| “ | No springs! | ” |
| - Coily |
A Case of Spring Fever is a 1940 short sponsored by the Chevrolet Motor Company and produced by the Jam Handy Organization.
Synopsis[]
Gilbert Willoughby complains about springs while attempting to repair his couch, a chore that is preventing him from golfing with his friends. This incurs the wrath of Coily the Spring Sprite, who grants Gilbert's wish to never see another spring in his life. Gilbert finds that all springs no longer exist, causing many of the devices in his daily life to stop functioning. Coily materializes at each incident, shouts "No springs!" and cackles.
Distraught at the havoc he has caused, Gilbert pleads with Coily to return the world to its previous status. After a brief moment of consideration, Coily relents and returns springs. After his epiphany, Gilbert becomes a spring zealot, preaching about the marvelous wonders of springs and their importance in everyday life, to the annoyance of his golf buddies. On the drive home, one of his friends nearly wishes to never see another spring again, but he is cut short by a now-reformed Gilbert.
Known Cast[]
- Pinto Colvig as voice of Coily the Spring Sprite
- Edward J. Nugent as a golfer
Production Errors[]
- Gilbert gets into his car on the driver's side but when he tries closing the door (with "no springs"), it's the passenger-side door he's trying to close.
- When Gilbert is about to take his second shot on the golf course, two of his friends are standing next to the hole. In the next shot, as the ball nears the hole, only one pair of shoes is visible.
Notes[]
- The MST3K writers were aware of the short as far back as the Comedy Central era. Willie the Waffle (Episodes #317 and #423) is a clear reference to Coily, sharing several traits with the Spring Sprite.
- Appearing in Episode #1012, A Case of Spring Fever was the final short used on the show during the original run.
- Pinto Colvig, the voice of Coily, worked with the Walt Disney company throughout his career. He provided the voice of Goofy and Pluto in many cartoons from the 1930s through the 1960s.
MST3K Connections[]
- Producer Jam Handy was also producer for Hired!, The Selling Wizard, A Young Man's Fancy, and Out of This World, as well as executive producer for Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm.
Riffed Versions[]
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Episode #1012 - Squirm, 1991
- Included in Assignment: Venezuela and Other Shorts, 2001 and The MST3K Festival of Shorts, 2022
- RiffTrax
- The Mads Are Back - A Night of Shorts 14
References[]