“What’sa up-a, doc-s?”
1492: The King of Spain and Christopher Columbus discuss the shape of the world.
Title In opening
Hare We Go is a 1951 Merrie Melodies cartoon starring Bugs Bunny and directed by Robert McKimson.
Chris insists that the world is round, but the King keeps countering that it’s flat. Literally kicked out of the chateau, along with his precious globe, Chris encounters Bugs, who offers to help him in his attempt. With land nowhere in sight, Hilarity Ensues.
Santa Maria Tropes Log:
- Anachronism Stew: Beginning with the baseball (which is eventually covered in location decals) and catcher glove. Also note the photograph of a modern city Bugs uses to trick one of the sailors into thinking they found land.
- Artistic License – History: This cartoon perpetuates the common misconception that Columbus was out to prove the Earth was round, which in actuality was a widely accepted belief at the time; what was in dispute was whether there was a practical western passage to the Indies (and Columbus didn't even prove that).
- Bowdlerization: When this cartoon aired on ABC's The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show, the part where the King hits Columbus on the head with a mallet to prove that the Earth is flat was cut.
- The Blade Always Lands Pointy End In: The tip of a burly crewman’s first dagger gets lodged right on the door to the bunks Bugs is set to open. The second dagger is covered by Door Judo.
- Claiming Via Flag: When rations run short, Captain Columbus tries to make a meal of the rabbit. The chase is interrupted when the ship runs aground. Realizing that they've landed on the New World, Bugs exults, "Bugs Bunny discovers America!" However, Columbus brought the Spanish standard, and has planted it on a nearby hill. "Oh, Bugs-a Bunny? Who'sa discover America?" Shrugging off the slight, Bugs takes the loss well: "No sense changing all the history books just for little ol' me."
- Door Judo: Bugs opens the door to the ship’s quarters just as the burly crewman’s second dagger hits.
- Famous for Being First: Played for Laughs. Bugs joins Christopher Columbus on his journey to circle the Earth, and prove the world is round. When the crew deserts Columbus (thanks to that rabbit), the two characters are all that remain. Hunger drives Columbus to try to eat the rabbit, but the chase is interrupted when the ship runs aground. Bugs Bunny realizes where they are, and gloriously proclaims, "Bugs Bunny discovers America!" His elation is tempered by Columbus, who has planted the royal standard of Spain on the shore. "Oh well," muses the bunny, "No sense changing the history books just for li'l ol' me."
- Gilligan Cut: Bugs announces to the crew that they reach land tomorrow, after hearing it from Chris. The Fade Out and Fade In to the next scene has a Title In reading Weeks Later No Land in Sight, followed by the enraged crew chasing Bugs all over the ship.
- Gratuitous Italian: “Cacciatore, belladonna, antipasto!” We can make an educated guess as to what Chris really wanted to tell his crewmates.
- Hat Damage: And hair damage, as Chris emerges from the ship’s quarters with the second blade firmly in his hair and the tip firmly on his headpiece.(pissed) “Who’sa the wise-a guy?”
- Historical Domain Character: Christopher Columbus, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela
- Meat-O-Vision: Chris looks at Bugs and sees his dinner — right up until Bugs throws a bucket of water on him.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Queen Isabela looks and talks like Mae West.
- The Runt at the End: After Bugs tricks them by placing a painting of an island on the ship railing, the crew jump overboard, with one half-pint trailing behind that Bugs has to help up the railing.
- Shout-Out:
- The baseball round the world gag is recycled from the Porky Pig cartoon "Kristopher Kolumbus, Jr".
- Chris' assertion that the Earth "she'sa round, she'sa firm, she'sa fully packed!" paraphrases the slogan for Lucky Strikes cigarettes, which was often quoted in the Warners cartoons.
- Spexico: Mel Blanc voices the King of Spain with the same accent he uses for Mexican characters like Speedy Gonzales.
- Superstitious Sailors: Chris' crew believe that rabbits on board are bad luck, despite Chris countering that they are actually good luck.
- Visual Pun: As Bugs opens the door that takes him out of the mess hall and the bowl of chow lands upside down in front:“Well, if it’s the Captain’s Mess… let him clean it up!”
- Word, Schmord!: Chris in response to Queen Isabela’s proposition:“All the time-a prove-a! Prove-a, schmove-a!”
