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The Perils of Penelope Pitstop

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Deirdre Sheppard

THE PERILS OF PENELOPE PITSTOP follows the adventures of a young, wealthy race car driver who's always on the run, trying to save her fortune from the gluttonous Evil Claw. Unbeknownst to young heiress Penelope Pitstop (voiced by Janet Waldo), her troubles are caused by her guardian, Sylvester Sneeky (Paul Lynde), who is really the Evil Claw in disguise. Thanks to the Anthill Mob and their vehicle Chug-a-Boom (Paul Winchell, Don Messick, and Mel Blanc provide the voices for the antic-prone group), Penelope is always saved from fatal disaster just in the nick of time.

Is It Any Good?

4

Although The Perils of Penelope Pitstop is a classic for a reason, there are a few things to watch out for. For one thing, Penelope's rescuers are labeled as a "mob"; to most people, mobs are associated with crime, so it's possible that kids could be confused about how Penelope attained her riches. Also, the Evil Claw cheerfully plots violent demises for Penelope, such as trying to feed her to an alligator or tying her up in a sinking tank. But all in all, the show's violence and innuendos aren't any racier than in other series from this era.

Debuting in 1969 as a spin-off of Wacky Races (and inspired by the silent film The Perils of Pauline), Penelope Pitstop offers a positive female role model. Even though every episode starts with Penelope crying "help!," she thrived during a male-dominated era, maintaining the financial independence of a man while upholding the manners of a lady. Parents can use Penelope to show their kids that self sufficiency isn't limited to men or tomboys.

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