A Message to Gracias

A Message to Gracias is a 1964 Looney Tunes short directed by Robert McKimson.
== Title ==
The title and plot are a reference to the essay Message to Garcia.
== Plot ==
Mexican Revolutionary mice make numerous attempts to deliver a message to General Gracias, but fail when every messenger is caught and eaten by Sylvester. Desperate, El Supremo then resorts to Speedy Gonzales to deliver the message.
After Speedy runs past him, leaving him on fire, Sylvester resorts to several plans to stop Speedy from delivering the message:
# First Sylvester drives after Speedy in a race car. When Sylvester asks if message is for him, Speedy answers him saying "Adios senor pussy gato signed..." he then picks up speed, the dust left behind forming the word "Speedy". Sylvester speeds up after the mouse. However, when Speedy spots a taco stand, he stops for a lunch break, resulting in Sylvester smashing into a cactus.
# Next, Sylvester chases after Speedy on a boat, and attempts to shoot him. Unfortunately, he bumps his head on a low-hanging branch, blows a hole in his boat, causing it to sink, and is almost eaten by crocodiles.
# After seeing Sylvester pass on a rail car with a sail, Speedy wonders what he's up to now. Sylvester hides in a tree, having set a snare trap. Upon hearing Speedy rushing by, he sets it off, only for a large beastly creature to be pulled up. Back on the ground, Speedy watches as the animal tears Sylvester apart, causing bits of fur to fall to the ground, followed by Sylvester himself. Speedy puts part of Sylvester's fur along with ears back on his head, who dazedly thanks Speedy before the mouse speeds off again.
# With Speedy almost to Gracias' headquarters, Sylvester tries to lasso him. He succeeds, only for Speedy to take him for a ride which ends with him being tied to a tree.
Speedy reaches General Gracias to deliver the message. Upon reading it however, it turns out to be a poem saying "Happy Birthday", much to Speedy's disgust because he had gone through all the trouble he had with Sylvester for such a relatively trivial message, "This is A important message?" Turning around, Speedy sees El Supremo with a birthday cake for his amigo. Racing up to Sylvester, Speedy asks him they're thinking the same thing. When Sylvester agrees, Speedy promptly cuts the "pussy gato" out of his bonds, who then chases after El Supremo and General Gracias while imitating Speedy's catchphrase. As Sylvester chases the two mice down the road and over the horizon, Speedy comments "Well, whataya know? It looks like the generals and the pussy gato is going to have lunch together. Sort of gets ya right here, no?"
== Availability ==
LTGC Vol.4.jpg|(2006) DVD Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4, Disc Three
lt bbot sg.jpg|(2011) DVD Speedy Gonzales
=== Streaming ===
Lt itunes.jpg|iTunes ( - ) (restored)
== Notes ==
* This is the only cartoon where both Speedy Gonzales and Sylvester put aside their differences and therefore both win in the end.
== Gallery ==
225427 10150197946123926 6429316 n.jpg|Lobby card
AMessagetoGraciasLobbyCard2.jpg|Lobby card
General Gracias.PNG
tumblr_mzdptraQSG1s92nono1_1280.jpg
tumblr_nj1jr5p0Zd1s92nono1_1280.jpg
sylvestermckimson_messagetogracias.jpg
tumblr_myahj3q3xL1s92nono1_1280.jpg
AMessageToGraciasLeadSheet1.jpg
AMessageToGraciasLeadSheet2.jpg
AMessageToGraciasLeadSheet3.jpg
=== TV Title Cards ===
Screenshot 20200404-230951.png|The Merrie Melodies Show
Lt a message to gracias the bugs bunny & tweety show.jpg|The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (Final Season)
 
Category:1964
Category:Sylvester Cartoons
Category:Speedy Gonzales Cartoons
Category:Hollywood in Cartoons
Category:Shorts
Category:Looney Tunes Shorts
Category:Cartoons directed by Robert McKimson
Category:Cartoons written by John Dunn
Category:Cartoons with music by Bill Lava
Category:Cartoons animated by George Grandpré
Category:Cartoons animated by Warren Batchelder
Category:Cartoons animated by Ted Bonnicksen
Category:Cartoons with layouts by Robert Gribbroek
Category:Cartoons with backgrounds by Robert Gribbroek
Category:Cartoons with film editing by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons with sound effects edited by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons produced by David H. DePatie
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Mel Blanc
Category:Cartoons with effects animated by Harry Love
Category:Cartoons directed by Ted Bonnicksen
Category:Cartoons animated by Keith Darling
Category:Cartoons produced by Friz Freleng