Release Date:

August 6, 1949

Main Character(s):

Bugs Bunny

Summary:

Bugs Bunny finds himself at a dog race and after examining the dogs participating, falls in love with the mechanical rabbit lure that the dogs are chasing. Not realizing this rabbit is inanimate, Bugs proceeds to try and stop the dogs from chasing “her”, particularly the Number 7 dog, “Gnawbone”.

That’s Not All, Folks:

The production number is 1083 and was released as a Looney Tune.

The cartoon was given a Blue Ribbon reissue.

This is one of the few cartoons where Bugs is in love, albeit here, he doesn’t realize that what he’s smitten with isn’t a real rabbit.

The cartoon was originally titled “Racing Rabbit” as well as “Bugs Bunny Dog Race”.

“Grey Hounded” is a pun for “greyhound”.

You can find out who animated what scene here.

What I Like About This One:

The rousing rendition of “Parade of the Animals” over the opening credits.

One dog race between “Airedale Dick”, “Beagle Boy”, and “Bulldog Benny” is heard to be finishing up, with the latter winning by 7 and a half lengths, just as Bugs pops up from the ground beneath the seats. Wondering what the noise is, Bugs hears from the announcer on the loudspeaker that another dog race is soon to start so he decides to walk out and see it himself (animated by Charles McKimson).

Spotting “a programme” (animated by Charles) and picking it up before walking to the kennels, Bugs realizes he doesn’t seem to know any of these dogs and decides to give them “the once-over” (animated by John Carey). He finds the Number 1 dog, Bill’s Bunion, is “a little undernourished. Kinda inny-skay in the elly-bay”, the Number 3 dog, Father’s Moustache, “looks a little better. Kinda flabby, though. No muscle tone” as he touches Father’s Moustache’s foot, the little Number 8 dog, Whizzer, “this runt ain’t got a chance!” and is glad to view the very large Number 7 dog, Gnawbone, as 7 is his lucky number (animated by Manny Gould).

Bugs opens Gnawbone’s mouth, “Come on, Lassie. Open your mouth. Let’s see those little toothies” (animated by Pete Burness). Upon looking into it, he observes, “Hmm, a little shadow on that bicuspidor (animated by Charles). You’d better see your dentist”. Gnawbone only swipes at Bugs, who asks, “Eh, what’s up, doc? Don’t ya LIKE rabbits?” Gnawbone lets out a growling “No!” and attempts to leap at Bugs but only succeeds in digging a hole due to his leash holding him in place. Bugs comments, “What a performance!” (animated by Burness) and asides, “Heh. This kid’s gonna leave his race down that hole!” (animated by Charles)

Bugs walks out of the kennels when the first call fanfare is heard (animated by Phil DeLara). Not wanting to miss this, Bugs decides to watch the upcoming race from up close (animated by Charles) as all of the 8 dogs’ names are shown with the previously unseen dogs being named “Pneumatic Tire” (the Number 2 dog), “Motorman’s Glove” (the number 4 dog), “Bride’s Biscuit” (the Number 5 dog), and “Grandpa’s Folly” (the number 6 dog). The announcer describes how ready the dogs are: “Bill’s Bunion looks a little sore (he actually sticks his tongue out); Pneumatic Tire’s rounding into shape (he just gives a shut-eyed smiling expression); Father’s Moustache looks a little droopy (with a sad expression); Motorman’s Glove will have a hand in it (he gives an okay sign); Bride’s Biscuit is as hard as a rock (he gives an angry stare); Grandpa’s Folly is out of it. He’s being scratched”, where the latter is scratching himself as if he has fleas (animated by Carey).

The rabbit lure is let out first as the announcer says, “And there goes the rabbit!” after the buzzer sounds (animated by Carey), with the word “rabbit” piquing Bugs’ curiosity and him being love-struck when he sees it’s a female (animated by Charles). “Wow! (wolf-whistles) What a hunk of feminine pulchritu-dee”, Bugs exclaims as his valentine-shaped heart beats in his chest. The dogs are let out (animated by Carey) where they are chasing the rabbit lure to run in the race (animated by DeLara). Bugs is outraged: “What!? Dogs chasing that cute little bunny!? They can’t do this! Chivalry is not dead! I’ll save ya, sweetheart!” (animated by Carey)

