Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers

The Wrong Trousers is a 1993 animated film directed by Nick Park at Aardman Animations in Bristol, featuring his characters Wallace and Gromit. It was his second half-hour short featuring the eccentric inventor Wallace and his quiet but smart dog Gromit, following 1989's A Grand Day Out and preceding 1995's A Close Shave. The film premiered in the UK on December 26, 1993.

Summary
A lodger comes to stay with Wallace, pushing Gromit out of his room and winning Wallace's favour. The penguin turns out to be a ruthless criminal named Feathers McGraw (whom the authorities believe to be a rooster due to his cunning disguise of wearing a red rubber glove on his head), and plans to use Wallace's latest invention to steal a giant diamond. The Techno Trousers, a mechanical device designed to alleviate the burden of walking dogs, are hijacked for the purpose while Wallace is still wearing them.

As before, the 30 minutes are packed with sight gags and exaggerated physical comedy, as well as a few subtle film parodies. Voice acting is again the sole duty of Peter Sallis (the voice of Wallace), as both Gromit and Feathers remain silent.

In-jokes, references and puns
Here are a few subtle jokes from the film.


 * One of the characters from Aardman Animation's Creature Comforts can be seen in the museum.
 * When trying to get Gromit out of the house, the penguin plays music very loudly, including "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", the latter a hint of previous jail time. (However, see note below.)
 * Wallace's spare money is kept in a piggy bank, stored in a safe, which is stereotypically hidden behind a painting on the wall. The trouble with this 'hidden' wealth, however, is that the painting is of a piggy bank.
 * The Morning Post Gromit is reading at the start of the film has as its main headline, "Moon Cheese prices soar!", an obvious reference to A Grand Day Out.
 * As Gromit watches television whilst eating breakfast, the Open University fanfare and a continuity announcement can be heard. However, the fanfare had not been used for two years by the time this film was released. Additionally, the fanfare was changed to a generic trumpet piece for the DVD release.
 * On the penguin's blueprint of the museum, "The Long Room" denotes the long room through which the Techno-trousers and Wallace must walk on the ceiling on their way to the diamond. "The Long Room" at Lord's is also a shrine in cricket circles.

Quotes from Wallace
"Any post, was there, per chance?"

"They're all bills. Oh dear, Oh dear me. We shall have to economise Gromit. I'll have to let that room out."

"Just look at that. I'm down to my last few coppers. And those presents weren't cheap!"

"Well, Gromit, let's see what's on the nine-oh-five, shall we?"

"I think you'll find this present a valuable addition to our modern lifestyle. They're Techno-trousers, ex-NASA, fantastic for walkies." "Ahh, It's no use prevaricating about the bush."

"I suppose you like kippers, do you? Partial to bit of black pudding myself &mdash; with bacon, of course."

"No more lodgers &mdash; more trouble than they're worth! I could just fancy come cheese, Gromit. What do you say? Cheddar?... All's well that ends well, that's what I say. Uhmm... I do like a bit of gorgonzola..."

Alternate versions of music
In the original BBC version of the film, Gromit's birthday card plays "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow", which is associated with birthdays in Britain. When the film was released in America, this was replaced with "Happy Birthday to You" for cultural reasons. When the film was released on BBC DVD in 2000, the original music was restored.

One change that was made on the DVD release was to remove "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" and replace it with a nondescript organ piece. "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" remains intact.