Tortoise Wins by a Hare (1943)

Bugs challenges Cecil Turtle to race, only this time he's wearing an aerodynamic suit like Cecil's. Unfortunately, the gambling ring has bet everything on the rabbit, and Bugs now looks ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Clampett

Writer:

Warren Foster (story)

Stars:

Mel Blanc, Michael Maltese, Tedd Pierce

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Mel Blanc	...	Bugs Bunny / Cecil Turtle / Mrs. Turtle / Narrators / Rabbit Bookee / Rabbit Thugs (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Maltese	...	Various Rabbit Thugs (voice) (uncredited)
Tedd Pierce	...	Various Rabbit Thugs (voice) (uncredited)

Storyline

Bugs challenges Cecil Turtle to race, only this time he's wearing an aerodynamic suit like Cecil's. Unfortunately, the gambling ring has bet everything on the rabbit, and Bugs now looks like a tortoise.

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Plot Keywords:

turtle | telescope | sequel | surrealism | anvil | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Short | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1943 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leon Schlesinger Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The newspaper announcing the race is an altered version of the Chicago Sunday Tribune's front page for November 1, 1942, with the main headline changed to "Hare Races Tortoise Today" and pictures of Cecil and Bugs inserted. The smaller headlines are from the actual newspaper, except for one of the secondary headlines which reads "Adolph Hitler Commits Suicide".

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Quotes

Bugs Bunny: [bitter] Yeah, the turtle always wins. How does he do it? I can't understand it. It's against the laws of nature. Why, it just ain't in the cards. A turtle beating me, a rabbit! A natural speed merchant! Why, I'm in the pink. Yeah, I'm an athlete. I've got an athlete's physi-que. Sure! I've got an athlete's legs. Certainly! I even got athlete's foot. How does that moron do it? I'll find out his secret if is the last thing I ever do! And I will, too.

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Connections

Referenced in Behind the Tunes: Man from Wackyland - The Art of Bob Clampett (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Tain't No Good"
(uncredited)
Music by Guy Wood
Played when Cecil explains to Bugs why he wins
Also played when Cecil is wearing the bunny suit while eating a carrot

User Reviews

Best of the Bugs vs. Cecil trilogy

A hilarious sequel to Tex Avery's Tortoise Beats Hare (1941), the cartoon even starts out with Bugs watching selected film footage of the former cartoon. Bugs is very aggressive here and is determined to do everything in his power to win the race this time. If in the Avery cartoon the roles of Bugs and Cecil were reversed, so that Bugs was the loser and Cecil the heckler, here they literally switch identities. Bugs is dressed like a turtle in a mistaken belief that his "streamlined" shell will make him faster (If you're going to miscast Bugs Bunny as the loser you might as well go all the way with it), while Cecil is dressed like a rabbit because he knows the rabbit underworld has bet heavily on the hare to win and will use whatever means necessary to ensure a rabbit victory. Mel Blanc's acting is especially good here, probably one of his best performances. One standout scene is the passion in Bugs' voice as he draws nearer to the finish line. In an interesting side note, the newspaper that announces the rematch also contains an article in the lower right hand corner labeled "Adolf Hitler Commits Suicide." (Remember, this was 1943.) Were the animators at Warner Bros. clairvoyant? Unfortunately, the ending is censored on most television prints today, so try to see this cartoon uncut on videotape instead.