French Rarebit
| French Rarebit | |
|---|---|
 Title card for French Rarebit | |
| Directed by | Robert McKimson |
| Story by | Tedd Pierce |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer John W. Burton |
| Starring | Mel Blanc (all other voices) Tedd Pierce (Louis)[1] |
| Edited by | Treg Brown |
| Music by | Eugene Poddany Milt Franklyn |
| Animation by | Phil DeLara Emery Hawkins Charles McKimson Rod Scribner |
| Layouts by | Cornett Wood |
| Backgrounds by | Richard H. Thomas[1] |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7 minutes (one reel) |
| Language | English |
French Rarebit is a 1951 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies animated short, directed by Robert McKimson and written by Tedd Pierce.[2] Released June 30, 1951, the cartoon features Bugs Bunny.[3] The title is a play on "Welsh rarebit", which is also known as "Welsh rabbit".[4]
Plot
In Paris, France, Bugs Bunny finds himself amidst a culinary quandary after a delivery mishap lands him in the bustling streets. Two competing French chefs, Louis and François, both set their sights on turning Bugs into a gourmet delicacy for their respective restaurants.[4]
Amidst the chaos of their culinary rivalry, Bugs cleverly manipulates the situation to his advantage, inciting a humorous conflict between the chefs as they vie for ownership of the unwitting rabbit. Employing wit and cunning, Bugs navigates the escalating fracas with ease, ultimately orchestrating a comical showdown in the kitchen.
As Bugs cunningly evades his would-be captors, he playfully suggests tantalizing recipes and culinary techniques, leaving the chefs bewildered and bemused. In a final act of culinary whimsy, Bugs concocts a daring plan to outwit the chefs, culminating in a comedic explosion that leaves both Louis and François unscathed but humbled.
Amidst the chaos and laughter, Bugs delivers his trademark quip, expressing a preference for a simpler fare than the culinary escapades of Parisian cuisine.
Bugs came into his own in A Wild Hare,a short released in 1940. In that short, Bugs asked “What’s up, doc?” for the very first time, with Mel Blanc debuting as the rabbit’s iconic voice.[5]
Home media
The short can be found (uncut) on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2. This short was also included as a bonus feature on the Blu-ray release of Gay Purr-ee.[6]
References
- ^ a b Webb, Graham (2011). The Animated Film Encyclopedia: A Complete Guide to American Shorts, Features and Sequences (1900-1999). McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7864-4985-9.
- ^ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 224. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ a b Wallenberg, Christopher (2022-07-24). "'Toon In With Me': MeTV Celebrates Bugs Bunny's Birthday All Week". TV Insider. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "The 40 best Looney Tunes characters, ranked". The A.V. Club. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ "Warner Archive Announces August Releases".