Release Date:

February 26, 1944

Main Character(s):

Bugs Bunny, Three Bears

Summary:

Bored out of their skulls and hungry, the Three Bears decide to reenact the very fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. However, the only food they have is a bunch of old carrots, so they make carrot soup instead of porridge. The scent attracts Bugs Bunny, who plays along and when cornered by Ma, he romances her to win her over to his side. This works too well, as she becomes smitten with him!

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 2-13, the second Merrie Melodie in the 13th release season.

This is the first appearance of Jones’ version of the Three Bears: a short Pa Bear, whose real name is Henry and who has a very bad temper (voiced by Mel Blanc in this cartoon but voiced by Billy Bletcher in the Bears’ other appearances), a very nonchalant Ma Bear (who has always been voiced by Bea Benaderet), and a big dumb “Junyer” Bear who unwittingly finds himself enraging his father (voiced by Kent Rogers in this cartoon and voiced by Stan Freberg in the Bears’ other appearances). The Three Bears would appear in four more cartoons (all directed by Jones) in the Golden Age: “What’s Brewin’ Bruin” (1948), “The Bee-Deviled Bruin” (1949), “Bear Feat” (1949), and “A Bear for Punishment” (1951). They would later make a guest appearance in the Looney Tunes Show episode “Ridiculous Journey” (2013) and even get two episodes of their own in Looney Tunes Cartoons: “Life’s a Beach” (2023) and “Moody at the Movies” (2023).

While he didn’t voice Junyer in this cartoon, Stan Freberg provided a commentary for this cartoon on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1 DVD set.

This is a rare instance where Bugs’ fast talking backfires on him.

This is the last Jones cartoon to have animation by Phil DeLara.

From this point onwards, the only cartoons to give voice credits are Bugs Bunny cartoons.

“In an 18th Century Drawing Room” plays when the Bears are introduced.

What I Like About This One:

Junyer complaining, “Da, I’m hungry!” Pa hits him and shouts, “Shut up, Junyer! Can’t ya see I’m thinkin’?” Then upon realizing there’s three of them comes up with an idea: “I got it! Remember the story of the Three Bears? Well, why can’t we do the same thing? But when Goldilocks goes upstairs to sleep- WHAM!” (slams his fist into his palm) Junyer is excited about the “Wham” part and comes back with cutlery and a napkin on his neck. Pa takes them off and throws them on the ground. Ma points out, “But, Henry, we haven’t any porridge for Goldilocks. Only these old carrots”. Realizing they’ll have to make the best of it, Pa angrily shouts, “Well then make CARROT SOUP!” (animated by Robert Cannon)

While sitting around the table with their bowls of carrot soup, the Bears flub their lines. Ma hardly touches hers and says, “Oh, my soup’s- uh- my porridge is too hot!” Pa puts his spoon over the steam in his bowl but then claims, “Uh, my soup’s too hot!” Junyer eats his immediately, belches, and then says the wrong line, “Duh, uh, somebody’s been sleeping in MY bed!” Pa hits him for screwing up his dialogue. The Bears then go for a “walk” which is just them holding hands and “tra-la” ing to the tune of “London Bridge” while going around their house and coming back in another door and hiding behind a curtain (animated by Ken Harris).

The scent of the carrot soup then makes its way out the window into Bugs’ hole which grabs him in the shape of a female. Sitting down, Bugs immediately starts eating from Ma’s bowl but when he realizes the Bears are about to pound him, the Bears are forced to imitate bear rugs on the floor. Bugs then drinks from Junyer’s bowl in a single slurp and when at Pa’s bowl, he demands, “Ketchup! Ketchup! Where’s the ketchup at?” (animated by Lloyd Vaughan) Without a word, Junyer gets up, grabs the ketchup from a shelf, puts it on the table, and rejoins his parents. Pa face palms at Junyer answering to Bugs’ demand and hits him once more (animated by Phil DeLara).

Singing “King for a Day”, Bugs decides to get himself some shuteye and goes into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. The Bears all hit the door but before they enter, Pa angrily reminds them, “Now don’t forget YOUR LINES!” Junyer nods and says a line from the wrong fairy tale: “Why, duh, Grandma, what big eyes you got!” Of course, he gets hit again. Noticing Bugs sleeping in Junyer’s bed, the Bears all pound him, but Bugs is actually leaning against another bed. Hearing him ask, “What’s up, doc?”, Ma corners him but he romances her: “Don’t move. Your eyes. Your lips. Why, you’re BEAUTIFUL” before kissing her and running off. The camera pans over to where Junyer has absentmindedly started hitting Pa, who punches him (animated by Harris).

Pa and Junyer then chase after Bugs, with Pa hitting the wall before going out the door in a daze and Junyer smashing right through the wall, leaving a hole in the shape of Junyer (animated by DeLara).

Bugs is then defended by Ma who stops her husband and son: “Stop! Don’t you dare lay a hand on him, you brutes!” Pa and Junyer then leave as Ma sighs and lovingly asks Bugs to “tell me more about my eyes!” Bugs tries to explain that he was “just passing fancy” before trying to run away (animated by Ben Washam).

Every door Bugs opens is Ma in a sexy pose such as posing as Veronica Lake or even in a bathtub! Bugs runs out through the wall and dives back into his hole. But Ma is waiting inside and she once again asks to “tell me more about my eyes” before kissing Bugs. Covered in kiss marks, Bugs runs into the distance screaming (animated by DeLara).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½