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Great American Chase, The (1979)
- Beep beep!
- No, you don't. Be it pleasures and palaces Though I may roam Be it ever so humble There's no place like home Be it ever so humble There's no place like home How do you do? Nice of you to drop by me humble abode. My name is Bunny. Bugs Bunny, Esq., to be exact. One of the back bay bunnies, back bay of Brooklyn, that is. I have also been known by other flattering names. For instance, I'm called "that rascally rabbit"... by a certain E., Elmer Fudd... who has spent many fruitless and rather frustrating years chasing me. I have also been know as... "that ornery, carrot-eating varmint"... by a certain Yosemite Sam, who for some reason hates rabbits. I can't imagine why. What started all this chasing? When was the very first chase? In order to answer that question... we'll have to swing back in time a little bitty bit. In the beginning, all was peaceful and quiet. Quite dark, too. Once in a while, a star exploded... but usually it was just a small one... only a million miles or so in diameter. Anyway, nobody complained, which was odd... until you realized that there wasn't nobody around to complain. So for about 15 or 20 billion years... things went along smoothly and pleasantly. Until one day... very deep in a sixth-rate galaxy called the Milky Way... circling around a fourth-rate star called the Sun... on a tenth-rate planet, a strange creature appeared. A strange creature called man. I'll take it. And so Neanderthal person quickly invented the first chase... and the first competition... and the first love... and the first women's lib. And the first domesticity and the first boredom. And so Neanderthal persons, in order to alleviate boredom... invented the first graffiti. What's on the wall tonight, dear? Same old stuff. Westerns, sitcoms, soaps. And, so, the invention of boredom... led to the invention of moving pictures. But after about 25,000 years of this... and having developed severe cricks in their necks... man and woman became bored again... even with all those brilliant, ultramodern, innovative ideas... like the first motion-picture cameras. I'm kind of tired of documentaries. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a few laughs myself. And, so, it came to pass that comedy was invented... and comedy begat pratfalls... and custard pies... and double takes. But most of all, comedy begat chases. And chases begat chases and chases... and chases and chases... until the mind boggled us. And then one day... another strange and historic creature appeared. Me. Okay, rabbit, now I've got you. What's up, doc? So you see, that's how chases began... and that's how I came into the picture... just a mild mannered forest creature... shy, easily frightened. A quiet-living rabbit am I. And yet... I guess in a way... I am an unusual rabbit on account of... Instead of having hundreds of children... like your ordinary run-of-the-mill rabbit... I had several fathers. Fathers with odd names, like Tex Avery... Friz Freleng, Chuck Jones... and Bob McKimson. The ones who directed most of me pictures. Fathers like Tedd Pierce... Warren Foster... and Mike Maltese, who wrote most of me biography. And, of course, a father named Mel Blanc... who had thousands of voices... and was nice enough to give me one of them. This show you're gonna see now... is about what just one of those fathers did with me and me cartoon associates. An animation director... who goes by the unlikely name of Chuck Jones. And old Chuck seemed determined... to get poor little old me into outer space, too. Gad! What a night! I'll never mix radish juice and carrot juice again. I hope the lake's warmed up a little this morning. 10, 9, 8... The hole seems long this morning. ...3, 2, 1, fire! Holy cow! I thought I'd never reach the top of this. Who plugged up the hole? Why, the sun ain't even out yet. No wonder I'm so sleepy. Yikes! What was that? Ask a silly question. Something tells me I should have stood in bed. Where the heck am I, anyways? Wherever it is, I don't like it... and I'm getting out of here. Maybe that character wearing a spittoon can help me. At last, after 2,000 years of work... the Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator. Pardon me, sir, but could you... At long last, my dream come true. Hey, doc, wait! I wanna ask you something. Pardon me, doc, but could you rent me a U-drive flying saucer? I've got to get back to the Earth. The Earth? The Earth will be gone in just a few seconds. Don't bother, then. No point in wasting money on a flying saucer... when the Earth's not gonna... Clang! Pardon me again, doc, but just what did you mean... by that crack about the Earth being gone? I'm going to blow it up. It obstructs my view of Venus. It does? That's a shame. Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom. The Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator! That creature has stolen the space modulator! Delays, delays. Capture that creature... and return the Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator. That's that. Oh, dear. Now, I shall have to create more Martians. This Martian hot rod better get at least a million miles to the gallon. The Earth ain't just across the street. Oh, goody! My Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator. Back to the old drawing board. Boy, it's really wonderful to be back in civilization. Run for the hills, folks, or you'll be up to your armpits in Martians. As you can see, being a rabbit is not just a bed of carrots. But other people, if you want to call a duck people... had close encounters with that little Martian, too. As the ensuing, gripping... and nerve-tingling drama now demonstrates. I have sent for you, Dodgers, because we are facing a crisis. The world's supply of Illudium Phosdex, the shaving cream atom... is alarmingly low. Now, we have reason to believe... that the only remaining source is on Planet X. Somewhere in this area. And you want me to find Planet X, is that it? Can you do it, Dodgers? Indubitably, sir. Because there's no one knows his way around outer space... like Duck Dodgers... in the 24th and a half century! Are you ready, eager young space cadet? I'm all set, your heroship, sir. Then make way for Duck Dodgers... in the 24th and a half century! Oops! Had the silly thing in reverse. And now, then, eager young space cadet... here is the course we shall pursue to find Planet X. Starting from where we are, we go 33,600 turbo miles due up. Then, west in an astro-arc deviation to here. Then, following the great circle, seven radial loops south by down-east. By astro-astroble to here, here, and here. Then by space-navigable compass to here, here... and then to here and here... by 13-point stratocumulus bearing four million light-years... and thus to our destination. Now, do you know how to reach Planet X? Yes. Oh, sure. I wish you'd explain it to me sometime, buster. Well, it's very simple, sir. If we follow those planets, we can't very well miss Planet X. That's ridiculous. Of all the stupid suggestions. Wait a minute. I think I've got it. I'll just bet that... if we follow those planets, we'll find Planet X. Gad! How do I do it? I don't know. I claim this planet in the name of the Earth. I claim this planet in the name of Mars. - Isn't that lovely? - Look, bud, I've got news for you. I have already claimed this bit of dirt for the Earth. And there just ain't room enough on this planet... for the two of us. I do believe you are right. Little does he realize... that I have on my disintegration-proof vest. You may fire when ready, grizzly. Who? What? Where? When? How? Who? Who? What? Oh, you, huh? Just when I had him going, you had to butt in. - Get back in that spaceship. - Yes, sir, your heroship, sir. Got the drop on you with my disintegrating pistol. And, brother, when it disintegrates, it disintegrates. What do you know? It disintegrated. Happy birthday, you thing from another world, you. Thank you! Well, I guess he's had enough. I'll send him an ultimatum. I'll see what the little stinker is up to on my supervideo-detecto set. That's the last straw! Now, I use my secret weapon! As I was saying, buster... this planet ain't big enough for the two of us. So, off you go! And now this planet is hereby claimed for the Earth... in the name of Duck Dodgers... in the 24th and a half century! Big deal. I don't remember just how Daffy got down from Planet X. Maybe they had to shoot him down. But, anyway, he's back at his old stand... as the Errol Flynn of Duckdom. I remember well the first time he tried to sell himself... as the logical successor to Errol. Join up with me, so joyous and free And away to old Sherwood hie For I'm Robin Hood, and I'm very good At avoiding the sheriff's eye So we'll trip along merrily Over the greensward so gracefully To trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it Trip it up and down To trip it, trip it, trip it, trip it Trip it! Whoops! So trip it up and down I'll ho-ho and ha-ha you, fat Friar. With my trusty quarterstaff! Actually, it's a buck-and-a-quarter quarterstaff. But I'm not telling him that. Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Thrust! Let's see, now. Something amiss here. I'll run through it. Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Thrust! Got it. Now, then. Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Knock it off. How jolly can you get? Prithee, old traveling clown... coulds't thou directest me to Robin Hood's hideout? I woulds't fain join me up with his band of jolly outlaws. Look no further, good Friar, for I am he for whoms't thou seekest. I am Robin Hood! Cut it out. I'm serious. If you don't know where he is, just say so. But honest and truly, I am Robin Hood! Sure, you are. Look, give me a chance, can't you? I'll prove I'm Robin Hood. See yon rich, unwary traveler? I'll rob him of his gold and give it to some poor unworthy slob. That'll prove that I'm Robin Hood. Prithee? Now, then, fatso... watch as I put a cloth yard shaft through his wishbone. I'm watching, jester. Why, I don't know how I could have doubted you. Shall we spend the gold all in one place? Ho-ho. Very funny. Ha-ha. It is to laugh. Yoicks and away! Why, you... Now, then, yoicks and away! Now... I'm sorry, but I can't join you. I'm convinced you're just not Robin Hood. Never mind joining me. I'll join you. Shake hands with Friar Duck. Well, Daffy decided to have one more shot... at the musketeer business. But this time, he got involved with a very mysterious opponent. Namely, well, see for yourself. Stand back, musketeers! They shall sample my blade! Touch! Musketeers? En garde? My blade? Whoever's in charge here... the scenery! Where's the scenery? Stand back, musketeers! They shall sample... my... blade? Okay, have it your way. Daffy duck, he had a farm E-I-E-I-O And on this farm, he had an igloo E-I-E-I-O Would it be too much to ask if we could make up our minds? Dashing through the snow Through the fields we go Laughing all the way Farewell to thee, farewell to thee The wind will carry back our sad refrain One last embrace before we say... Buster, it may come as a complete surprise to you... to find that this is an animated cartoon... and that in animated cartoons they have scenery. And in all the years I've... All right, wise guy, where am I? And I've never been so humiliated in all my life! Look, Mac, just what's going on around here? Let's get organized. How about some scenery? That's dandy. Ho-ho! That's rich, I'll say. Now how about some color, stupid? Hey! Not me, you slop artist! Where's the rest of me? It isn't as though I haven't lived up to my contract. Goodness knows. And goodness knows it isn't as though... I haven't kept myself trim, goodness knows. I've done that. That's strange. All of a sudden, I don't quite feel like myself. I feel all right, and yet I... You know better than that! Well? Sea picture, hey? I always wanted to do a sea epic. Now, Mr. Rembrandt... if you'll kindly oblige with a little appropriate scenery... Over the sea, let's go, men We're shoving right off, We're shoving right off Again? Come here! Give me a close-up! This is a close-up? A close-up, you jerk! Thanks for the sour persimmons, cousin. Now, look, buster, let's have an understanding. Now what? Brother! What a way to run a railroad. Now, then, as I was saying... All right, let's get this picture started. No! Listen, pal, let's discuss this thing sanely. Look, I tell you what. You go your way, and I'll go mine. Live and let live. Right? Right. Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no further delays. So, I shall attempt to entertain you in my own inimitable fashion. Now what? - What are you doing down there? - Down here? What are you doing up there? Down here. Listen, bud, if you wasn't me, I'd smack you right in the puss. - Don't let that bother you, Jack! - Okay, buddy, you asked for it! Oh, brother! I'm a buzzboy! Time to hit the old silk. Geronimo! All right, enough is enough! This is the final, the very, very last straw! Who is responsible for this... I demand that you show yourself! Who are you? Ain't I a stinker? Now, one of the problems I always had with aminators, animators... is that they can't ever seem to tell the difference... between a rabbit and a mole. Very humiliating having to burrow your way... wherever you want to go. And somehow, I always forgot to take that left turn at Albuquerque. Here I am! Just a cotton-picking minute. This don't look like the Coachella Valley to me. I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque. I'll just ask this gent in the fancy knickerbockers. I beg your par... Pardon me, sir, but could you direct me to the shortest route... to the Coachella Valley and the big carrot festival, therein? What's up, doc? Stop steaming up my tail! What are you trying to do, wrinkle it? Let's see, now. Coachella Valley. Then to Las Vegas, San Bernadino... Of course, you realize this means war. Me public. What a gulli-bull. What a nim-cow-poop. Pardon me, Mac. Okay, Toro, whenever you can spare the time. Booby trap. What an imbecile. What an ultra-maroon. Traveling alone can be boring. Personally, I prefer to travel with some foxy little rabbit chick. Like Sophia here. But... I often found myself traveling with that selfsame courteous... even-tempered, unselfish, pushy, self-serving, conceited... self-made favorite of everyone including himself... Daffy Duck. Close sesame. Guard well this treasure, O Hasaan. Or the jackal shall grow fat on thy carcass. No one shall pass Hasaan. Open. Open sarsaparilla? Open Saskatchewan? Here we are. Pismo Beach and all the clams we can eat! What a way for a duck to travel. Underground. Wait a minute. Since when is Pismo Beach inside a cave? I wonder... You know, I just bet we should have turned left at Albuquerque. Then maybe a right turn at La Jolla. We can't be too far off. - So, if we... - It's mine, you understand? Mine! All mine! Get back in there! Down! Go! Mine! What's up, duck? I'm rich! I'm wealthy! I'm comfortably well-off. Open septuagenarian? Open saddle soap? Open sesame? I'm in the money La ta, the money Ah! Redcap. Call me a cab, boy, and be quick about it. I'm a heavy tipper. Quick! Save me, pal. And it's yours! Gorgeous, isn't it? Don't be afraid. Have it appraised anyplace. - Proud punk. - Hasaan chop! Yeah? Chop the rabbit. He brought us here. Me genie, the light-brown hare. O mighty genie! Release me, and I shall grant thee a rich reward. He's lying! Chop him! Hasaan release you, O Master! Thank you, Hasaan. Now, woulds't thou like to have... all this treasure for thy very own? Yes, Master. Hasaan like! Very well. It's yours. I don't know. I have a feeling that Pismo Beach ain't quite this wide. Help! Help, save me, pal! Save me! Help! Hasaan chop! - Help! - Okay, Daff, back here. - What's with you, anyway? - I can't help it. I'm a greedy slob. It's my hobby. Save me! Hasaan chop! Him go that-a-way. - Is he gone? - Yeah. I got rid of him. Boy! I'm rich! I'm wealthy! I'm independent! I'm socially secure! I'm rich! There. I think that's the last of it. Just a quick check to see if I missed anything. What's this? Polished up, it might bring another quick four bits... on the open market. I am the genie of the lamp, O Master. No, you don't! You want my treasure! It's mine, understand? All mine! Down! Go! Mine! Duck, you have desecrated the spirit of the lamp. Prepare to take the consequences. Consequences, schmonsequences. As long as I'm rich. I wonder how that crazy duck ever made out with that genie? What do you know? A pearl! It's mine, you understand? Mine! All mine! Go! Mine, do you hear me? Out! Mine! Oh, brother! Close sesame. I'm rich. I'm a happy miser. I sometimes get the feeling that the entire population of the world... is made up of people who want to shoot, fry, dice... or parboil rabbits and/ or ducks. For instance, old Elmer Fudd... who, like so many other brave sportsmen... never seems really happy unless he's protecting innocent citizens... by shooting dangerous forest animals. Like rabbits and ducks. Be very, very quiet. I'm hunting rabbits. Boy! Rabbit tracks! Bugsy. Bugsy, pal. There's a friend here to see ya. Survival of the fittest. And besides, it's fun. Did someone knock? What's up, doc? Now I got you, you rabbit! Say, doc, are you trying to get yourself in trouble with the law? - This ain't rabbit hunting season. - It's not? No. It's duck hunting season. That, sir, is an inmitigated frabrication. It's rabbit season! - Duck season! - Rabbit