Fresh Hare
From Looney City Citizens
| Fresh Hare
<tr> <td align="center" colspan="2">Merrie Melodies series</td> </tr><tr> <td align="center" colspan="2"> | |
| Directed by | I. Freleng |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date | August 22, 1942 |
| Format | Technicolor, 8 min. (one reel) |
| Language | English |
Fresh Hare is a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon. It was directed by Friz Freleng, written by Michael Maltese, and produced by Leon Schlesinger. It was released to theatres on August 22, 1942.
The title is a typical WB pun (as in "fresh air") that has little or nothing to do with the plot, other than being set in the crisp, frigid air of a Canadian winter.
Contents |
[edit] Summary
In this short, the rotund early-1940s version of Elmer Fudd is portrayed as a Mountie, in pursuit of Bugs Bunny, who is wanted for being a "screwy wabbit", across the snow-packed tundra (presumably in Canada). Elmer elaborates on the charges: "Wesisting awwest, distuwbing the peace, being a pubwic nuisance, jaywawking, conduct unbecoming a wabbit." Bugs soon teaches Elmer that these are far from the only tricks he can pull.
[edit] Censorship
The end of this cartoon where Bugs proclaims his last wish in a chorus of "I Wish I Were in Dixie", which is followed by Bugs, Elmer Fudd and the Mounties all in blackface singing "Camptown Races" has been targeted for censorship because of its stereotypical depictions of African Americans. Here is a list of channels that have cut the ending and how the ending was edited:
- Cartoon Network's and TNT's version quickly dissolve to the "Dubbed Version" end card after Bugs sings, "I wish I was in Dixie/Hurray! Hurray!"
- TBS aired a version where the footage of Bugs dancing as he's singing "Dixie" is looped while the audio of the ending plays as normal.
- A public domain video called Cartoon Explosion has this cartoon's ending completely cut.
- Some local station versions edit the ending so severely that the cartoon's new ending is when Bugs (now handcuffed to Elmer) says, "Okay, doc, let's go!" as he's being arrested.
[edit] In Other Media
A scene of Fresh Hare can be seen in the title sequence gag of the Futurama episode I Second That Emotion.
[edit] Cast
- Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny
- Arthur Q. Bryan: Elmer Fudd (uncredited)
[edit] External links
- Watch Fresh Hare
- Fresh Hare at the Internet Movie Database
- Fresh Hare at YouTube
- Fresh Hare in the Big Cartoon Database
- Watch Fresh Hare in streaming video
- Free to download Fresh Hare in Windows and Real Media format
| Preceded by Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid | Bugs Bunny Cartoons {{{years}}} | Succeeded by The Hare-Brained Hypnotist |
