The Wabbit Who Came to Supper

Elmer Fudd is hunting Bugs Bunny in the woods. Out of nowhere, he receives a telegram saying that he is inheriting $3 million, but he must not hurt another animal. Bugs takes advantage and moves in with Elmer.

This is a fun premise. At some point, I would assume that Elmer is able to kill again. Once he gets the money, he doesn't need to maintain the non-killing. They should write that into the plot. Instead, it has some unreasonable math. Cartoons aren't always logical, but sometimes, the lack of it does bother me for some unknowable reason. This one bugged me a little and that drops it a point.

It's still odd for me to watch these old Bugs Bunny cartoons and see an elongated Bugs and a huge Elmer Fudd. Nonetheless, that's what we get here as Elmer is racing through the forest with a shotgun after Bugs. By the way - what kind of hunting outfit is that: a bowler hat, reddish-pink shirt and green tie???!

Just as Bugs is about to get it, a telegram boy on a scooter arrives with a telegram for Elmer, stating that Uncle Louie is giving him three million dollars! But there is a "P.S." that says "You don't get one cent if hurt any animals, especially rabbits."

You just know Bugs, who is reading this over Elmer's shoulder, is going to make life miserable for him (at least in the next six minutes of this eight-minute cartoon). The rabbit wastes no time, either. By the time Elmer races home, the "wascally wabbit" is already in his shower! r Bugs knows a good thing when he sees it - blackmail, to get food and other goodies (or "I'll call Uncle Louie").

I almost felt sorry for the poor sap Fudd as Bugs puts on his "Academy Award" dramatic performance but, in the end, both guys wind up losers as the cartoon writers used the familiar "taxes" bit on the inheritance.

Overall, the humor was too dated and not really ready-for-prime time stuff (the 1950s) but the restoration job on this Golden Collection disc was tremendous. That artwork made Elmer's house look pretty impressive. He might have been a dumb dodo but he had nice- looking furnished house.

When Elmer Fudd's Uncle Louie bequeaths him 3 million dollars on the condition that he doesn't hurt any living creatures, Bugs Bunny exploit's the situation by moving into his house and taking over his life. Friz Freleng's 'The Wabbit Who Came to Supper' is a fun take on a classic, much used storyline which was probably best realised in the Tom and Jerry classic 'The Million Dollar Cat'. Freleng's take on the tale is also very fine, overcoming the odd pacing problems with some very funny moments. My favourite bit is Bugs's petty duping of Elmer out of a nickel. Also notable is the famous premature New Year routine and the early take on the "Don't go down there, it's dark" gag (perfected in 'Hair Raising Hare'). This is a very early Bugs Bunny cartoon and you can occasionally tell by the odd look of the characters. Aside from the obese version of Elmer (an early experiment that was quickly abandoned), Bugs occasionally looks extremely weird, never more so than in the scene when he examines his teeth in a mirror. Nevertheless, it's a joy to watch Bugs and Elmer alternately turn the tables on each other resulting in a great climactic chase. The closing gag is a little weak but by that time 'The Wabbit Who Came to Supper' has done more than enough to endear itself to the viewer. While it falls short of classic, 'The Wabbit Who Came to Supper' never fails to entertain with its fast paced, well-timed antics.

"The Wabbit Who Came to Supper" gives one the idea of milking a situation to the nth degree. When Elmer Fudd - looking like a walking heart attack (they were making him fat at this time so as to resemble his voice artist Arthur Q. Bryan) - receives a letter telling him that he'll inherit $3 million as long as he doesn't harm any animals, especially rabbits, Bugs Bunny (who overheard Elmer reading the telegram) promptly invades Elmer's house and does everything possible to annoy Elmer. How I would love to try that! It just goes to show why these cartoons were so great: they were never afraid to pull any wacky gag that they could think of. And this one has some great gags! So check it out. You're sure to love it.

And remember: don't go down there; it's dark!

The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (1942)

**** (out of 4)

Hunter Elmer Fudd is hot on the trail of Bugs Bunny when he receives a telegram from his rich uncle. The uncle is leaving him three million dollars but in order to collect he can't harm anything and especially rabbits. Bugs decides to use this to his advantage and goes back to Fudd's home.

This here is without question one of the greatest Bugs-Fudd shorts. Off the top of my head I can't really think of any others that are better and that is saying quite a bit when you consider how many great ones they made together. This film pretty much has everything you'd want including the non-stop action and of course there are plenty of great laughs.

There are many highlights here but the abuse poor Fudd takes makes him the "good" guy here and the one you want to cheer for. Bugs throws plenty of insults his way and just check out the sequence where Elmer is forced to rock the rabbit. The ending is classic as well.