The Hare-Brained Hypnotist

The Hare-Brained Hypnotist
Title Card for this cartoon
Directed by	I. Freleng
Produced by	Leon Schlesinger
Animation by	Phil Monroe
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Leon Schlesinger Productions
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corp.
Running time	8 min. (one reel)

The Hare-Brained Hypnotist is a Bugs Bunny cartoon in the Merrie Melodies series, released on October 31, 1942. The cartoon stars Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. This cartoon's plot was re-worked for the 1955 cartoon Hare Brush and its opening music was re-used in the 1946 cartoon Hair-Raising Hare, the 1952 cartoon The Super Snooper and the 1955 cartoon Hyde and Hare.

The title, instead of employing the usual "hare" vs. "hair" pun, is standard spelling, for the expression that indicates thoughtlessness or recklessness. Elmer Fudd permanently goes back to his regular design starting with this cartoon.

Plot

Elmer is reading a book about hypnosis but he bumps into a bear. He hypnotizes the bear into thinking he is a canary. Bugs then asks Elmer, "What's up, doc?". Elmer states he has him right where he wants him and starts to hypnotize Bugs ("Heh, 'Dracula'", the rabbit observes). Bugs fools Elmer by giving him a balloon with long ears and he hears the bear he hypnotized earlier chirping and falls to the ground. Then he chases Bugs and fights over the gun. Then he cries on a tree and Bugs asks what's wrong. Elmer tells him that he (Bugs) won't cooperate when he tries to hypnotize him. Bugs says he will cooperate.

Then, as Elmer hypnotizes Bugs, Bugs hypnotizes him instead, and commands him to be a rabbit. Elmer then starts to act like Bugs, inducing Bugs to act like Elmer (after furiously declaring, "Who's the comedian in this picture, anyway?"), and the role-reversing chase ensues. Bugs then looks for Elmer, who is right behind him. Bugs talks to the audience while chewing three carrots—two of which are in Elmer's hands. Then the chase starts again, until Bugs manages to "un-hypnotize" Elmer. Elmer then runs away and all seems normal. After sneering at Elmer's ability to hypnotize him, Bugs suddenly notices his watch, exclaiming, "I'm overdue at the airport", and proceeds to take off and fly like an airplane. Bugs states "I'm the B-19!" and flies away toward the airport.

Availability

This cartoon can be found on Volume 2 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection.