The Music of What’s Opera, Doc?
A look at the musical score of one of the most popular cartoons ever made – What’s Opera, Doc?
Introduction
The Music of What’s Opera, Doc? is a 1957 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on June 8, 1957, and stars Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. In the cartoon, Bugs Bunny appears as multiple characters from various operas while singing “The Ride of the Valkyries”, as he tries to avoid being shot by Elmer Fudd, who is hunting him for deer season.
The Music of What’s Opera, Doc? is considered one of Jones’ greatest works, and is also notable for its use of classical music. The short was added to the National Film Registry in 1992.
What’s Opera, Doc?
What’s Opera, Doc? is a 1957 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short is considered to be one of Jones’ best works, and is a parody of the opera Carmen. It was released on March 28, 1957, and stars Elmer Fudd as the opera singer and Bugs Bunny as the director.
The Plot
What’s Opera, Doc? is a 1957 American animated short film directed by Chuck Jones. It features Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in a parody of Wagners Der Ring des Nibelungen. The music for What’s Opera, Doc? was composed by Carl Stalling and sung by Mel Blanc.
In the film, Bugs Bunny (dressed as the Valkyrie Brunnhilde) tries to avoid being captured by Elmer Fudd (dressed as Siegfried), who is hunting rabbits with a spear. After a series of misadventures, including being flung into the air by a geyser and chased by a bear, Bugs finally escapes by taking refuge in a cave. When Elmer follows him inside, he finds himself surrounded by Brunnhildes opera friends (a flock of singing Valkyrie birds). After being chased out of the cave by the birds, Elmer is finally captured by Brunnhilde and her friends, who tie him up on top of a burning pyre.
The Music
The “What’s Opera, Doc?” cartoon is set to the music of Richard Wagner’s opera Ride of the Valkyries, from the opera Die Walküre. The character Elmer Fudd sings lyrics specifically created for the film which poke fun at opera in general and Wagner’s works in particular. Fudd’s singing voice was provided by Arthur Q. Bryan, who had previously worked with director Chuck Jones on several other Warner Bros. cartoons.
The Characters
The main characters in “What’s Opera, Doc?” are Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Brunhilde. Bugs Bunny is the main character, who plays the role of Siegfried in the movie. Elmer Fudd is the second main character, who plays the role of Hunding in the movie. Brunhilde is a minor character, who plays the role of Sieglinde in the movie.
Conclusion
In this episode, as in most of his cartoons, Bugs Bunny is completely in control. The hunter Elmer Fudd is no threat to him. In fact, it is Elmer who ends up being humiliated, first by being cast as the comic relief and then by being blasted off stage by a cannon. In What’s Opera, Doc?, however, Bugs Bunny does not just outwit Elmer Fudd; he also gently mocks him. After all, what could be more absurd than a grown man chasing a rabbit around with a spear?
Bugs Bunny may be a trickster, but he is also a good sport. When Elmer finally catches up to him at the end of the cartoon, Bugs gives him a hug and a kiss. “I knew you’d get me in the end,” he says. “That’s the whole idea of opera.”
