French Rarebit
- June 30, 1951 (1951-06-30)
French Rarebit is a 1951 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies animated short, directed by Robert McKimson and written by Tedd Pierce.[1] Released June 30, 1951, the cartoon features Bugs Bunny.[2] The title is a play on "Welsh rarebit", which is also known as "Welsh rabbit".[3]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
References
- ^ 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".
External links
- French Rarebit at IMDb
Preceded by Rabbit Fire | Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1951 | Succeeded by His Hare-Raising Tale |
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short films
short films
- Any Bonds Today? (1942)
- Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979)
- The Fright Before Christmas (1979)
- Spaced Out Bunny (1980)
- Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers (1991)
- Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas (2004)
Theatrical |
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Direct-to-video |
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