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The Wabbit Who Came to Supper
The Wabbit Who Came to Supper
Directed by	I. Freleng
Story by	Michael Maltese
Produced by	Leon Schlesinger
Music by	Carl W. Stalling
Animation by	Richard Bickenbach
Color process	Technicolor
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures; The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	March 28, 1942;
Running time	8 minutes
Language	English

The Wabbit Who Came to Supper is a 1942 Merrie Melodies cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.^[1] It was released on March 28, 1942, and directed by Friz Freleng.^[2]

Plot

Elmer Fudd, initially in pursuit of Bugs Bunny with his hunting dogs, finds himself entangled in a peculiar situation upon receiving a telegram informing him of a substantial inheritance from his uncle Louie. The telegram stipulates that Elmer must refrain from harming animals, particularly rabbits, to inherit the promised sum of $3 million.

This directive sets the stage for a series of comedic exchanges between Elmer and Bugs as they navigate the terms of the inheritance. Despite Elmer's initial attempts to capture Bugs, the reminder of his uncle's conditions prompts him to release the rabbit and return home. However, Bugs' irreverent behavior and mischievous antics soon disrupt Elmer's attempts at peace, leading to a comedic struggle for control within the household. Bugs' inventive schemes further complicate matters, including feigning illness to manipulate Elmer's sympathies and exploiting his fears of losing the inheritance. The dynamic between the two characters oscillates between moments of genuine concern and comedic absurdity, as Bugs continually outwits Elmer with his quick thinking and resourcefulness.

Later on, Elmer receives a letter from Uncle Louie's attorney that Uncle Louie has passed away and Elmer himself has inherited $3 million. However, he discovers that the inheritance has been depleted due to taxes and legal fees, leaving him owing $1.98 to Uncle Louie's attorney. Furious at having to put up with Bugs's shenanigans for nothing and with nothing left to lose, Elmer chases Bugs around the house. In a final twist, a postman delivers a giant Easter egg to Elmer, unleashing a horde of miniature Bugs Bunnys who wreak havoc on the scene.

Production

This short is one of several pre-August 1948^[3] WB cartoon shorts that lapsed into the public domain due to United Artists failing to renew the copyright in time.

The title of the short is a reference to the 1942 Warner Brothers film version of the 1939 George S. Kaufman Broadway comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner, in which an overbearing house-guest threatens to take over the lives of a small-town family.

Home media

Being in the public domain, The Wabbit Who Came to Supper was featured on several low-budget VHS releases of public domain cartoons. (The use of "Angel in Disguise," which remains under copyright, has complicated the short's public domain status.)

On the 2005 Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3 DVD release, The Wabbit Who Came to Supper is presented in a restored unedited version with a commentary track provided by animation historian Jerry Beck and Warner Brothers' inker Martha Sigall, one of about 40 uncredited inkers and painters who labored on the Looney Tunes shorts.

References

^ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 126. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
^ The latest released WB cartoon sold to a.a.p. was Haredevil Hare, released on July 24, 1948.