Tortoise Beats Hare

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Tortoise Beats Hare
Tortbeat.jpg
Lobby card
Directed by Fred Avery
Story byDave Monahan
Produced by Leon Schlesinger
Starring Mel Blanc
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Charles McKimson
Robert McKimson
Rev Chaney
Sid Sutherland
Rod Scribner
Virgil Ross [1]
Backgrounds byJohn Didrik Johnsen
Color process Technicolor
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros.
The Vitaphone Corp.
Release date
  • March 15, 1941 (1941-03-15)
Running time
7:55
LanguageEnglish

Tortoise Beats Hare is a Merrie Melodies short film directed by Tex Avery and released on March 15, 1941. [2] [3] The short, loosely based on Aesop's fable The Tortoise and the Hare, stars Bugs Bunny and, in his first appearance, Cecil Turtle.

Contents

Plot

Bugs Bunny munches away on a carrot while perusing the opening film credits, albeit with comical mispronunciations. Expressing disdain upon encountering the title of the cartoon, Bugs embarks on a furious tirade, dismantling the credits in a fit of frustration. His attention soon turns to Cecil Turtle, with whom he enters into a high-stakes wager of ten dollars on a race (equivalent to $207in 2023). Cecil, employing cunning strategy, enlists the aid of his turtle cousins to impersonate him at various points along the racecourse, thus maintaining a deceptive lead over Bugs. Despite Bugs' initial confidence and commanding lead, he finds himself outwitted by Cecil's clever ploy. Convinced of his victory as he crosses the finish line, Bugs is surprised to find Cecil awaiting him as the apparent winner.

Grudgingly conceding defeat, Bugs pays Cecil his wager, reflecting a mixture of anger and bewilderment. However, a sudden realization dawns upon Bugs as he ponders the possibility of being duped. Turning back, he is met with Cecil and his cousins, each holding a share of the winnings.

See also

Home media

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References

  1. ↑ "Animator Breakdown: "Tortoise Beats Hare" (1941) |". cartoonresearch.com. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  2. ↑ Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 114. ISBN   0-8050-0894-2.
  3. ↑ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
Preceded by Bugs Bunny Cartoons
1941		Succeeded by


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