Release Date:

July 5, 1941

Main Character(s):

Bugs Bunny

Summary:

Bugs Bunny outwits a dumb dog hunting him.

That’s Not All, Folks:

This cartoon ends abruptly for a justified reason as it has some very interesting production history. In the cartoon’s climax, both Bugs and the dog take a very long fall off a cliff but apply the brakes and land gently. Bugs razzes the audience with, “Nyah, fooled ya, didn’t we?” The cartoon then fades out and the “That’s all folks!” music plays after the dog is heard saying “Yeah!” in agreement. The cartoon originally ended with them falling off another cliff with Bugs ending the cartoon with, “Hold on to your hats, folks! Here we go again!” Leon Schlesinger objected to the idea of having his newest cartoon star (Bugs) end a cartoon with presumed death and ordered Avery to delete the ending. Since Avery insisted it stay, he was suspended before eventually being fired (although six more Warner cartoons directed by Avery were released after this one). Avery, however, saw this as beneficial in his career as he would move on to MGM, where he would make several hilarious cartoons there.

The dog resembles the one in “The Crackpot Quail” although the voice is different.

This is also the first usage of an opening gag with Bugs sitting on top of the Warner Bros. shield with him eating a carrot and then giving a disgusted look to the audience as if to say “Can’t I have a little privacy?” and then pulling down either the Merrie Melodies or Looney Tunes opening card like a curtain. Robert McKimson animated the first version that was used from 1941- early 1944 (this was the only one for a while where he would pull down the next card while the other ones from this period have him giving the annoyed look to the audience before it fades into the next card) while Arthur Davis animated a second one that was used from mid-1945 to early 1949 (where all of the ones that had that intro had Bugs pulling the next card down).

What I Like About This One:

Bugs’ ears feeling the dog’s teeth, with one ear tapping the other as if they were human-like (animated by Robert McKimson).

The dog failing to recognize that Bugs is a rabbit after the latter asks him, “What’s up, doc?” (animated by Robert).

Bugs slowly walking into another hole as the dog, running after him, fails to stop in time, before skidding back to the hole (animated by Sid Sutherland).

Bugs imitating the dog’s faces until he has the dog imitate his own faces and soon has the dog doing a series of silly faces that he continues doing after Bugs stops. Bugs holds up a sign, “Silly, isn’t he?” before going down to his hole to get a baseball bat and slug the dog with (animated by Rod Scribner).

The dog then chases Bugs into a lake. While Bugs manages to get underwater, the dog hits something below (animated by Charles McKimson). It’s revealed that the dog hit an underwater cliff (animated by Sutherland).

Bugs dodging an underwater tree and the dog swimming right into it (animated by Rev Chaney).

When the dog gets out of the water, Bugs is seen on his back, pondering his next move. He scratches the dog and then gives him a wacky kiss when the dog turns his head in Bugs’ direction (animated by Robert).

Bugs then dives off the dog’s tail into a tree and is seen to be outside of the tree on the other side (animated by Chaney). Bugs teases the dog’s paw first by poking it then by putting a tomato in it causing the dog to squeeze it (animated by Scribner). The dog thinks he’s crushed Bugs and has a complete meltdown (animated by Virgil Ross; of course the real question is if you’re so upset about allegedly killing someone why were you after them in the first place?).

The dog realizing he’s been tricked when places flowers by Bugs’ hole. Bugs accepts them in a female voice (“For me, doc?”) before ending his sentence while transitioning into his normal voice (“Oh, you darlin’!”; animated by Ross).

Angry, the dog starts digging into Bugs’ hole before realizing the hole is on a cliff and nearly falls through it. The dog says in relief that he should be more careful but then carelessly walks off the edge of the cliff! Bugs comments that “the jerk had it coming to him” and that “he should’ve watched his step!” only for him to walk into the hole and start falling with the dog! (animated by Ross)

After falling for quite a distance (largely animated by Charles), they apply the brakes and land with no harm. Bugs razzes the audience for being fooled to which the dog agrees (animated by Robert; for more on this abrupt ending, see above in the “That’s Not All Folks!” segment).

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½