History YMMV / TheDoverBoys

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A few people noted that the reanimated collab's interpretation of the [[SignatureScene iconic]] [[SignatureLine "I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!"]] scene was fairly disappointing compared to the rest of the project, as its animation isn't very far off from the straightforward execution of the original version. Since the moment is so famous, and the lack of any other noises other than the line meant the animators had pretty much free rein to do whatever they wanted, it's a shame that the animation couldn't play up Dan Backslide's LargeHam expressions even more.

* ValuesDissonance: Dan Backslide's first scene not only has him smoking like a chimney, but also downing 15 shots in rapid succession. Yep, it was made in the '40s alright.
** He also plays billiards, all of which play up his turn-of-the-century DastardlyWhiplash characteristics; the smoking and drinking are supposed to be ''bad''. (It's [[AnimationAgeGhetto not a short for children]], after all.)

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A few people noted that the reanimated collab's interpretation of the [[SignatureScene iconic]] [[SignatureLine "I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!"]] scene was fairly disappointing compared to the rest of the project, as it's animation isn't very far off from the straightforward execution of the original version. Since the moment is so famous, and the lack of any other noises other than the line meant the animator had pretty much free reign to do whatever they wanted, it's a shame that the animation couldn't play up Dan Backslide's LargeHam expressions even more.
* ValuesDissonance: Dan Backslide's first scene not only has him smoking like a chimney, but also downing 15 shots in rapid succession. Yep, it was made in the 40s alright.

* WeirdAlEffect: Seriously, would you have heard of the Rover Boys at all except for this cartoon?

** To be fair, Dan Backslide had just drank about a bottle's worth of booze, [AlcoholInducedIdiocy so he might be acting even dumber than usual] and forgot it was actually his own vehicle he was stealing.

* ValuesResonance: The fact that Dora [[spoiler: manages to defeat her kidnapper all on her own with no effort]] is pretty refreshing, given how many women in similar cartoons (and live-action fare) at the time [[spoiler: existed only to be saved by men]]. While that was meant to be a parody back then, these days, having a female character defeating her captors rather than wait until someone (usually a male character) rescue her is seen as progressive. It should be noted that Dora is still very clearly dumb, but to be fair, so is everyone else in the cartoon.

** Some believe that the runabout stolen by Dan Backslide was actually his. Evidence for this is how [[ContrivedCoincidence it's color not only matches that of his, but inside it are clothes that perfectly fit him, which he instantly goes for and puts on without a moment's notice, he gets the car running right away as if he's done such a thing before, and it just so happens to be parked right at the location where he's currently presiding]]. The fact that [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Dan is such a horribly inept villain]] lends credence to the idea that he would do such a thing, [[StupidEvil whether it's due to his stupidity]], or just him wanting to pretend he's successfully pulled off a crime. Noticeably, right before stealing it, he loudly calls attention to his crime, [[AttentionWhore almost as if he wants everyone to think he's some kind of impressive thief]] [[KarmaHoudini who can steal a car with no repercussions]]. Of course it's worth noting that this scene isn't the only time he loudly shouts info that should be kept to himself. It's still definitely some food for thought.
* CryForTheDevil: Dan Backslide may be a villain, but man does he get it bad here. [[spoiler: After kidnapping Doris, he finds that she's more than he can handle. A lot more in fact, as she effortlessly beats the shit out of him so badly, that he pathetically cries for help from his sworn enemies the Dover Brothers while lying on the floor in pain and fear. Then once they show up, they proceed to continue his ass kicking, even though he's at the point where he not only can't fight back, but can barely stand]]. For a CardCarryingVillain, he sure winds up being pitiable.

* ValuesResonance: The fact that Dora [[spoiler: manages to defeat her kidnapper all on her own with no effort]] is pretty refreshing, given how many women in similar cartoons at the time [[spoiler: existed only to be saved]]. She's still very clearly dumb, but to be fair, so is everyone else in the cartoon.

** Some believe that the runabout stolen by Dan Backslide was actually his. Evidence for this is how [[ContrivedCoincidence it's color not only matches that of his, but inside it are clothes that perfectly fit him, which he instantly goes for and puts on without a moment's notice, he gets the car running right away as if he's done such a thing before, and it just so happens to be parked right at the location where he's currently presiding]]. The fact that [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Dan is such a horribly inept villain]] lends credence to the idea that he would do such a thing, [[StupidEvil whether it's due to his stupidity]], or just him wanting to pretend he's successfully pulled off a crime. Noticeably, right before stealing it, he loudly calls attention to his crime, [[AttentionWhore almost as if he wants everyone to think he's some kind of impressive thief]] [[KarmaHoudini who can steal a car with no repercussions]]. Of course it's worth noting that this scene isn't the only time he loudly shouts info that should be kept to himself. It's still definitely some food for though.

* SignatureLine: "A runabout! '''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''"

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A few people noted that the reanimated collab's interpretation of the [[SignatureScene iconic]] [[SignatureLine "'''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''"]] scene was fairly disappointing compared to the rest of the project, as it's animation isn't very far off from the straightforward execution of the original version. Since the moment is so famous, and the lack of any other noises other than the line meant the animator had pretty much free reign to do whatever they wanted, it's a shame that the animation couldn't play up Dan Backslide's LargeHam expressions even more.

