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The Bear’s Tale (1940) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Bear’s Tale (1940) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1940 · 9 mins · English
Starring
Sara Berner, Mel Blanc, Tex Avery, Bea Benaderet, Robert C. Bruce, Bernice Hansen

The Three Bears meets Little Red Riding Hood, told in the style of Tex Avery.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like The Bear’s Tale
  5. 5 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Bear’s Tale: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Bear’s Tale (1940) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Once upon a time, there was a humorous and creatively reimagined version of the classic children's story, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The animated tale begins in a charming little cottage inhabited by Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. As they sit at the breakfast table, eagerly awaiting their porridge, an unexpected mishap occurs when a bowl of porridge drops onto the table in front of each of them. They quickly deduce that their porridge is too hot to eat and decide to take a leisurely ride through the forest to cool down.

Mama Bear takes a moment to check her appearance in a mirror, turning it to view her reflection from behind, giving viewers a glimpse of her backside. Meanwhile, the family heads for the door—Baby Bear leaves through a small door, Mama Bear through a medium-sized door, and Papa Bear through a large door. We see them riding through the woods on a tricycle; Mama and Papa decide to take a break from pedaling, leaving Baby Bear to continue powering the tricycle out of fear of crashing.

The story then introduces Goldilocks, who is skipping carelessly through the forest and comes upon the Bears’ cottage. She knocks on the door and is about to enter when unexpectedly, the Big Bad Wolf, portrayed in bed dressed in Grandma's nightgown and cap in a humorous twist, greets her. The wolf's voice is deep as he says, "Come in Little Red...", then quickly softens to a female tone, "Come in Little Red Riding Hood!". When Goldilocks opens the door, the wolf looks surprised and questions her, saying, "What is this, a frame-up? Who are you?". She introduces herself, asking if this is the home of the Three Bears, to which the wolf sarcastically responds, "Nah, this isn't where the Three Bears live! That outfit lives two miles down the road at the first stop signal!" Before she can cause trouble, he shoos her out.

Realizing that Goldilocks is the girl from the well-known story, the wolf hurries off to the Bears’ cottage, catching a cab with the command, "To the three Bear's house, and step on it! I'll take care of any tickets!" Once inside, he sneaks into the Baby Bear’s bed, waiting for his chance to act.

Meanwhile, as Papa Bear humorously tries to imitate a police siren—only to be laughed at by Mama—the Bears arrive home to find their bowls of porridge empty. Upstairs, the wolf is loudly sneezing in the bed, which raises their suspicion of an intruder. All the Bears quickly hide under the table, trying to stay out of sight. Papa Bear, gathering some courage, declares he will confront the intruder upstairs. Walking into the room, he expects to see Goldilocks, but instead, he finds the wolf and, overwhelmed by fear, runs back downstairs shouting, clutching his family. They all dash out of the house in a comedic chase scene, with the narrator providing a humorous commentary: "So over the hill went the three Bears. Papa Bear, the Mama Bear, and the little 'bare behind'". As Baby Bear runs away, his pants slip down, revealing his bare bottom in a funny final touch.

Meanwhile, Little Red Riding Hood, on her way to visit her Grandma with a basket of goodies, notices something strange when she calls out and finds a note pinned to her grandma’s pillow. It reads, "Dear Red: Got tired of waiting. Have gone to Three Bears' house to eat up Little Goldilocks. Love, the Wolf." Alarmed, Red quickly picks up the phone to warn Goldilocks of the wolf’s plans. Goldilocks, who is upstairs feeling sleepy from eating too much porridge, is in the process of climbing the stairs when the phone rings. She answers just in time, and then passes the note to Goldilocks, who reads it with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. She thanks Red and ends the call, even checking the coin slot for loose change—a humorous detail emphasizing her absent-mindedness.

