Friz Freleng's "Hare Brush": Your Thoughts?

The story of this cartoon opens with Elmer showing up at his company during a meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board members are concerned by Fudd's recent behavior. When he hops up onto his chair, produces a carrot and delivers Bugs Bunny's trademark "Eh, what's up doc?" the Chairman decides that Fudd should be committed.

Cut to the next scene at the mental asylum; in which Bugs, while walking past the window of Fudd's room, is lured in by a carrot and the promise of more carrots to come. Fudd then exits and hops to freedom. Bugs remains in the room awaiting the promised carrots.

The Staff Psychiatrist walks in and declares that Bugs is the "worst case I've ever seen". He then gives Bugs a sedative and a post-hypnotic suggestion that he is "Elmer J. Fudd", Millionaire". The suggestion takes and the next day Bugs is released and goes about Fudd's daily routine. His servants pretend nothing is out of the ordinary because the doctor had warned them not to mention Bugs/Fudd's appearance for fear of a relapse.

Director Friz Freleng has given us a twist on the old "Hunter vs. Rabbit" formula. Not a bad idea, but unfortunately the rest of the cartoon is just a succession of hunting gags.

By the time this cartoon was made Freleng had re-assembled his unit following the temporary closure of the WB Cartoon Studio in 1953. Virgil Ross is noticeably absent from this one.

The animators on this cartoon include Art Davis and Ted Bonniscken (who reportedly animated the hypnotism scene). Gerry Chiniquy is said to have animated the rest of the cartoon. His drawing style may be disliked by some, but his work on "Bugs Bunny Rides Again" and "Bad Ol' Putty Tat" stand out from that of other animators who had worked with Freleng,

I always thought that Elmer Fudd had some amnesia caused by being hit with a car durng wabbit (sic)tm hunting and that it was edited out.llllllllthis was the first to have the full orchestrated Merrie Melodie theme.