season! - Rabbit season! - Duck season! - Rabbit season! - I say it's duck season, and I say fire! - Let's try that again. - Okay. - I'll start it this time. - Right. - Rabbit season! - Duck season. - Rabbit season! - Rabbit season. Duck season! Fire! Okay, this time you start it. Whatever you say. - Rabbit. - Duck! Fire! What's the matter? Everything's upside down. Strange. Can't make heads or tails of things. Hey you! Come back here. What do you know? No more bullets. No more bullets? Laughing boy, no more bullets. No more bullets? Here, let me see that thing. What do you know? One bullet left. One bullet left? - Laughing boy, there was... - I know, I know! Devilishly clever. What's up, doc? Having any luck with those ducks? It's duck season, you know? Just a darn minute. Where do you get that duck season stuff? Says so right over there on that sign. You're so smart. You know what to do with that gun, doc. You're despicable. Yes, you're despicable and pickable... and you're very definitely despicable! How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that! It isn't that... That... Goodness knows it isn't... It's... despicable. "Filet of duck bordelaise maitre d' butter." Yum, yum. "Duck polonaise under glass." "Rabbit au gratin de gelatin under tooled leather." Drool, drool. "Barbecued duck meat with broiled duckbill milanese." Yummy yum. "Chicken-fried rabbit with cottontail sauce braised in carrots." I'm sorry fellows, but I'm a vegetarian. I just hunt for the sport of it. Yeah? There's other sports besides hunting, you know? Anyone for tennis? Nice game. Now you screwy rabbit, you're next. All right, come out or I'll blast you out. For shame, doc. Hunting rabbits with an elephant gun. - Elephant gun? - That's right, doc. So why don't you go shoot yourself an elephant? You do and I'll give you such a pinch! Just wait till I get that screwy rabbit and that screwball duck. What's the big idea? Why don't you look where you... How simply dreadful. You poor little man. Did I hurt you with my naughty gun? Shucks. Well, I... Gypsy, you naughty bow-wow. Stop that. Okay, rabbit, I see through that disguise. Say your prayers. You, too, duck. - Rabbit season. - Duck season. - Rabbit season! - Duck season! Be very, very quiet. We're hunting Elmers. Now here is a gentleman who knows what chasing is all about. He lives in France where all good Americans go when they die. And in France... the onliest reason for chasing anybody is for love. Sacr maroon! Le help! Assistansions! Gendarme! Pouf, Jos. Gendarme can le fix. Thank you, le gendarme. Merci beaucoup, le thanks. Sacr cerise! Le pew! Quelle terrible odeur! Un smell-e-vous fine. I am the bankrupt! Le mew. Le purr. Le pussy ferocious. Remove that skunk. That polecat pole from the premises. A vec! Quelle est-ce? Le belle femme skunk fatale. My little darling. It is love at first sight, is it not? No? Do not come with me to the casbah. We shall make beautiful music together right here. This little love bordel. Now she is seeking for us a trysting place. Touching, is it not? Come, my little peanut of brittle. I will help you. Wait for me. Wait. Where are you, pigeon? I am looking for you. I am going... Huh? I missed, fortunately for you. So now, mon cherie, we can begin life anew. C'est la guerre. Hello, baby. I am the locksmith of love, no? Come, darling. We must be grown up about this thing. Do not run away from the love. Here. What is this? But of course. This little one wish to commit suicide to prove her love for me. What a sweet gesture. Nevertheless, I must prevent it. Saved! Vive I'amour! We die together. I am not dead? No. What's this? Is that you, pigeon? Is that... Pardon grand mama, but have you seen a beautiful young lady skunk? Where are you, pigeon? I am looking somewhere to find you. Rabbit, where are you? Perhaps you have returned in here. Are you here then, golden girl? Who is this? It is you again. What can I do to help you? Why do you lock the... Oh, no! Control yourself, madam. You cannot be in earnest. A joke, yes? No? You know, it is possible to be too attractive. Do you know what that was? The Minute Waltz played in 30 seconds. New world record. There are people who just don't like music, as I found out one day. On a rainy night in Rio A-rink a-dink a-dink What do they do when there is no starry sky Oh, starry sky Where do they go when they can't go for a walk? Do