As the Bears return home, they discover their empty bowls and anxiously listen for sounds upstairs. Sure enough, they hear the wolf sneeze and realize someone is hiding inside. Panicked, they scramble for cover beneath the table. Papa Bear, trying to be brave, decides to investigate further, climbing the stairs with a determined look. When he finally opens the door to the bedroom, he is stunned to see the wolf instead of Goldilocks. Overcome with fear, he can't speak and quickly runs downstairs, grabs his family, and they all escape the cottage in a frantic chase. As they leave, the narrator humorously describes their departure: "So over the hill went the three Bears. Papa Bear, the Mama Bear, and the little 'bare behind'", and as Baby Bear runs off, his pants slip down once again, revealing his bottom in a comically exaggerated way.

This lively adaptation of the beloved story combines humor, surprise, and playful twists, making it a delightful retelling for viewers of all ages. The characters’ exaggerated antics and the blending of different story elements create a whimsical and entertaining experience, full of memorable moments and comic misadventures.

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:15

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Plot questions answered

The Bear’s Tale Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Bear’s Tale (1940): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does the Wolf dismiss Goldilocks at the Bears' cottage?

The Wolf is already inside the Bears' cottage disguised in Grandma's nightgown, waiting to ambush who he thinks will come through the door. When Goldilocks arrives looking for the Three Bears, he realizes she's not the person he was expecting, so he quickly shoos her away to maintain his cover and avoid ruining his plot. He even lies about the Bears living two miles away.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf's disguised appearance in Grandma's clothes sets up the story crossover humor from the beginning.

  • big bad wolf
  • goldilocks
  • bears cottage
  • story crossover
Q2

Why are the Bears' bowls empty when they return home?

Goldilocks entered the Bears' cottage while they were out and ate their porridge. The summary explicitly states she was upstairs feeling sleepy from eating too much porridge, confirming she consumed their breakfast while the Bears were cycling through the forest.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Bears discover their porridge is too hot and decide to wait outside, creating the opportunity for Goldilocks to enter.

  • bears
  • porridge
  • goldilocks
  • empty bowls
Q3

Why does Papa Bear expect to find Goldilocks upstairs instead of the Wolf?

Papa Bear assumes Goldilocks is the intruder because she was the only person who had entered their home while they were away. The empty bowls made it clear someone had been inside, and based on the story they knew, Goldilocks was the logical culprit, not the Wolf who had sneaked in through a window.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf only arrived at the cottage after Goldilocks left, making his presence unknown to the Bears.

  • papa bear
  • goldilocks
  • wolf
  • confrontation
Q4

Why does the Wolf go after Goldilocks instead of Little Red Riding Hood?

The Wolf writes in his note that he 'got tired of waiting' for Red Riding Hood and decided to go to the Bears' house to 'eat up Little Goldilocks' instead. This is a meta-humor twist that combines the two classic stories, Goldilocks and the Three Bears with Little Red Riding Hood, into one comedic narrative where the Wolf changes his plans.

Foreshadowing: When Goldilocks knocks, the Wolf initially says 'Come in Little Red...' before correcting himself, showing he was expecting Red Riding Hood.

  • wolf
  • goldilocks
  • red riding hood
  • story crossover
Q5

Why do the Bears run away after discovering the Wolf in their house?

The Bears are terrified when Papa Bear discovers the Wolf hiding in Baby Bear's bed. Unlike a traditional scary version, this Wolf is played for laughs and the danger is cartoonish, but the Bears still react with primal fear, they hide under the table, then panic and flee the cottage in a comedic chase sequence.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Baby Bear's fear of crashing while pedaling the tricycle establishes the Bears as easily frightened characters.

  • bears
  • wolf
  • escape
  • scared
Q6

Why do the Bears leave their cottage in the first place?

The Bears decide to go for a ride through the forest because their porridge is too hot to eat. They plan to wait for it to cool down while they take a leisurely tricycle ride through the woods. This simple decision creates the opportunity for both Goldilocks and the Wolf to enter their home.

Foreshadowing: Mama Bear's mirror check and the poridge sitting untouched establish the initial situation that triggers the entire chain of events.

  • bears
  • porridge
  • forest
  • leave cottage
Q7

Why is Baby Bear the one pedaling the tricycle while his parents rest?

