Rabbit Seasoning

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Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny have "pronoun trouble" in this scene from the 1952 Merrie Melodies cartoon Rabbit Seasoning, directed by Chuck Jones.

Rabbit Seasoning is a 1952 Merrie Melodies cartoon, directed by Chuck Jones, and starring Bugs Bunny. It is the sequel to Rabbit Fire, and the second entry in Jones' "Hunter's trilogy" (the only major difference in format between Rabbit Fire and Rabbit Seasoning is that the former takes place during the springtime, while the latter takes place in autumn.) Produced by Edward Selzer for Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc., the short was released to theaters on September 20 1952 by Warner Bros. Pictures and is widely considered among Jones' best and most important films. In Jerry Beck's 1994 book The 50 Greatest Cartoons, Rabbit Seasoning is listed at number thirty-two.

Contents

1 Overview

1.1 Synopsis
1.2 \"Pronoun trouble\"

2 External link

Overview

Synopsis

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The cartoon finds Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck again arguing over which of them is “in season” (if it is the time of year when it is legal to hunt that kind of animal), while a befuddled Elmer Fudd tries to figure out which animal is telling the truth. Between using sneaky plays-on-words, and dressing himself in women's clothing (including a Lana Turner-style sweater), Bugs manages to escape unscathed, while Daffy repeatedly has his beak blown: off, upside-down, or sideways, by Mr. Fudd.

\"Pronoun trouble\"

Rabbit Seasoning is most noted for an extended dialogue sequence in which Bugs' plays-on-words cause Daffy "pronoun trouble":

Bugs: It's true, Doc; I'm a rabbit alright. Would you like to shoot me now or wait 'til you get home?

Daffy: Shoot him now! Shoot him now!

Bugs: You keep outta this! He doesn't have to shoot you now!

Daffy: He does so have to shoot me now! [to Elmer] I demand that you shoot me now!

[Elmer raises his gun. As Daffy sticks his tongue out at Bugs, he is shot. Daffy walks back over to Bugs, gunsmoke pouring out of his nostrils]

Daffy: [to Bugs] Let's run through that again.

Bugs: Okay.

Bugs: [deadpan] Wouldja like to shoot me now or wait till ya get home?

Daffy:[similarly] Shoot him now, shoot him now.

Bugs: [as before] You keep outta this, he doesn't have to shoot you now.

Daffy Duck: [re-animated] Hah! That’s it! Hold it right there! [to audience] Pronoun trouble. [to Bugs] It's not "he doesn't have to shoot you now"...it's "he doesn't have to shoot me now"

[Pause]

Daffy: [angrily] Well, I say he does have to shoot me now!! [to Elmer] So shoot me now!

[Elmer shoots Daffy again]

After another series of gags and tricks, the cartoon ends as Daffy exposes Bugs' attempt at distracting Elmer by cross-dressing, and Bugs asks Elmer if he would like to "shoot him now, or wait until you get home." Daffy, catching the argument before it starts(but missing the "him" referring to himself), tells Elmer to wait until he gets home, and they go off to Elmer's lodge. One gunshot later, Daffy storms out the door back to Bugs, re-aligns his beak, and says his signature line: "You're despicable".

External link

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