Racketeer Rabbit

Racketeer Rabbit is a 1946 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng.^[1] The short was released on September 14, 1946, and features Bugs Bunny.^[2][3][4]

Racketeer Rabbit
Directed by	I. Freleng
Story by	Michael Maltese
Starring	Mel Blanc
Music by	Carl Stalling
Animation by	Gerry Chiniquy Manuel Perez Virgil Ross Ken Champin
Layouts by	Hawley Pratt
Backgrounds by	Paul Julian
Color process	Technicolor
Production company	Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc.
Distributed by	Warner Bros. The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	September 14, 1946 (1946-09-14)
Running time	8 minutes
Language	English

Plot

Bugs Bunny seeks shelter for the night and unwittingly ends up in an abandoned gothic farmhouse, which serves as the hideout for two gangsters, Rocky (caricature of Edward G. Robinson) and Hugo (caricature of Peter Lorre). A chaotic series of events unfolds when Rocky and Hugo return, pursued by rival gangsters, leading to a frenzied gunfight inside the farmhouse. Despite the chaos, Bugs nonchalantly interrupts the mayhem to attend to his basic needs before returning to bed.

During a division of the loot from a recent heist, Bugs cleverly tricks Rocky into relinquishing all the money by assuming various disguises. However, Rocky catches on and demands the money back, leading to a confrontation. Bugs outwits Rocky again by posing as different characters, ultimately causing Rocky's humiliation.

In a final showdown, Bugs assumes the role of a gangster and engages in a comedic altercation with Rocky, culminating in Bugs orchestrating a mock police raid. Using his wit and ingenuity, Bugs ultimately triumphs over Rocky, leaving the gangster defeated and fleeing the scene in a panic. Bugs, with a sigh, reflects on the inability of some individuals to handle humorous situations before returning to his carefree demeanor.

Details

When entering the house, Bugs remarks "Huh? Sounds like Inner Sanctum!", a reference to the popular mystery radio program that aired from January 7, 1941, to October 5, 1952. Bugs impersonates Bugsy Siegel and flips a coin like George Raft in Scarface (1932). His Brooklynite accent serves to complete the image of a tough crook.^[3]

The short's copyright was renewed in 1973.^[a]

See also

• List of Bugs Bunny cartoons
• Bugs and Thugs in which Bugs Bunny treats Rocky and Mugsy to hide the villains' routine
• Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas in which Bugs Bunny treats Daffy Duck to hide the villains' routine