they stay home and talk Or do they sit inside What do they do in Mississippi When skies are drippy And what do they do in Tijuana When they wanna snuggle tight Well... Music-hater. She's a fancy stepper when she dances Go and see her as she capers and prances My gal don't do much talking Dances even when she's walking One and two and three and four She dances all day long My gal is a highborn stepper Ginger with salt and pepper She's a fancy stepper when she dances Go and see her as she capers and prances What's up, doc? Also a rabbit hater. Of course, you know, this means war. - Leopold. - Leopold. - Leopold. - Leopold. Leopold! Leopold. You either hate opera or you love it. I love it. I loved it so much, I took the entire 18 hours... of Richard Wagner's Ring of Nibelung... and squashed it down to seven minutes. Be very quiet I'm hunting rabbits Rabbit tracks. Kill the rabbit Kill the rabbit Kill the rabbit? Yohoto Yohoto Yohoto Yoho Oh, mighty warrior of great fighting stock Might I inquire to ask What's up, doc? I'm going to kill the rabbit Oh, mighty hunter it will be quite a task How will you do it might I inquire to ask? I will do it with my spear and magic helmet Your spear and magic helmet? - Spear and magic helmet - Magic helmet? Magic helmet Magic helmet. Yes. Magic helmet And I'll give you a sample Bye. That was the rabbit. Brunhilde You're so lovely Yes, I know it I can't help it Brunhilde Be my love Return my love A longing burns deep inside me Return my love I want you always beside me Love like ours must be Made for you and for me Return Won't you return, my love? For my love is yours I'll kill the rabbit! Arise, storm! North winds blow! South winds blow! Typhoons! Hurricanes! Earthquakes! Smog! White lightning, strike the rabbit! What have I done? I've killed the rabbit Poor little bunny Poor little rabbit What did you expect in an opera, a happy ending? I will say this for Elmer. He really doesn't want us for food. He just does it 'cause he's a sportsman. That's different than some people who go hunting because they're really hungry... like a coyote for instance, who will eat anything... including me. What's up, doc? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wile E. Coyote, Genius. I'm not selling anything nor am I working my way through college. So let's get down to cases. You are a rabbit and I am going to eat you for supper. Now, don't try to get away. I am more muscular, more cunning, faster and larger than you are... and I'm a genius... while you could hardly pass the entrance examinations to kindergarten. So, I'll give you the customary two minutes to say your prayers. I'm sorry, Mac. The lady of the house ain't home and besides... we mailed you people a check last week. Why do they always want to do it the hard way? Wile E., you genius. You've done it again. - What's cooking, doc? - Rabbit stew. I'm such a genius! Smells mighty good! But there's only one little thing wrong with it. - There is? What? - No rabbit. I'm looking over a three-leaf clover That I overlooked be three Back to the old drawing board. Genius, that's what it is! Sheer genius! Wile E. Coyote. Super genius. I like the way that rolls out. Wile E. Coyote. Super genius. Wile E. Coyote. Super genius. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mud. And remember, mud spelled backwards is "dum." Even a genius gets the message after a while... and realizes that eating rabbit... cooked or raw isn't such a smart idea. Raw rabbit? What a revolting idea. So old Wile E. decided that he'd better pursue something more his size. For instance... How's that for a big production? I'll bet even old Cecil B. De Mille would be jealous of that one. I'm sure old Neanderthal person never envisaged anything like that... when he started that very first chase. But then if he hadn't invented the chase... maybe, just maybe, laughter wouldn't have been invented either... and that, old buddies, would have been a real loss. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe the whole universe will get the idea... and stars and suns, meteors and comets... even galaxies will realize how necessary laughter is... and how much fun chases are. And... And finally, all will once again be peaceful and quiet. Or will it? Yes? Well? After all, credits where credit is due. Eat your heart out, Burt Reynolds. |
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