Directed by I. Freleng Music by Carl Stalling Cast Mel Blanc | Voices by Mel Blanc Initial release 7 June 1941 Film series Merrie Melodies Music director Carl Stalling | |
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Animation by Gil TurnerGerry ChiniquyManuel PerezCal DaltonRichard BickenbachHerman Cohen Similar Rhapsody in Rivets, Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips, Jack‑Wabbit and the Beanstalk, The Hare‑Brained Hypnotist, Greetings Bait | ||
Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt is a Warner Bros. cartoon in the Merrie Melodies series, starring Bugs Bunny and Hiawatha, first released on June 7, 1941. The short makes several direct references to The Song of Hiawatha, an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The short was directed by Friz Freleng, written by Michael Maltese, animated by Gil Turner, and the musical director was Carl Stalling.
Contents
The voices of Bugs Bunny and Hiawatha were both provided by Mel Blanc.
The origins of bugs bunny
Plot
Bugs is reading The Song of Hiawatha out loud to himself and the saga turns real as a pint-sized, Elmer Fudd-like Hiawatha (minus the speech impediment) turns up, paddling his canoe. Hiawatha is looking for a rabbit for his dinner. Hiawatha manages to trick Bugs into thinking he is preparing a hot bath for him. It is actually a cooking pot, which Bugs quickly vacates once Hiawatha casually mentions that he is having rabbit stew for supper.
As with Elmer, Bugs spends the rest of the cartoon tormenting his would-be devourer, who finally breaks his arrows in anger and disgust, and paddles his canoe away while Bugsy finishes his reading of the poem. However, in the closing gag, the miffed-looking Hiawatha suddenly returns to the foreground where Bugs is reading the narrative, and after a second of wordless staring at each other, Hiawatha gives Bugs the "insulting kiss" that the Bunny usually bestows on others. Hiawatha then paddles away again, as Bugs "spits out" the kiss.
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