Release Date:

March 30, 1940

Main Character(s):

Elmer Fudd

Summary:

A parody of “Gone with the Wind” where Elmer Fudd portrays “Ned Cutler” (instead of Rhett Butler), whom “Crimson O’Hairoil” has eyes for.

That’s Not All, Folks:

This is the first cartoon that Friz Freleng directed upon his return to Warner Bros. It’s also his first cartoon with Elmer. Freleng would later say that he disliked using Elmer as a foil for Bugs Bunny because of how dumb Elmer was. This would later inspire him to create Yosemite Sam (who would make his debut appearance near the end of World War II).

Interestingly, Ben Hardaway is credited for writing the cartoon while Cal Dalton is the credited animator (as they had replaced Freleng when he was away).

This is also the first cartoon in the 1939-1940 season where the background is black while the rings remain red, white, and blue.

The cartoon no longer airs on television due to containing racial stereotypes of African Americans at a few points. However, it isn’t one of the Censored Eleven.

The title is a pun on “Confederate Money”.

Leslie Howard is caricatured as Ashley Wilkes (it actually does seem logical as they both have names that are normally those of a girl) while Hugh Herbert is caricatured as “Stoneball Jackson”.

Assistants Henry Binder and Ray Katz, along with storyman Melvin Millar and animator Paul Smith are caricatured as soldiers.

This is also the first cartoon to have the finalized “That’s all folks!” writing.

What I Like About This One:

Kentucky’s countryside literally having blue grass.

“The year is 1861 BC- before sea biscuit”.

Colonel O’Hairoil, a “true Southern blueblood”, having literally blue skin (two jokes in the same cartoon where something described as blue is literally the color).

“Crimson was born with a silver spoon in her mouth” and it literally shows her with a spoon in her mouth.

Elmer saying “Whoa” in the parking lot for horses and his horse immediately stops at this command.

Elmer’s question to Crimson being interrupted by the sound of a bomb bursting, prompting to Elmer to go off to fight in the Civil War.

Instead of marching, Elmer hops into a fellow soldier’s backpack.

The Union general talking to the soldiers as if he were a coach giving a pep talk to his players (“Now if we win this one, we’ll get to beat the South in the Cotton Bowl!”).

“Now I want you to get out there and get!” The general tosses his cigar aside and the soldiers all fight each other over it!

A bugle player abruptly switching to Dixieland-style music with a drummer (animated by Turner).

Elmer operating a cannon like a pinball machine.

As time passes on, Elmer’s horse is in the exact same spot is was with grass now growing around its feet, and Crimson having melted candles in her window (as she promised to keep a light in the window every night for Elmer).

When Elmer finally returns, Crimson is still hoping he’s asking her for her hand in marriage, but he has actually intended to ask her to validate his parking ticket! Angry that that was what she waited the entire war for, she stamps “REVOKED” on Elmer’s forehead.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕 ½