Show Biz Bugs (1957)

Bugs and Daffy are vaudevillians competing for praise from the audience. They love Bugs no matter what; just the opposite for Daffy.

Director:

Friz Freleng

Writer:

Warren Foster (story)

Star:

Mel Blanc

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mel Blanc	...	Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck / Cab Driver / Theatre Manager (voice)

Storyline

Daffy Duck arrives at his vaudeville theatre to learn that Bugs Bunny has been given top billing over him. A competition ensues with Daffy out to get the top billing he deserves to prove that he is the star of the show. However, Bugs seems to be the crowd favorite as Daffy can't seem to best him in dancing, a magic act, juggling or playing musical instruments. This pushes Daffy to extreme measures as he performs a deadly stunt in his final attempt to impress the audience. He drinks some gasoline, some nitroglycerin, some gunpowder, some Uranium-238, lights up and swallows a match, causing him to explode. The audience gives him the acclaim he deserves for his performance, but Daffy (now an angel rising to heaven) "can only do it once".

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Plot Keywords:

bugs bunny | daffy duck character | nitroglycerin | competition | juggling | 

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Genres:

Animation | Family | Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die prominente Ente

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the DVD audio commentary, the song "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady" was intended to be used during the sequence where Daffy showcases some trained birds. A pre-score recording was produced, but not was not used in the final cartoon. Other pre-score music included slightly longer versions of "Tea for Two" and "Jeepers Creepers".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Daffy Duck: [a taxi pulls up to a theatre and Daffy steps out] How much, my good man?
Taxi Driver: Uh, one block, 25 cents.
Daffy Duck: 25 cents? It's robbery, but I'll pay it.

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Alternate Versions

Full uncut version is featured in the 4-disc Looney Tunes box set released in 2004. While the footage in The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie features the uncut version of Daffy's fatal "stunt mixture", it only uses certain skits from the short as opposed to showing the entire film.

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Connections

Featured in Behind the Tunes: Hard Luck Duck (2003)

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Soundtracks

Shave and a Haircut
(uncredited)
Traditional
[Tap-danced by Bugs.]

User Reviews

"Dance, if you're not a coward!"

Fun Bugs and Daffy short directed by Friz Freleng. This one has Bugs and Daffy both performing at a theater, where Daffy is upset to learn that Bugs is getting top billing. When he's told this is because Bugs is the bigger star, Daffy sets out to upstage his rival. A very funny series of gags follows as Daffy tries one thing after another to get over with the crowd. The animation is good, with bright colors and nicely-drawn characters and backgrounds (although the backgrounds are of that slightly sketchy, slightly off-kilter style that was becoming popular in the mid-to-late '50s). Excellent voice work from the great Mel Blanc. The music is bouncy and lively. This is a fun short that any fan of Bugs or especially Daffy will like. The Bugs/Daffy rivalry was rarely funnier than it is here.