
 * Brooklyn Rage: The manager displays this at the finale.
 * Catch Phrase: "STOOPID! STOOPID! STOOPID!" The big crook yells this each time the short crook bungles something up.
 * Gratuitous French: Full of it. Really, was there any reason to set this in France beyond the fact that French People Are Funny?
 * Running Gag: The big crook repeatedly calls the short crook "stupid". When they give up on breaking into the opera house and go to the marquee to buy tickets the big crook spitefully asks for two tickets: "One Adult. One *Stupid*"
 * Stock Footage: Despite being only 5 minutes long, a lot of the footage is recycled.