Who Killed Who?

The live-action host, Robert Emmett O'Connor, appears to frame the cartoon as a demonstration that crime does not pay. He introduces the short as a playful, moral mystery and nods to the famous crime-themed shorts tradition. The tone sets up a detective story within a cartoon world.

Inside the mansion, the master sits, reading a book based on the very cartoon. He becomes frightened as the book seems to foreshadow his murder. The atmosphere is dark and foreboding as a life-or-death fate looms.

A dagger arrives along with a letter predicting the master's death at 11:30. He receives a second note that moves the time to midnight, heightening paranoia and dread. The supernatural clockwork of the threats underscores the inescapable fate.

At the final stroke of midnight, a hooded killer in a heavy cloak shoots the master. The act is swift and decisive, though the exact state of the victim is left uncertain. The room fills with shock as the crime unfolds.

A police detective, voiced in the style of classic film cops, arrives at the scene and declares that he will find who did it. He immediately begins a systematic inquiry, questioning those nearby and examining the setup of the mansion. The investigation becomes a chase through the mansion's twists and turns.

The detective surveys rooms and corridors, separating real clues from red herrings. Suspicious servants and strange decor fuel misdirection as he pieces together the timeline. The mansion proves to be as much a maze as a crime scene.

The investigator examines the servants who appear suspicious, but these lead to false trails. The chase becomes a game of detection through a labyrinth of clues. The detective stays focused, trimming away the noise to get to the truth.

Booby traps and surreal architectural quirks slow the detective’s progress. Each obstacle tests his nerve and persistence as he follows elusive traces. The fantastical layout of the mansion heightens the mystery.

The detective encounters a red skeleton parody of Red Skelton and a ghost that is terrified of mice. These odd figures add humor and menace, complicating the pursuit. They serve as both misdirection and mood-building devices.

Behind a closed door labeled Do Not Open Until Xmas, the detective discovers an angry Santa Claus. The reveal shivers with surreal Christmas imagery, deepening the cartoonish mystery. The moment blends menace with whimsy.

The detective finally traps the killer and unmasks him as the opening-sequence host. The revelation ties the frame story to the culprit in a meta twist. The host is revealed to have orchestrated the crime within the cartoon world.

The host confesses the deed, uttering his signature line before bursting into tears. The moment underscores the self-referential nature of the short. The detective’s victory is tempered by the host's emotional collapse.