Hurdy-Gurdy Hare: Difference between revisions

Hurdy-Gurdy Hare
Hurdy-Gurdy Hare
Directed by	Robert McKimson
Story by	Warren Foster
Starring	Mel Blanc
Music by	Carl Stalling
Animation by	J.C. Melendez; Emery Hawkins; Charles McKimson; John Carey; Phil DeLara
Layouts by	Cornett Wood
Backgrounds by	Philip DeGuard
Color process	Technicolor
Production; company	Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures ; The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	January 21, 1950;
Running time	6:57
Language	English

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Hurdy-Gurdy Hare is a 1950 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon short directed by Robert McKimson.^[2] The short was released on January 21, 1950, and stars Bugs Bunny.^[3]

In the film, Bugs works as a street musician with a trained monkey. He fires the monkey for stealing from him, then the monkey convinces a gorilla to confront Bugs for his behavior.

Plot

In Central Park, Bugs Bunny's foray into the world of street performance leads to a series of comedic misadventures. Initially enticed by the prospects of earning through a street organ, Bugs' ambition is fueled by the monetary success of his monkey assistant. At first things go well until Bugs discovers that the monkey tried to steal his share of the profits by hiding it in his hat, Bugs dismisses the monkey and attempts the job himself, only to encounter a lack of financial reward.

The plot takes an unexpected turn when the disgruntled monkey seeks solace in the company of a gorilla at the zoo, embellishing his encounter with Bugs. Incited by the monkey's tale of mistreatment, the enraged gorilla breaks free and confronts Bugs. Employing his trademark wit and resourcefulness, Bugs orchestrates a series of comical exchanges to outmaneuver the formidable gorilla, ultimately resorting to trapping him within a makeshift brick wall. However, the resilient gorilla breaks free, leading to a climactic showdown where Bugs, faced with imminent danger, resorts to the universal language of music to pacify the savage beast. Utilizing the power of his violin performance, Bugs not only quells the gorilla's aggression but also inspires him to dance joyfully.

In a triumphant twist, Bugs capitalizes on the gorilla's newfound appreciation for music, orchestrating a lucrative scheme where the gorilla, accompanied by the monkey and the street organ, visits apartments, showering Bugs with a windfall of cash.

References

^ "Vintage WARNER BROS CARTOONS INC Director Lead Sheet Robert McKimson BUGS BUNNY | #2022377549".
^ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 207. 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.

Preceded by Rabbit Hood	Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1949	Succeeded by Mutiny On The Bunny

[1] "Vintage WARNER BROS CARTOONS INC Director Lead Sheet Robert McKimson BUGS BUNNY | #2022377549".

[Beck-2] Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 207. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.

