Tortoise Wins by a Hare

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Tortoise Wins by a Hare
Production company Leon Schlesinger Productions
Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date February 20, 1943
Run time 7:44
Starring Mel Blanc
Tedd Pierce
Michael Maltese
Kent Rogers (all uncredited)
Music composed by Carl W. Stalling
Story by Warren Foster
Animation Bob McKimson
Director(s) Robert Clampett
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Title card

Tortoise Wins by a Hare is the two hundred and seventeenth short of the Merrie Melodies theatrical series. It was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation on February 20, 1943. It was written by Warren Foster, produced by Leon Schlesinger, and directed by Bob Clampett.

Having failed to beat Cecil Turtle in a one-to-one race, Bugs Bunny devises a scheme to overrun the tortoise by copying his method of speed.

Detailed summary

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Memorable quotes

Bugs: Yeah, the turtle always wins. How does he do it?! I can't understand it. It's against th' laws of nature. Well, he ain't in the cards. A toitle beating me, a rabbit! A natural speed merchant! Why, I'm in th' pink. Yeah, I'm an athlete. I've got an athlete's physi-que. Sure! I've got an athlete's legs. Soitenly! I've got an athlete's foot. How does that moron do it? I'll find out his secret if it's the LAST THING I EVER DO!! And I will, too...


Cecil's mother: Who was it, Cec?
Cecil: Well, sweety face, it was that rabbit again... I think he's about ready for another race.


Gangster rabbit: We're bettin' everything we got on the rabbit to win. In fact, we don't even think that the turtle will finish. Do we, boys?
Gangster's goons: Duh, no boss! No!


Rabbits: Take that you doity toitle! Take that!
Bugs: Toitle, schmoitle! I'm the rabbit!
Rabbits: You're da toitle!
Bugs: Rabbit!
Rabbits: Toitle!
Bugs: Rabbit!!
Rabbits: Toitle!!
Bugs: RABBIT!!!
Rabbits: TOITLE!!!
Cecil: Yep. That's the turtle, alright...


Bugs: You FOOLS!! What are ya doin'?! I'm the rabbit! The RABBIT!! Look, I'm the rabbit!
Rabbits: Ehhh, now he tells us!

Characters

Legend
Character debut Speaking debut Ep. debut No lines Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character Actor
Cecil Turtle Mel Blanc
Bugs Bunny Mel Blanc
Cecil's mother Mel Blanc
Narrator #1 (voice only) Mel Blanc
Narrator #2 (voice only) Mel Blanc
Gangster rabbit Mel Blanc
Rabbit lookout Kent Rogers


Locations

Objects

  • Bug's metal shell

Vehicles

  • None

Production

Casting

Michael Maltese and Tedd Pierce filled in as background voices for various rabbit thugs. Kent Rogers provided the voice of a brown-furred rabbit who mistakes Bugs for Cecil.

Filming

This short marks the first use of Robert McKimson's Bugs Bunny design, which was noted for having a sleeker appearance when compared to his previous character design, in addition to having more pronounced facial features like puffier cheeks, rounded eyes, and more pronounced buckteeth. This would later become Bugs' standard look in cartoons since the late 1940s, when all the directors of the Warner Bros. animation unit settled on McKimson's design.

The short was copyrighted in 1943 (MCMXLIII).

Music

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

Release

Dates are in order of release:

  • United States: February 20, 1943

Behind the scenes

  • Part of the title is a "hair-hare" pun on the term "by a hair." You're welcome.
  • The MPAA certificate number is 8547.
  • The newspaper has a short article about Adolf Hitler committing suicide, which did not happen until two years after the short's release. It also shares information as the November 1, 1942 issue of The Chicago Tribune (minus the Hitler article).
  • The cartoon was censored in several ways when it aired on different television networks:
    • When it aired on Cartoon Network, the ending scene was altered so that the rabbit thugs don't shoot themselves in the head, instead cutting to the "That's all, folks!" card after they say "Now he tells us!".[1]
    • A similar cut to the ending scene was done on TBS, in addition to shortening a moment where the rabbits pounce on Bugs at the finish line.[1]

Connections

  • The short is a sequel to the 1941 short Tortoise Beats Hare, which follows the same premise of Bugs getting outsmarted by an unassuming opponent. The opening scene also features a recap of the previous entry via stock footage.

Home availability

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: T". Intanibase. Archived from original on February 24, 2024.
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