Bugs gets into the race as the announcer’s commentary on the dogs racing is changed to him reacting to Bugs’ presence in the race: “Oh, wait a minute! There’s another rabbit on the track! And he’s chasing the dogs! This is unheard of! He’s got Bill’s Bunion by the tail! He steps on Bill’s Bunion! He’s out of it!”, where Bugs beats up Bill’s Bunion and then covers Pneumatic Tire’s eyes so he ends up running smack into the wall, “There goes the rabbit! He lands on Pneumatic Tire! The dog can’t see! He’s running all over the track! He’s heading for the wall! Ooh! Pneumatic Tire is flat! Now the rabbit leaps up in the air!” (animated by DeLara) Bugs then ties Bride’s Biscuit’s limbs together, “He lands on Bride’s Biscuit! The Biscuit is out of it!” He tackles Motorman’s Glove, “The rabbit’s running and- Ooh! What a tackle! That hurt! Motorman’s Glove is down! (animated by Carey) The rabbit is off again! Now I’ve seen everything!” An offscreen gunshot is heard, implying that the announcer just blew his brains out! (animated by DeLara)

Running past the dogs, Bugs stops in front of them and orders them to “Halt!” but they only run past him before they get distracted by Bugs running beside them and sticking his tongue out at them which causes them to skid to a stop and create a massive pile-up (animated by DeLara, although effects animator AC Gamer is credited with the shot of said pile-up). Bugs hears the rabbit lure coming and figures, “Ah, Dreamboat’s pursuing me!” (animated by Gould) With the rabbit lure coming towards him (animated by Carey), Bugs bends down towards “her”, “Come to my arms, Jeanie, my light brown hare” but gets tossed into the air due to being in the way of the rabbit lure before he lands on the rail: “She’s playin’ hard to get!” and sees that the dogs are back to chasing the rabbit lure (animated by Gould).

Bugs soon catches up to them and swings at them with his carrot: “Gangway! Gangway! One side! One side! Let a rabbit through!” (animated by DeLara) He then taunts the dogs which provokes them into chasing him off the track (animated by Burness), over the wall (animated by Charles), and into a taxi where Bugs shuts the door on all of them stuffed into the back seat and tells the driver to take them to the dog pound. As it drives off, however, only Gnawbone the Number 7 dog is standing there angrily, much to Bugs’ shock (animated by Carey).

Running back to the track, Bugs trips up Gnawbone (animated by Carey) before wondering, “Now where’s Dreamboat? Ain’t that like a woman? Ya turn your back a minute and they’re gone”. The rabbit lure comes by again as Bugs talks very fast: “Hey, Dreamboat, how about you and me making beautiful music together?” before snapping his finger in disgust upon being ignored (animated by Charles).

With only Gnawbone left to pursue the rabbit lure (animated by Carey), Bugs runs to the other side (animated by DeLara) and blows up a balloon that looks exactly like the rabbit lure, so Gnawbone ends up chasing it into the air, with him not realizing he’s in mid-air until he sees for himself, causing him to fall and the impact to create a large hole in the ground (animated by Burness).

Gnawbone gets out of the hole and grabs Bugs by the throat before his attention shifts back to the rabbit lure once it passes him (animated by Burness). Bugs tricks Gnawbone into getting “the stick”, a dynamite stick. Being a dog, Gnawbone fetches it, but it explodes while he has it in his mouth, darkening his fur, and making him even angrier (animated by DeLara). Bugs realizes, “He’s chargin’ like a bull!” and comes back shortly dressed as a matador. As Gnawbone does indeed charge towards him like a bull (animated by Carey), Bugs holds the matador cape and takes it away once Gnawbone approaches, revealing a hidden fire hydrant and resulting in Gnawbone hitting it headfirst. Dazed, a white flag appears on Gnawbone’s tail after Bugs covers him up with the cape (animated by Gould).

After thunderous cheers are heard from the crowd, Bugs holds back the rabbit lure and kisses it, which gives him a tremendous electric shock. Having never had a kiss like that before, he is driven wild: “Baby! This looks like the beginning of a ba-yoo-tiful friendship”. After the rabbit lure enters the box at the finish line, Bugs opens it and leans in for another kiss and is given another electric shock (animated by Gould).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

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