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https://www.metv.com/stories/bugs-bunny-eating-carrots-is-a-movie-parody-rabbits-do-not-eat-carrots>
“Today, director Frank Capra is best remembered by his perennial Christmas
favorite
It's a Wonderful Life. At the time of its release, however, in 1946,
the film was a bit of a bomb. The studio lost money on the movie at the box
office. At the peak of his career, Capra was far better known for his earlier
comedy
It Happened One Night.
That screwball romantic road trip swept at the 7th Annual Academy Awards,
becoming the first film to ever win all five Oscars for Best Picture, Best
Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Writing. It was the highest-grossing
picture of 1934. Clark Gable, the handsome star, became a household name.
In short, what we're saying is, just about all of America knew about
It
Happened One Night. Like any smash comedy, it was quoted and copied. Gable's
character, the out-of-work reporter Peter Warne, had a quick-talking wit — and
a few particular quirks. In one scene, he eagerly chomped carrots while
explaining how to hitchhike to Claudette Colbert. He chewed and gabbed with his
mouth full of vegetable.
Jump forward to 1940. Tex Avery produced one of his most important pieces of
animation,
A Wild Hare. This
Merrie Melodies short is now considered the
official debut of the fully realized Bugs Bunny (early iterations of the "Happy
Rabbit" character had appeared in earlier Looney Tunes cartoons). Here was the
Bugs we all know and love — gray, chomping on a carrot, and asking, "What's up,
Doc?"
Here's the thing — the carrot, the voice and even the line "What's up, Doc?"
were all references to
It Happened One Night. Yes, Bugs Bunny was essentially
a movie spoof.”
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