Baby Bear is powering the tricycle out of fear. The summary states that Mama and Papa decide to take a break from pedaling, leaving Baby Bear to continue powering the vehicle 'out of fear of crashing.' This plays into the comedic dynamic that Baby Bear is the most anxious of the three.

Foreshadowing: This early display of Baby Bear's nervous nature foreshadows his role in the final chase scene where his pants fall down.

  • baby bear
  • tricycle
  • parents
  • fear
Q8

Why is the Wolf dressed in Grandma's nightgown and cap at the cottage?

The Wolf is wearing Grandma's clothing as part of the story's meta-humor, combining the Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks tales. When Goldilocks knocks, the Wolf answers the door in Grandma's nightgown, expecting Red Riding Hood but getting Goldilocks instead, a comedic mix-up that drives the crossover narrative.

Foreshadowing: The Wolf's disguise links directly to the note he leaves for Red Riding Hood, revealing his original plan.

  • wolf
  • grandma
  • nightgown
  • disguise
  • crossover
Q9

Why does Red Riding Hood call Goldilocks to warn her about the Wolf?

Red Riding Hood finds a note the Wolf left on her grandmother's pillow, explaining he has gone to the Bears' house to 'eat up Little Goldilocks.' Concerned for Goldilocks' safety, Red uses the phone to warn her about the Wolf's plan, demonstrating the crossover connection between the two storylines.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the Wolf tells Goldilocks the Bears live 'two miles down the road,' showing his knowledge of her destination.

  • red riding hood
  • goldilocks
  • phone call
  • warning
  • wolf note
Q10

What is the 'bare behind' joke at the end of the cartoon?

As Baby Bear runs away during the chaotic escape, his pants slip down to reveal his bare bottom, a classic Tex Avery-style visual gag that closes the cartoon. The narrator humorously references this by saying the Bears fled with 'Papa Bear, the Mama Bear, and the little bare behind,' a pun on their names.

Foreshadowing: This running gag connects to Baby Bear's earlier nervous behavior throughout the story.

  • baby bear
  • pants
  • bare bottom
  • comedy
  • tex avery

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Bear’s Tale, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Bear’s Tale tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Cartoon Slapstick Chaos like in The Bear’s Tale

High-energy animated shorts filled with exaggerated gags and frantic chases. If you enjoyed the fast and funny antics of The Bear’s Tale, you'll love these other movies. This section highlights classic animation and modern cartoons that share a similar vibe of exaggerated slapstick, surreal humor, and lighthearted, rapid-fire comedy.

  • slapstick
  • chaotic
  • zany
  • silly
  • playful
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: whimsical, playful
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are typically simple and serve as a framework to hang a series of comedic set-pieces. The story often involves a basic conflict or misunderstanding that quickly escalates into a chase or a sequence of increasingly absurd gags, concluding with a quick and happy resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on their shared commitment to physical humor, fast pacing, and a light, whimsical tone. They prioritize laughs and visual inventiveness over deep storytelling, creating a consistently energetic and playful viewing experience.

Fairy Tale Mashups like in The Bear’s Tale

Playful stories that twist and combine classic fairy tales for comedic effect. Fans of The Bear’s Tale who enjoyed its crossover of Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Bears will find more to love here. Discover similar movies and cartoons that playfully parody and mash up classic fairy tales with a comedic, lighthearted tone.

  • fairy tale
  • parody
  • crossover
  • meta-humor
  • whimsical
  • family-friendly
  • Tone: whimsical, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves taking established fairy tale archetypes and placing them in a new context or having them interact with characters from other stories. This leads to comedic misunderstandings, farcical situations, and a gentle parody of the original tales' conventions, always resolved happily.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their clever and affectionate twisting of fairy tale lore. They share a sense of playful irreverence, a focus on character crossover humor, and a vibe that is more silly than scary, making them perfect for lighthearted entertainment.

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Every angle

The Bear’s Tale (1940) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Bear’s Tale in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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