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The Hare-Brained Hypnotist is a 1942 Merrie Melodies short directed by I. Freleng.

Title[]

The title, instead of employing the usual "hare" vs. "hair" pun, is standard spelling, for the expression that indicates thoughtlessness or recklessness.

Plot[]

While Elmer is reading a book about hypnotism, he bumps into a bear. He hypnotizes the bear into thinking he is a canary. Bugs asks Elmer, "What's up, doc?" Elmer states he has him right where he wants him and starts to hypnotize Bugs. "Heh, 'Dracula'", the rabbit observes. Bugs fools Elmer by giving him a balloon with long ears, and he hears the bear he hypnotized earlier chirping and falls to the ground. Then, he chases Bugs and fights over the shotgun. Despondent, he cries on a tree, and Bugs asks what's wrong. Elmer tells him that he won't cooperate when he tries to hypnotize him. Bugs says he will cooperate.

As Elmer tries to hypnotize Bugs, Bugs hypnotizes him instead and commands him to be a rabbit. Elmer starts to act like Bugs, inducing Bugs to act like Elmer. After furiously declaring, "Who's the comedian in this picture, anyway?" a role-reversing chase ensues. Bugs looks for Elmer, who is right behind him. Bugs talks while chewing three carrots, two of which are in Elmer's hands. The chase starts again, until Bugs has a chance to "un-hypnotize" Elmer. Terrified, Elmer runs away and all seems normal. After sneering at Elmer's ability to hypnotize him, Bugs suddenly notices his watch, exclaiming, "I'm overdue at the airport," and proceeds to take off and fly like an airplane. Bugs states "I'm the B-19!" and flies away toward the airport.

Availability[]

Streaming[]

Notes[]

  • The plot was re-worked for the 1955 cartoon "Hare Brush", and the opening music was re-used in the 1946 cartoon "Hair-Raising Hare", the 1952 cartoon "The Super Snooper", and the 1955 cartoon "Hyde and Hare".
  • This is one of the few a.a.p. Cartoon Network USA airings after 1995, although a 1995 dubbed version print does exist.
  • The USA dubbed print uses the 1947-1948 dubbed ending and retains the 1941-1955 theme while the EU dubbed print uses the 1937-1938 dubbed ending, as did "Tortoise Wins by a Hare".
  • The EU Turner dubbed version replaces the original 1941-1955 Merrie Melodies ending music cue with the 1938-1941 Merrie Melodies ending music cue.
  • This is the only Elmer cartoon of 1942 to remain under copyright, as "The Wabbit Who Came to Supper", "The Wacky Wabbit" and "Fresh Hare", which all have the fat Elmer, are in the public domain.
  • This is the first cartoon to show a slim Elmer Fudd since Elmer's Pet Rabbit, as most of his appearances in 1941-1942 were of the "fat Elmer" design.

Music-Cues[4][]

  • A-Hunting We Will Go (traditional)
    • Played during the opening scene
  • March of the Fairies [From "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61"] (Music by Felix Mendelssohn)
    • Played when it's Elmer's chance to try his psychological experiment on the bear
  • Listen to the Mockingbird (by Richard Milburn)
    • Played when the bear flies
  • I'll Pray for You (by Arthur Altman)
    • Played when Bugs asks Elmer if he hurt his feelings
  • Hey, Doc (by Edgar M. Sampson)
    • Played after Bugs hypnotizes Elmer and when Bugs is eating multiple carrots
  • Symphony No. 5 Op. 67 I. Allegro con brio (by Ludwig van Beethoven)
    • Played briefly after Bugs says he's overdue at the airport

Gallery[]

References[]

