Hyde and Hare
| Hyde and Hare | |
|---|---|
| Production company | Warner Bros. Cartoons |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation |
| Release date | August 27, 1955 |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Producer(s) | Edward Selzer |
| Music composed by | Carl Stalling |
| Story by | Warren Foster |
| Animation | Gerry Chiniquy Virgil Ross Arthur Davis Ted Bonnicksen |
| Director(s) | I. Freleng |
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Hyde and Hare is a three hundred and forty-ninth Looney Tunes theatrical short. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation on August 27, 1955. It was written by Warren Foster, produced by Edward Selzer, and directed by Friz Freleng.
Bugs Bunny becomes a pet for a doctor, who after failing to resist drinking his formula that turns him into a ruthless killer, must now escape the ruthless killer, unaware that it was his pet owner.
Detailed summary
In the middle of a city park, Bugs Bunny emerges from his hole every morning, waiting to receive a carrot by a gentleman. Bugs admits that he is amused that he would fall under the "timid little rabbit" routine, acknowledging that it is his livelihood. When the man offers Bugs a carrot, the rabbit immediately convinces him to become his pet, finding it more convenient for both of them. The gentleman takes him to his residence.
Inside of the gentleman's home, Bugs goes around exploring and stumbles upon a room labeled "laboratory." The man — Dr. Jekyll — drinks a potion in spite of his shame, causing his transformation into the monstrous Mr. Hyde. While playing "Minute Waltz" on the piano, Bugs mistakes Hyde for a sickly person and decides to take him for assistance, but is taken by surprise when he sees Hyde wielding an axe. Fleeing for an immediate solution, Bugs tries to seek help from Dr. Jekyll.
The recurring cycle of Hyde switching to Jekyll and back leads to a series of chaotic run-ins, with Bugs trying to shelter Jekyll from his alter ego. The first time he tried to convince Dr. Jekyll about Hyde's presence, Jekyll turns back into his alter ego as Bugs gives him a description of Hyde's appearance. When Bugs locks both himself and Dr. Jekyll in a storage room, Jekyll is instructed by Bugs to hold onto a rifle, only to change back and attempt to shoot at Bugs with the rifle.
Following another mishap inside of a closet, Bugs rushes to the laboratory and hides himself in a drawer. When Dr. Jekyll calls back to Bugs, the rabbit announces to leave his home in frustration, but Jekyll convinces him to stay, explaining that he get rid of the formula. The glass of the potion is left empty, however, when it is revealed that Bugs drank the formula. Bugs storms back to the park and suddenly changes into a green monster similar to Mr. Hyde; the onlookers flee in terror as he makes his way, unaware of his horrifying change of appearance. Bugs questions the commotion before chewing on his carrot.
Memorable quotes
Jekyll: There's that concoction... No! That failure of mine! No, no! I won't weaken... Oh, I'm so ashamed!
Bugs: I wish my brother George was here!
Bugs: You are a mental case! You don't look good. It's about time you came to see th' doctor. Here, you better sit down! I'll get th' doc.
Bugs: Now, what's eatin' them? Huh! You'd think they never saw a rabbit before.
Characters
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Locations
- Earth
- United Kingdom
- City Park
- Dr. Jekyll's residence
- United Kingdom
Objects
- Carrots
- Grand piano
- "Minute Waltz" music sheet
- Hyde formula
- Axe
- Shotgun rifle
Vehicles
- None
Production
Development
Filming
Music
The music was composed by Carl W. Stalling.
Crew credits
- Layouts: Hawley Pratt
- Backgrounds: Irv Wyner
Release
Dates are in order of release:
- United States: August 27, 1955
Behind the scenes
- The title is a play on the expression "neither hide nor hare."
- It is the third Freleng short based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, after Dr. Jekyll's Hyde and preceeding Hyde and Go Tweet.
- Bugs' line, "I wish my brother George is here," is a reference to pianist Liberace, who had a brother named George. Bugs also imitates Liberance while saying this line.
Errors
Legacy
- This short was featured as one of the segments in Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special.
In popular culture
- The title of Del the Funky Homosapien's 1991 album I Wish My Brother George Was Here is named after a quote from Bugs in this short.
Home availability
- In the United States:
