Hyde and Hare

Hyde and Hare is a 1955 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon, directed by Friz Freleng.^[1] The short was released on August 27, 1955, and stars Bugs Bunny.^[2] The short is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The cartoon pits Bugs against Dr. Jekyll, who continues to turn into Mr. Hyde. The title is a play on the expression "neither hide nor hair."

Plot

Bugs Bunny emerges from his rabbit hole in a city park each morning to receive a carrot from a kind gentleman, amusingly remarking on the routine as his "timid little rabbit" act, acknowledging it as part of his livelihood. Gradually, Bugs expresses a desire to become the gentleman's pet, finding it more convenient for both of them. As they head to the gentleman's home, Bugs refers to him as "Doc".

Inside the house, Bugs goes exploring and finds a room labeled "laboratory". The gentleman, Dr. Jekyll, drinks a potion and turns into Mr. Hyde. Mistaking Hyde for a sick person, Bugs attempts to assist but quickly realizes the danger when Hyde wields an axe. Fleeing for safety, Bugs seeks help from Dr. Jekyll.

The cycle of transformation between Jekyll and Hyde leads to chaotic encounters, with Bugs attempting to shelter Jekyll from his alter ego. Jekyll's efforts to contain Hyde's aggression prove futile. He wants to get rid of the potion but discovers that it's gone; Bugs has drunk it, and returns to his park, but transforms into a monstrous rabbit without realizing it, and terrifies the onlookers. Bugs questions the cause of the commotion around him, chewing on his carrot.

Allusions

• In the cartoon, Bugs sits down at a piano, places a candelabra upon it, and utters the phrase, "I wish my brother George was here". The reference was to Liberace, who had a brother named George that was also his conductor on TV. It also references Liberace's personal appearances during the 1950s. Liberace's feature film debut Sincerely Yours, also produced by Warner Bros., was released around the same time as this cartoon. You can also hear that quote on Three Little Bops by the piano playing pig.
• The piano piece that Bugs plays is the Minute Waltz (Bugs pronounces "minute" as if to mean tiny) by Chopin, or as Bugs calls him, "Choppin".
• When Bugs first sees Mr. Hyde, he says Ralph Kramden's line to him, "You...are a mental case!"

Home media

The cartoon appears on the Looney Tunes: After Dark Laserdisc. In 2004, this cartoon was restored and released on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 DVD box set. The Warner Archive Blu-Ray of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde includes an upscaled version of the Golden Collection master. You can play Hyde Bugs in the Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal video game.

See also

• Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1950–1959)
• List of Bugs Bunny cartoons

References

External links

• Hyde and Hare at IMDb