Bugs Bunny Shorts
1938 Porky's Hare Hunt
1939 Prest-O Change-OHare-um Scare-um
1940 Elmer's Candid CameraA Wild Hare
1941 Elmer's Pet RabbitTortoise Beats HareHiawatha's Rabbit HuntThe Heckling HareAll This and Rabbit StewWabbit Twouble
1942 The Wabbit Who Came to SupperAny Bonds Today?The Wacky WabbitHold the Lion, PleaseBugs Bunny Gets the BoidFresh HareThe Hare-Brained HypnotistCase of the Missing Hare
1943 Tortoise Wins by a HareSuper-RabbitJack-Wabbit and the BeanstalkWackiki WabbitFalling Hare
1944 Little Red Riding RabbitWhat's Cookin' Doc?Bugs Bunny and the Three BearsBugs Bunny Nips the NipsHare Ribbin'Hare ForceBuckaroo BugsThe Old Grey HareStage Door Cartoon
1945 Herr Meets HareThe Unruly HareHare TriggerHare ConditionedHare Tonic
1946 Baseball BugsHare RemoverHair-Raising HareAcrobatty BunnyRacketeer RabbitThe Big SnoozeRhapsody Rabbit
1947 Rabbit TransitA Hare Grows in ManhattanEaster YeggsSlick Hare
1948 Gorilla My DreamsA Feather in His HareRabbit PunchBuccaneer BunnyBugs Bunny Rides AgainHaredevil HareHot Cross BunnyHare SplitterA-Lad-In His LampMy Bunny Lies over the Sea
1949 Hare DoMississippi HareRebel RabbitHigh Diving HareBowery BugsLong-Haired HareKnights Must FallThe Grey Hounded HareThe Windblown HareFrigid HareWhich Is WitchRabbit Hood
1950 Hurdy-Gurdy HareMutiny on the BunnyHomeless HareBig House BunnyWhat's Up Doc?8 Ball BunnyHillbilly HareBunker Hill BunnyBushy HareRabbit of Seville
1951 Hare We GoRabbit Every MondayBunny HuggedThe Fair Haired HareRabbit FireFrench RarebitHis Hare Raising TaleBallot Box BunnyBig Top Bunny
1952 Operation: RabbitFoxy by Proxy14 Carrot RabbitWater, Water Every HareThe Hasty HareOily HareRabbit SeasoningRabbit's KinHare Lift
1953 Forward March HareUpswept HareSouthern Fried RabbitHare TrimmedBully for BugsLumber Jack-RabbitDuck! Rabbit, Duck!Robot Rabbit
1954 Captain HareblowerBugs and ThugsNo Parking HareDevil May HareBewitched BunnyYankee Doodle BugsBaby Buggy Bunny
1955 Beanstalk BunnySahara HareHare BrushRabbit RampageThis Is a Life?Hyde and HareKnight-Mare HareRoman Legion-Hare
1956 Bugs' BonnetsBroom-Stick BunnyRabbitson CrusoeNapoleon Bunny-PartBarbary-Coast BunnyHalf-Fare HareA Star Is BoredWideo WabbitTo Hare Is Human
1957 Ali Baba BunnyBedevilled RabbitPiker's PeakWhat's Opera, Doc?Bugsy and MugsyShow Biz BugsRabbit Romeo
1958 Hare-Less WolfHare-Way to the StarsNow, Hare ThisKnighty Knight BugsPre-Hysterical Hare
1959 Baton BunnyHare-abian NightsApes of WrathBackwoods BunnyWild and Woolly HareBonanza BunnyA Witch's Tangled HarePeople Are Bunny
1960 Horse HarePerson to BunnyRabbit's FeatFrom Hare to HeirLighter Than Hare
1961 The Abominable Snow RabbitCompressed HarePrince Violent
1962 Wet HareBill of HareShishkabugs
1963 Devil's Feud CakeThe Million HareHare-Breadth HurryThe UnmentionablesMad as a Mars HareTransylvania 6-5000
1964 Dumb PatrolDr. Devil and Mr. HareThe Iceman DuckethFalse Hare
1979 Bugs Bunny's Christmas CarolFright Before Christmas
1980 Portrait of the Artist as a Young BunnySpaced Out Bunny
1990 Box Office Bunny
1991 (Blooper) Bunny
1992 Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers
1995 Carrotblanca
1997 From Hare to Eternity
2004 Hare and Loathing in Las VegasDaffy Duck for President
Elmer Fudd Cartoons
1937 Little Red Walking Hood
1938 The Isle of Pingo PongoCinderella Meets FellaA Feud There WasJohnny Smith and Poker-Huntas
1939 Hamateur NightA Day at the ZooBelieve It or Else
1940 Elmer's Candid CameraConfederate HoneyThe Hardship of Miles StandishA Wild HareGood Night Elmer
1941 Elmer's Pet RabbitWabbit Twouble
1942 The Wabbit Who Came to SupperAny Bonds Today?The Wacky WabbitNutty NewsFresh HareThe Hare-Brained Hypnotist
1943 To Duck .... or Not to DuckA Corny ConcertoAn Itch in Time
1944 The Old Grey HareThe Stupid CupidStage Door Cartoon
1945 The Unruly HareHare Tonic
1946 Hare RemoverThe Big Snooze
1947 Easter YeggsA Pest in the HouseSlick Hare
1948 What Makes Daffy DuckBack Alley Op-RoarKit for Cat
1949 Wise QuackersHare DoEach Dawn I Crow
1950 What's Up Doc?The Scarlet PumpernickelRabbit of Seville
1951 Rabbit Fire
1952 Rabbit Seasoning
1953 Upswept HareAnt PastedDuck! Rabbit, Duck!Robot Rabbit
1954 Design for LeavingQuack Shot
1955 Pests for GuestsBeanstalk BunnyHare BrushRabbit RampageThis Is a Life?Heir-Conditioned
1956 Bugs' BonnetsA Star Is BoredYankee Dood ItWideo Wabbit
1957 What's Opera, Doc?Rabbit Romeo
1958 Don't Axe MePre-Hysterical Hare
1959 A Mutt in a Rut
1960 Person to BunnyDog Gone People
1961 What's My Lion?
1962 Crows' Feat
1980 Portrait of the Artist as a Young Bunny
1990 Box Office Bunny
1991 (Blooper) Bunny
1992 Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers
2012 Daffy's Rhapsody
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