Bunny Hugged

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Bunny Hugged

Lobby card.
Production company Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date March 10, 1951
Starring Mel Blanc
John T. Smith
Producer(s) Edward Selzer
Music composition Carl Stalling
Story Michael Maltese
Animation Ken Harris
Phil Monroe
Ben Washam
Lloyd Vaughan
Director(s) Charles M. Jones
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Title card

Bunny Hugged is the three hundred and thirty-second Merrie Melodies theatrical short. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation on March 10, 1951. It was written by Michael Maltese, produced by Edward Selzer and directed by Chuck Jones.

When wrestler finalist Ravish Ronald gets a lickin' from the Crusher, it's up to Bugs Bunny to take his place and win the title of wrestling champion.

Detailed summary

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Memorable quotes

Announcer: Ladies... and... gentlemen... A wrestling contest for the world's heavyweight... championship... Introducing... the world's heavyweight champion... The Crusher!


Bugs: It's a living...


Crusher: Fresh MEAT!


Bugs: Why, Crusher! It's good to see you.
Crusher: Yeah, well, I was just passin' by... Duh, just... Duhhh, just passing by...
Bugs: Well, come in, come in, come in, come in. Don't stand here in th' cold.
Crusher: Thought I'd just drop in to say hello... Doy, doyyy... Just passin' by, you understand...
Bugs: Sorry you'd t'ink you gotta go, Crusher. Been nice seein' ya.
Crusher: Doyyy...
Bugs: Aww, you look tired, Crusher! Why don't you rest up on this nice soft floor for a few minutes before you go? Atta boy! And now, we'll just pin those little old shoulders to the little old mat and...

Characters

Legend
Character debut Speaking debut Ep. debut No lines Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character Actor
Ring announcer Mel Blanc
The Crusher John T. Smith
Ravishing Ronald N/A
Bugs Bunny Mel Blanc


Locations

Objects

  • Safe door
  • Needle
  • Dynamite with Bugs' spare glove

Production

Second lobby card.

Casting

The Crusher's voice is portrayed by John T. Smith, succeeding Billy Bletcher, who voiced the character in the previous cartoon, Rabbit Punch (1948).

Filming

The short was copyrighted in 1950 (MCML).

Music

The score was composed by Carl W. Stalling. The main title and closing themes are a rendition of "Merrily We Roll Along," which was arranged by Stalling.

The short also uses the following music cues:

  • "The Washington Post March," by John Philip Sousa, plays during the beginning of the short. It also plays when the ring announcer makes a special announcement on the Terror (Bugs Bunny), and when Bugs is declared the winner.
  • "What's Up, Doc?," the musical theme by Carl W. Stalling used in various Bugs Bunny shorts, is heard when Bugs rings the bell as a tailor.
  • "Frühlingsstimmen", Op. 410, by Johann Straus, is heard briefly when a girl dances before Ravishing Ronald's entrance.
  • "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals," by Raymond Scott, plays when Ronald is carried from his entrance.
  • "Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine," by Karl Hoschna, is heard when Bugs tries to squeeze the Crusher's head.
  • "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," by Harry Warren, is used for Crusher's dance before bowling Bugs into the ring corner.
  • "Every Little Movement," by Karl Hoschna, is heard when Bugs again tries to squeeze the Crusher.
  • "Little Brown Jug," by Joseph Winner, is sung with different lyrics by Bugs while he prepares the needle.
  • "My Buddy" by Walter Donaldson, is played when the Crusher puts his hand in friendship at Bugs.

Release

Dates are in order of release:

  • United States: March 10, 1951

Behind the scenes

  • The title is a pun on "bunny hug." You're welcome.
  • This cartoon is essentially a remake of Jones' 1948 short Rabbit Punch, but with the theme of wrestling.
  • At the time this short was released, professional wrestling was a popular event on television during the early 1950s.
  • Ravishing Ronald is a parody of Gorgeous George and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers; the former especially for his flamboyant personality on the ring.
  • The name Bugs uses while pretending to be a tailor, "Stychen Tyme," is a play on the phrase "stitch in time." You're welcome again.

Connections

  • Bugs' wrestler persona, the Masked Terror, would be used in the mobile game Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem. Some of his moves were also taken from Rabbit Punch.

Home availability

References

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