[3] Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | director = [[Robert McKimson]]
 | story = [[Warren Foster]]
-| animator = [[J.C. Melendez]]<br>[[Emery Hawkins]]<br>[[Charles McKimson]]<br>John Carey<br>[[Phil DeLara]]<ref>https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-warner-bros-cartoons-inc-2022377549</ref>
+| animator = [[J.C. Melendez]]<br>[[Emery Hawkins]]<br>[[Charles McKimson]]<br>John Carey<br>[[Phil DeLara]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-warner-bros-cartoons-inc-2022377549|title = Vintage WARNER BROS CARTOONS INC Director Lead Sheet Robert McKimson BUGS BUNNY &#124; #2022377549}}</ref>
 | layout_artist = [[Cornett Wood]]
 | background_artist = Philip DeGuard
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | studio     = [[Warner Bros. Cartoons]]
 | distributor = [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] <br> [[The Vitaphone Corporation]]
-| released = January 21, 1950
+| released = {{Film date|1950|01|21}}
 | color_process = [[Technicolor]]
 | runtime = 6:57
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
 '''''Hurdy-Gurdy Hare''''' is a 1950 [[Warner Bros.]] ''[[Merrie Melodies]]'' cartoon short directed by [[Robert McKimson]].<ref name=Beck>{{cite book |last1=Beck |first1=Jerry |last2=Friedwald |first2=Will |title=Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons |date=1989 |publisher=Henry Holt and Co |isbn=0-8050-0894-2 |page=207}}</ref> The short was released on January 21, 1950, and stars [[Bugs Bunny]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lenburg |first1=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=1999 |publisher=Checkmark Books |isbn=0-8160-3831-7 |accessdate=6 June 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780816038312/page/60/mode/2up |pages=60–61}}</ref>
+In the film, Bugs works as a [[street musician]] with a trained monkey. He fires the monkey for stealing from him, then the monkey convinces a gorilla to confront Bugs for his behavior.
 ==Plot==
+In Central Park, Bugs Bunny's foray into the world of street performance leads to a series of comedic misadventures. Initially enticed by the prospects of earning through a street organ, Bugs' ambition is fueled by the monetary success of his monkey assistant. At first things go well until Bugs discovers that the monkey tried to steal his share of the profits by hiding it in his hat, Bugs dismisses the monkey and attempts the job himself, only to encounter a lack of financial reward.
-While Bugs is sitting in [[Central Park]], he looks through the wanted ads, finally focusing on a job as a [[Hurdy-Gurdy]] (actually, a [[street organ]]), thinking at first of 'the masters - [[Beethoven]], [[Brahms]], [[J.S. Bach|Bach]]' (pronounced by Bugs as 'Beat-hoven,' 'Brammz,' and 'Batch'), but soon, while playing "[[Artist's Life]]" on the organ, is thinking of all the money his [[monkey]] assistant was able to get from the various apartments he visited. When the monkey tries to stiff Bugs, Bugs chases him off ("Ya' can't trust no one!", he sneers), suddenly thinking '''he''' can do the same job as the monkey - but quickly finds out that people willing to give a monkey money aren't willing to give Bugs anything (except a bucket of water on the head).
-The monkey runs to the zoo, where he tells a [[Gruesome Gorilla|gorilla]] about what happened (the only intelligible words being Bugs' line "What's up doc? What's up doc? What's up doc?"). The monkey dramatizes being kicked by Bugs, which sends the gorilla in a frenzy. The gorilla breaks out of his cage and confronts Bugs. Bugs tells the gorilla that he's working, but the gorilla threatens him by punching a hole in the wall. Bugs is able to outwit the gorilla by asking the gorilla if he can [[Inflation|inflate]] himself with his finger, causing the gorilla to literally inflate and float away from the ledge. Bugs tells the gorilla that what he's doing is too immature: "You're a big boy now. Take your finger out of your mouth!". The gorilla obliges, but falls many stories down from the apartment building. At one point, the gorilla gets tricked into unsuccessfully attempting to bounce off, only to crash into, the [[shade (shadow)|shade]]d [[entryway]], falling through the basement and comes up an [[elevator]], holding a newspaper and with his arm through a subway window. Bugs, acting as a [[conductor (transportation)|conductor]], orders the gorilla to "push in, plenty of room in the center of the car!", pausing to [[fourth wall|tell the audience]] "I used to work on [[42nd Street Shuttle|the shuttle from Times Square to Grand Central]]", before pushing the gorilla back underground again where the train crashes into the gorilla off screen. Then, aping [[Ralph Edwards]]' famous declaration on ''[[Truth or Consequences]]'', he says to the audience: "Ain't I a ''devil''??".
-Bugs then encounters the infuriated gorilla again ("Oh, back again, eh? Well, if you can't take a hint, I'll have to get tough. And another thing...STOP BREATHING IN MY CUP! I'll bet this kid won't take much more of this guff.") A chase then ensues, and Bugs tries getting away from the gorilla on the outside of the building by climbing up and down a ladder while the gorilla keeps pulling the ladder in the opposite direction (once using the [[Groucho Marx]] line: "I've seen you before, I ''never'' forget a face. But in ''your'' case, I'll make an exception."). Bugs eventually makes his way into one of the apartments, literally assembling a [[brick wall]] into a window to trap the gorilla and put an [[exploding cigar]] into the gorilla's mouth. After the exploding cigar explodes, the gorilla breaks out of the brick wall, then Bugs puts in a door where both the window and brick wall were, and tells the gorilla "There he goes, Doc! Out that Door!", thus tricking the gorilla into falling again. However, he's soon cornered by the gorilla, who is all bandaged up and then chases him into a back room.
+The plot takes an unexpected turn when the disgruntled monkey seeks solace in the company of a gorilla at the zoo, embellishing his encounter with Bugs. Incited by the monkey's tale of mistreatment, the enraged gorilla breaks free and confronts Bugs. Employing his trademark wit and resourcefulness, Bugs orchestrates a series of comical exchanges to outmaneuver the formidable gorilla, ultimately resorting to trapping him within a makeshift brick wall. However, the resilient gorilla breaks free, leading to a climactic showdown where Bugs, faced with imminent danger, resorts to the universal language of music to pacify the savage beast. Utilizing the power of his violin performance, Bugs not only quells the gorilla's aggression but also inspires him to dance joyfully.
-Bugs spots a [[violin]], and noting that "they say music calms the savage beast", he starts playing "Artist's Life" on the violin (about as well as [[Jack Benny]] might sound), which causes the gorilla not only to calm down, but to start dancing around. That gives Bugs an idea.
+In a triumphant twist, Bugs capitalizes on the gorilla's newfound appreciation for music, orchestrating a lucrative scheme where the gorilla, accompanied by the monkey and the street organ, visits apartments, showering Bugs with a windfall of cash.
-Moments later, as the monkey from earlier cranks the musical organ, the gorilla visits the apartments, raining piles of cash down on Bugs. Bugs counts all the money coming, noting to the audience: "I sure hope [[James Petrillo|Petrillo]] doesn't hear about this!" (a then-topical gag referencing the president of the [[American Federation of Musicians]], which was on strike in 1948 when the short was copyrighted).
 ==See also==
@@ Line 45: / Line 43: @@
 {{s-end}}
+{{Bugs Bunny in animation}}
 {{Robert McKimson}}
 [[Category:1950 films]]
-[[Category:1950 animated films]]
-[[Category:1950 short films]]
-[[Category:1950s American animated films]]
-[[Category:1950s animated short films]]
 [[Category:Merrie Melodies short films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Robert McKimson]]
-[[Category:Films featuring Bugs Bunny]]
+[[Category:Bugs Bunny films]]
-[[Category:Animated films about apes]]
+[[Category:Animated films about gorillas]]
-[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
+[[Category:Films set in Manhattan]]
+[[Category:Animated films set in New York City]]
 [[Category:Films scored by Carl Stalling]]
 [[Category:1950s Warner Bros. animated short films]]
+[[Category:Animated films set in parks]]
+[[Category:Animated films set in zoos]]
+[[Category:Animated films set in hotels]]
+[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
+[[Category:Films with screenplays by Warren Foster]]
+[[Category:Animated films about music and musicians]]
+[[Category:English-language short films]]
+[[Category:1950 animated short films]]