My Bunny Lies over the Sea
| My Bunny Lies over the Sea | |
|---|---|
| Merrie Melodies/Bugs Bunny series | |
 Title card for My Bunny Lies over the Sea | |
| Directed by | Charles M. Jones |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer |
| Story by | Michael Maltese |
| Voices by | Mel Blanc |
| Music by | Carl Stalling |
| Animation by |
Ken Harris Phil Monroe Ben Washam Lloyd Vaughan |
| Layouts by | Robert Gribbroek |
| Backgrounds by | Peter Alvarado |
| Distributed by |
Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation |
| Release date(s) | December 4, 1948 (United States) |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 7 minutes 29 seconds |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | A-Lad-In His Lamp |
| Followed by | Hare Do |
My Bunny Lies over the Sea, a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies (Blue Ribbon reissued in the beginning, with the original Merrie Melodies ending card) cartoon, was released on December 4, 1948. This theatrical cartoon was directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. Mel Blanc played both Bugs Bunny and the Scotsman.
The title is an obvious play on the second line of the old song, "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean". The seven-minute short has been released on DVD multiple times in different compilation discs, and as of 2003 is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1. And, though this cartoon was the Scotsman's (named Angus MacRory) only theatrical appearance, he also made his second major role in "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode (released on February 3, 1996) in The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries. The Scotsman appeared briefly in a 1989 TV special, and on a couple of Animaniacs episodes. He can also be seen in the 1996 hit film, Space Jam, watching the Toon Squad/Michael Jordan basketball game.
Plot synopsis
This cartoon begins as Bugs Bunny once again gets lost when he is tunneling to his vacation spot. He accidentally ends up in Scotland, instead of the La Brea Tar Pits, having once again not "made that left toin at Albahkoiky!" and mistakes a Scotsman named Angus MacRory dressed in traditional clothes and playing the bagpipes for a lady being attacked by a "horrible monster". Bugs Bunny jumps MacRory trying to rescue the "woman", and in the process he smashes his bagpipes to pieces. MacRory becomes enraged that his bagpipes have been absolutely ruined and threatens Bugs, who discovers that MacRory is actually a man, to which Bugs responds by pointing out that MacRory can't wear a kilt (mistaking it for a skirt) making it "indecent". MacRory is confused about the situation until Bugs comes back with a barrel and puts it on MacRory. Bugs then asks MacRory for the directions to the "La Brea Tar Pits in Los Ahn-galays", irritating MacRory even further until he runs and gets a blunderbuss, telling the rabbit that "there are no La Brea Tar Pits in Scotland!" When Bugs realizes the location he is in, he bids MacRory "Eh, what's up, MacDoc?" and runs for it just as MacRory shoots. MacRory chases after the bullet and picks it up ("It's been in the family for years"), puts the bullet back into his gun, and shoots at Bugs repeatedly, who dives back into his hole and comes back out moments later disguised as an elderly Scotsman accusing MacRory of "poaching on [his] property". MacRory doesn't believe him however and challenges him to a traditional Scottish duel—a game. Bugs, upon hearing this, sets up a card game. MacRory corrects him, stating the challenge is a game of golf. Bugs then asks MacRory if he "ever gets tired of running those 18 bases".
Of course, throughout the game Bugs manages to outsmart MacRory. On the first hole, Bugs focuses on swinging the ball, looks down at MacRory for tapping his foot impatiently which he hides behind himself and smiles at him nervously as he is distracting Bugs, and upon his first stroke missing the hole, digs another, bigger one to earn a hole in one (with the real one shown in the distance). Bugs then nails MacRory's ball to the tee so it won't go anywhere, although MacRory still gets a hole in one anyway, to Bugs' protests. At hole 8, MacRory laughs at Bugs whose ball has fallen shorter of the hole than MacRory's. Bugs however turns his club into a pool cue and pots the ball into the hole, causing MacRory to break his club in half in anger. Later, after being seen hitting his ball out of a bunker multiple times to get his ball in hole 16, Bugs figures out (through imaginary sums in the air) how many hits it took. He says he got 2 strokes on the hole. MacRory, not believing Bugs at all, corrects him: "Two? FIFTY-FIVE!" An auction ensues until MacRory gives Bugs a hole in one as his "final offer".
At the last hole, MacRory gets a hole in one. Bugs however misses the hole altogether and quickly digs a channel with his club for the ball to roll through into the hole. When it's all said and done, Bugs declares himself the winner, much to the Scotsman's wrath, who accuses Bugs of cheating. However, MacRory accepts defeat after Bugs clears himself otherwise by mentioning about how the same situation occurred at other (fictional) golf tournaments ("the New Hebrides Open. Kaduffleblaze versus Fuddle in 19-aught-18. Fradis versus Ginfritter. Bizbo versus Stoigen in the Casablanca Amateur"), but still claims that he can't be beaten when it comes to playing bagpipes. After playing, he dares Bugs to try and top that which the rabbit does by literally dressing like a Scot and in the manner of a one-man band, manages to not only play the bagpipes, but also a trombone, saxophone, trumpet, two clarinets, cymbals on his feet, and a bass drum with his ears. Bugs takes one last glimpse at the audience before an iris-out.
Other Appearances
- Bugs Bunny's Wild World of Sports: In this 1989 TV special, the Scotsman from the cartoon appears as a guest at the "Sportsman of the Year" awards banquet, as one of the nominees for the award. He is named for the first time when the announcer introduces him as, "That great Scottish golfer, Angus MacRory." Angus corrects the pronunciation of his name, and adds that it's spelled, "With fourteen r's." The special also shows clips from My Bunny Lies Over the Sea.
- The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries: The Scotsman from the cartoon makes his second major role in the "It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World" episode. His full name, "Angus MacRory" is confirmed. He is revealed to be Granny's fourth cousin twice removed.
- Animaniacs: In the Dot's Quiet Time segment, when Dot is in Scotland, having finally found a quiet place, the Scotsman walks by Dot playing his bagpipes, disturbing her. In the Hurray for Slappy segment, he can be spotted in the crowd at the end of the short.
- Space Jam: The Scotsman from the cartoon can be spotted on the bleachers watching the basketball playoff between the Toon Squad and the Monstars.
External links
| Preceded by A-Lad-In His Lamp |
Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1948 |
Succeeded by Hare Do |