* JerkassWoobie: Dan Backslide; coward-bully-cad-thief-[[spoiler: [[AssholeVictim victim]]]].

* JerkassWoobie: Dan Backslide; coward-bully-cad-thief- [[spoiler: [[AssholeVictim victim]].

* JerkassWoobie: Dan Backslide; coward-bully-cad-thief-[[spoiler: [[AssholeVictim victim]].

** Some believe that the runabout stolen by Dan Backslide was actually his. Evidence for this is how [[ContrivedCoincidence it's color not only matches that of his, but inside it are clothes that perfectly fit him, which he instantly goes for and puts on without a moment's notice, he gets the car running right away as if he's done such a thing before, and it just so happens to be parked right at the location where he's currently presiding]]. The fact that [[InnefectualSympatheticVillain Dan is such a horribly inept villain]] lends credence to the idea that he would do such a thing, [[StupidEvil whether it's due to his stupidity]], or just him wanting to pretend he's successfully pulled off a crime. Noticeably, right before stealing it, he loudly calls attention to his crime, [[AttentionWhore almost as if he wants everyone to think he's some kind of impressive thief [[KarmaHoudini who can steal a car with no repercussions]]. Of course it's worth noting that this scene isn't the only time he loudly shouts info that should be kept to himself. It's still definitely some food for though.

* ValuesResonance: The fact that Dora [[spoiler: manages to defeat her kidnapped all on her own with no effort]] is pretty refreshing, given how many women in similar cartoons at the time [[spoiler: existed only to be saved]]. She's still very clearly dumb, but to be fair, so is everyone else in the cartoon.

* SignatureLine: '''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A few people noted that the reanimated collab's interpretation of the [[SignatureScene iconic]] [[SignatureLine'''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!''''']] scene was fairly disappointing compared to the rest of the project, as it's animation isn't very far off from the straightforward execution of the original version. Since the moment is so famous, and the lack of any other noises other than the line meant the animator had pretty much free reign to do whatever they wanted, it's a shame that the animation couldn't play up Dan Backslide's LargeHam expressions even more.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Given how hilarious the main cast is, it's a shame that they didn't get more appearances, especially since their only appearance is a [[GrowingTheBeard fairly influential one]] for Creator/ChuckJones.

** Was Dora really too dumb to understand the door was locked on ''her'' side, or was she hoping for the Dover Boys to show up and "rescue" her as a demonstration of how much they cared about her, and decided to leave with the bathing suit guy, unhappy that they took too long to "save" her?

** '''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''[[labelnote:explanation]]Dan Backslide's most infamous line. Typically used when someone or something [[SerialNumbersFiledOff blatantly]] [[FollowTheLeader copies something]] from someone or something else.[[/labelnote]]

* MemeticMutation: The page quote.
-->'''Dan Backslide''': A runabout... '''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO-ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''
** The above lines has evolved into: "A(n) (noun)... '''I'LL STEAL IT! ''NO-ONE WILL EVER KNOW!'''''

** The Dover boys, in spite of their upstanding nature and heroic antics, are bland, self-righteous, and [[LastSecondWordSwap almost]] called "jerks" by the LemonyNarrator. Conversely, Dan Backslide is an IneffectualSympatheticVillain you can't help but [[JerkassWoobie feel sorry for]]. Of course, [[GreyAndGrayMorality this is encouraged]] [[IntendedAudienceReaction by the cartoon itself]], [[RuleOfFunny for humor]].

** The idea that Dora is ObfuscatingStupidity is teased at one point in the [=ReAnimated=] version--after knocking Dan over a second time, she [[FreezeFrameBonus briefly]] glances at him with a smug expression.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: This short is one compared to the rest of the ''Looney Tunes'' library, as it's generally fairly popular despite Warner Bros. [[PublicDomainAnimation not holding the copyright for it anymore.]] Special mention goes to [[LargeHam Dan]] [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Backslide]], as nearly all of his dialogue has gone memetic.

** Dora's kidnapping shows that both her and Dan are strong enough to carry a tree, and that they're dumb enough to not notice at first. Between that and Dan being a coward-bully-cad and thief, it makes sense that he wouldn't know how to handle Dora at the cabin and was thrown around like he was.

* GenreTurningPoint

** In an odd example, Dan Backslide's line "Confound those Dover Boys! ... They drive me to drink!" has become half the source for, of all things, a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' meme. Someone took an out-of-context screencap of Twilight Sparkle with what looks like a bottle of liquor, tossed in Dan Backslide's line with "Ponies" replacing "Dover Boys," and just like that, the Dover Boys had made yet another lasting contribution to internet lore. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoxNyfdb_hE Also a YouTube video]].

* WeirdAlEffect: Seriously, would you have heard of the Rover Boys at all except for this 'toon?
* TheWoobie: It's hard not to feel bad for Dan Backslide near the end. Sure, he's a coward-bully-cad-and-thief, but he's [[spoiler: long since given up his dastardly intentions by the time the Dover Boys arrive to beat him senseless, as Dora's already beaten him within an inch of his life.]]