French Rarebit

French Rarebit is a 1951 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies animated short, directed by Robert McKimson and written by Tedd Pierce.^[2] Released June 30, 1951, the cartoon features Bugs Bunny.^[3] The title is a play on "Welsh rarebit", which is also known as "Welsh rabbit".^[4]

French Rarebit
Title card for French Rarebit
Directed by	Robert McKimson
Story by	Tedd Pierce
Produced by	Edward Selzer John W. Burton
Starring	Mel Blanc (all other voices) Tedd Pierce (Louis)[1]
Edited by	Treg Brown
Music by	Eugene Poddany Milt Franklyn
Animation by	Phil DeLara Emery Hawkins Charles McKimson Rod Scribner
Layouts by	Cornett Wood
Backgrounds by	Richard H. Thomas[1]
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	June 30, 1951 (1951-06-30)
Running time	7 minutes (one reel)
Language	English

Plot

In Paris, France, Bugs Bunny finds himself amidst a culinary quandary after a delivery mishap lands him in the bustling streets. Two competing French chefs, Louis and François, both set their sights on turning Bugs into a gourmet delicacy for their respective restaurants.^[4]

Amidst the chaos of their culinary rivalry, Bugs cleverly manipulates the situation to his advantage, inciting a humorous conflict between the chefs as they vie for ownership of the unwitting rabbit. Employing wit and cunning, Bugs navigates the escalating fracas with ease, ultimately orchestrating a comical showdown in the kitchen.

As Bugs cunningly evades his would-be captors, he playfully suggests tantalizing recipes and culinary techniques, leaving the chefs bewildered and bemused. In a final act of culinary whimsy, Bugs concocts a daring plan to outwit the chefs, culminating in a comedic explosion that leaves both Louis and François unscathed but humbled.

Amidst the chaos and laughter, Bugs delivers his trademark quip, expressing a preference for a simpler fare than the culinary escapades of Parisian cuisine.

Home media

The short can be found (uncut) on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2. This short was also included as a bonus feature on the Blu-ray release of Gay Purr-ee.^[5]