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Stage Door Cartoon is a 1944 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng.
Plot
Elmer hooks a carrot to his fishing hook in an attempt to catch Bugs, who turns the tables on Elmer by attaching the hook to his pants and "reeling" him in. Bugs then throws Elmer back for being too small and ends up getting chased to a Vaudeville theater. Bugs gets a chance to do his tap-dance routine, one of his recurring schticks. He then tricks the shy Elmer onto the stage, forcing him into performing a high-diving act. He prompts Elmer through some classic acting emotive poses, seguéing into face-making, which draws a ripe tomato in the face from the jeering crowd. Then he tricks Elmer into doing a "strip-tease". Finally, Bugs disguises himself as a southern sheriff, just as a real one arrests Elmer for indecent exposure. Before leaving the theater, a Bugs Bunny cartoon begins on the movie screen and the sheriff decides to stay and watch it. Elmer appears to get wise when the cartoon shows the scene where Bugs disguises himself as the sheriff. Elmer, thinking the sheriff really is Bugs, calls the sheriff an "impostor" and pulls off his clothes, but to Elmer's surprise, finds out he was really sitting next to the real sheriff. The sheriff proceeds to lead Elmer out of the theater with his rifle, "You'll swing for this, suh!" Bugs conducts the orchestra into a big finale.
Availability
- VHS - Viddy-Oh! For Kids Cartoon Festivals: Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd Cartoon Festival Featuring "Wabbit Twouble"
- VHS - Cartoon Moviestars: Bugs Vs. Elmer
- LaserDisc - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Volume 3, Side 2, Bugs Bunny
- DVD - Hollywood Canteen (1995 Turner dubbed version, added as a bonus)
- DVD - Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2, Disc 4
- DVD - Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection: Volume 2, Disc 2
Notes
- This is the first cartoon to feature Bugs' signature song "What's Up Doc?" playing during the title card.
- Bugs' goofy yell to Elmer, "Here I ya-um!" was a catchphrase used by radio star Red Skelton's country bumpkin character "Clem Kadiddlehopper".
- Bugs' final line, "I got a million of 'em!" was a Jimmy Durante catchphrase; Bugs also mimics Durante's standard body language while saying it.
- The basic plotline was re-used in the 1949 Bugs-and-Elmer cartoon, "Hare Do" and again in the 1950 Bugs-and-Elmer cartoon, "Rabbit of Seville".
- A modified version of the high dive is used in the 1949 cartoon "Hare Do" where Bugs tricks a blindfolded Elmer into riding a unicycle from a wire high above a stage into the jaws of a man-eating lion.
- The copyright was renewed in 1972.
- When a Bugs Bunny cartoon began playing smack dab in the middle of the cartoon, this breaks the fourth wall.
- Most likely, this short was the first to bear the full legend "WARNER BROS. PICTURES INC" and "A WARNER BROS. CARTOON", which would be used until 1964. Previous cartoons produced by Eddie Selzer would have "Produced by WARNER BROS. CARTOONS" and "WARNER BROS." (used from 1939-44).
- Most likely, this short was the final to credit "Produced by WARNER BROS. CARTOONS INC" and the small "RELEASED BY WARNER BROS. PICTURES INC" byline on the ending target rings due to this short being one of the last produced during the 1943-44 animation season (evident from red background and blue target rings).
Gallery
See Also
External Links
- "Stage Door Cartoon" at SuperCartoons.net
- "Stage Door Cartoon" at B99.TV