Youth Water is a 1960 Felix the Cat cartoon, and the 48th episode of the Felix the Cat (Joe Oriolo) series.
Felix is out on patrol as a sheriff when he sees a sign taped to a pipe organ, with a poster of a Fountain of Youth on it. Felix muses that the circus must be in town, just when a crowd of old-timers rush by him on crutches, wheelchairs and rollerskates. Felix is puzzled about why they'd be rushing to the circus without kids in tow, and goes to investigate. Just ahead, Professor is plotting yet another scheme—offering a drink of water from a Fountain of Youth, using Rock Bottom as a demonstration (falsely painting him as an old man turned bodybuilder). The old timers take the bait and start handing him loads of cash as Rock hands out bottles of water to them. Felix arrives on the scene and immediately knows the duo is up to no good, but Professor shoos him off. Felix makes a point of tasting the water himself, finding out it just tastes like ordinary water. Felix asks Professor if he has a license to sell the stuff. Rock says they'll get it tomorrow, and Professor retorts about who wants to know. Felix threatens to arrest them for not having a license, so Professor and Rock take off in their truck. with Professor saying he'll be back. At his house, Professor counts his dirty money, while Rock fills up the bottles with ordinary water. Up on the rooftop, Felix is watching them through a hole and catches them in the act, dropping down to arrest them both. Rock immediately acts by throwing Felix in the air, and then trapping him inside of a bottle.
Professor orders Rock to take Felix away and get back to work, and goes back to counting the money. Felix can only sit nearby as Rock continues filling up bottles. He and Professor then head off to continue their scam, with Rock pausing for a moment to taunt Felix. Felix continues trying to think of a way to escape. In the meantime, more old timers line up to Professor's truck to try his youth water. Back at the house, Felix squeezes his hand through the bottle, and starts going after the crooks. As Professor continues shilling his water, Felix finds a bike and starts pedaling. Professor's scam is working again, getting even more cashed piled onto him, and he shakes hands with Rock Bottom in congratulations on their scheme being a success. Just then, Felix arrives on the scene, crashing the bike into the truck, which sends the bottle flying into the air. It lands between Professor and Rock and smashes open, with Felix placing them both under arrest. He then orders them to stuff the money into a nearby organ and play it so that the money can be returned to its patrons. Money starts raining over the crowd, and Felix laughs as the cartoon irises out.
Tropes:
- I Shall Return: Professor says "I'll be back!" to Felix after his initial attempt to arrest them.
- Kick the Dog: When Rock traps Felix in a bottle and heads off with Professor to continue their scam, he pauses for a moment to rub the situation in Felix's face, saying "Bye bye, bottle baby!"
- Snake Oil Salesman: Professor poses as a salesman, using ordinary bottled water to con gullible old people out of their money.
