| Rhapsody Rabbit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | I. Freleng |
| Story by | |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by | Carl W. Stalling |
| Animation by |
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| Layouts by | Hawley Pratt |
| Backgrounds by | Terry Lind |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 7:33 |
| Language | English |
Rhapsody Rabbit is a 1946 Americananimatedcomedyshort film in theMerrie Melodies series, directed byFriz Freleng and featuringBugs Bunny.[1] The movie was originally released to theaters byWarner Bros. Pictures on November 9, 1946.[2] This short is a follow-up of sorts to Freleng's 1941 Academy Award-nominatedRhapsody in Rivets, which featured the "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" byFranz Liszt. The "instrument" used to perform the "Hungarian Rhapsody" inRhapsody in Rivets is a skyscraper under construction, while this short features Bugs playing the piece at a piano while being pestered by a mouse.
In 1946, film criticJames Agee wrote inThe Nation that the short is "the funniest thing I have seen since the decline of sociological dancing," saying, "The best of it goes two ways: one, very observant parody of concert-pianistic affectations, elegantly thought out and synchronized; the other, brutality keyed into the spirit of the music to reach greater subtlety than I have ever seen brutality reach before."[3]
Rhapsody Rabbit was the first cartoon to be broadcast onCartoon Network when the channel launched on October 1, 1992.[4]
Set against a backdrop ofRichard Wagner'sSiegfried funeral march, Bugs Bunny takes center stage as a piano virtuoso. Amidst thunderous applause, Bugs embarks on a performance ofFranz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2".
The opening scene sees Bugs poised at the piano, only to be interrupted by a persistent cough from an unseen audience member. Unfazed, Bugs resorts to unconventional means to silence the disturbance, humorously wielding a revolver from his tailcoat.
Throughout the performance, Bugs engages in playful banter, responding to a ringing phone inside the piano with his trademark catchphrase, "Eh, what's up, doc?" He cleverly incorporates musical references, such as singing "Fi-ga-ro!" during a familiar three-note sequence, adding a comedic twist to his piano playing.
As Bugs navigates through the piece, he encounters a pesky mouse that becomes a persistent nuisance. The encounter escalates into a musical duel, culminating in a boogie-woogie showdown. Despite momentarily trapping the mouse, Bugs is ultimately outwitted as the mouse reemerges, performing a surprise finale on a miniature piano.
In a comedic climax, Bugs confronts the final frenzied pages of the Rhapsody, culminating in exasperation as the mouse steals the spotlight with its unexpected performance. Frustrated yet undeterred, Bugs delivers the closing notes with characteristic wit, concluding the performance with a humorous flourish.
The short is available onLooney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2, with an optionalcommentary track by musicalhistorianDaniel Goldmark. It is also available on volume 2 ofLooney Tunes: Spotlight Collection, as well asWarner Bros. Discovery's twovideo streaming services, theBoomerang SVOD app andMax.
One year after the release ofRhapsody Rabbit,Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio (MGM) produced a comparable animated short titledThe Cat Concerto, featuringTom and Jerry series. This production portrays Tom encountering distractions caused by Jerry, the mouse, during a piano concert performance.[5] Noteworthy similarities between the two works include the replication of several comedic sequences and the utilization ofFranz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" as their primary musical composition.[6]The Cat Concerto received recognition by winning anAcademy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[5]
Following the presentation of both films at the19th Academy Awards Ceremony, allegations of plagiarism arose from both MGM and Warner Bros. studios.[5]Technicolor was accused of sending a print of either cartoon to a competing studio, who then plagiarized their rival's work.[5] Despite attempts to address the matter, uncertainties persist regarding the origins of the similarities. WhileRhapsody Rabbit holds an earlierMotion Picture Association approval number and release date, MGM's production timelines extended over a longer duration. Additionally, the substantial resemblances between the two animations may also be attributed to mere coincidence.
The controversy surrounding these productions received further examination in an episode of theCartoon Network anthology seriesToonHeads, providing a platform for discussion and analysis of the issue.[7][8]
| Preceded by | Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1946 | Succeeded by |