Egghead Rides Again is a Merrie Melodies cartoon produced by Leon Schlesinger and directed by Tex Avery. It's noted as being the first canonical appearance of the character who would eventually become Elmer Fudd.
Egghead is a small man with a big dream: to be a cowboy. Thing is, in the modern age, there isn't much opportunity for him to pursue his dream. What's more, it's become grating on his landlord, who's kicked him out for making so much noise. In this, however, Egghead stumbles upon an ad in the newspaper for a cowboy needed at the Bar-None Ranch in Wahoo, Wyoming. Egghead immediately leaps at the opportunity to fulfill his dream, and ships himself straight there. Only, it turns out that pursuing his dream may be harder than he initially thought.
The cartoon was released on July 17th, 1937.
Egghead Rides Again contains examples of:
- Cranky Landlord: The landlord who kicks Egghead out of his room at the start of the short. Justified, as Egghead was making a lot of noise and annoying him.
- Getting the Boot: Egghead jumping around his apartment and yelling and whooping annoys the owner of the boarding house so much, he gets kicked right out the front door.
- Human Mail: Egghead gets to the Bar-None Ranch in Wahoo, Wyoming, by mailing himself there in an envelope (like, the kind you put a card or letter in).
- Title Drop: After seeing the ad for the cowboy wanted, Egghead excitedly shouts "Egghead Rides Again!".
- White Flag: When Egghead's bullet hits one of the cowboys instead of just lighting his cigarette, once the smoke clears, we see the cowboy's boots on the ground, and his empty hat floating in the air. The cowboy's arm comes out of the hat, waving a white flag.
