Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid

Bugs Bunny Gets The Boid is a 1942 Merrie Melodies cartoon, directed by Bob Clampett, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions, and released to theatres by Warner Bros. Pictures. It marks the first appearance of Beaky Buzzard in a Warner Bros. short.

The title is a Brooklynese way of saying "gets the bird", which can refer to an obscene gesture, or as simply the "Bronx cheer"; in this case, it is also used metaphorically, as Bugs "gets" the bird (a buzzard) by playing a trick.

Plot

The cartoon begins with a mother buzzard instructing her children to go out and catch something for dinner (horse, steer, moose, and cow, respectively). Three out of four agree to their mom's food choices and take off right away. Then Mother notices one of her kids remaining with his back turned. This is where we meet Beaky (called "Killer" in this short, presumably as an ironic pet name or nickname), as he is painfully shy and a little on the slow side (with Kent Rogers doing a fair imitation of Mortimer Snerd, anticipating Cecil Turtle's voice). Against his will, his mother kicks him out of the nest with instructions to at least catch a rabbit. Beaky spots Bugs Bunny and soars down to catch him. Bugs makes like an air-traffic controller and "guides" Beaky to the ground with a crash. Upon getting up, he is greeted with Bug's trademark phrase "Eh, what's up Doc?"

A chase ensues ending with Bugs crashing into the ground underneath the skeleton of a dead animal. He cries because he thinks he's dead, breaking the fourth wall momentarily with a Jerry Colonna-like comment straight to the audience, "Gruesome, isn't it!" He then laughs it off when he realizes otherwise, and breaks the fourth wall again, telling the audience that he knew it all the time. Beaky ends up the same way, and just as he begins to call for his mother in panic, she shows up. At first the mother buzzard thinks Bugs did something to Beaky. Bugs pulls Beaky out of the ground. Upon the realization that Killer is unharmed, the mother abandons her desire to devour Bugs. Instead, she turns to him and declares, "And you, you are my hero!" She embraces Bugs and kisses his mouth. When their lips part a pink heart can be viewed in the space between. This causes Bugs to blush and say "nope, nope, nope" just like Beaky.

Music

This is one of a number of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons that sampled Blues in the Night, the popular song from the same period the cartoons were made, changing the lyrics for comedic value.

Also sampled is music from The Arkansas Traveler (song), specifically an instrumental version of the "I'm bringin' home a baby bumblebee" part.

Availability

This cartoon can be found on Volume 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection as well on the 1st Spotlight Collection.

External links

• Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid at the Internet Movie Database