Russian Rhapsody (cartoon)

Infobox Hollywood cartoon
cartoon_name = Russian Rhapsody

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series = Merrie Melodies
director = Robert Clampett
story_artist = Lou Lilly
animator = Rod Scribner
Robert McKimson
Manny Gould
voice_actor = Mel Blanc
musician = Carl Stalling
producer = Leon Schlesinger
studio = Leon Schlesinger Productions
distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures
release_date = May 20, 1944 (USA)
color_process = Technicolor
runtime = 7 min, 04 sec
movie_language = English
imdb_id = 0037236

After "Falling Hare" turned into a big hit in 1943, Bob Clampett made another Wartime cartoon involving gremlins, called "Russian Rhapsody" a Merrie Melodie, released to theaters on May 20, 1944. The original title of this cartoon was "Gremlins from the Kremlin.", but producer Leon Schlesinger changed the title when Disney began making its own wartime short about Gremlins, and asked other studios to not produce films about them. In "Falling Hare", Bugs Bunny was the victim, whilst in this short the victim (and main character) was Adolf Hitler.__NOTOC__

Synopsis

German Bombers are failing to make it to Moscow in World War II, so Adolf Hitler decides to personally fly a bomber to attack the Russians. On the way there however, the "Gremlins from the Kremlin" sneak onto the plane, and without Hitler's knowledge, begin to dismantle it.

Hitler eventually finds out about the gremlins, and tries to retaliate. He fails, and the gremlins succeed in throwing him out of the plane. Realizing the plane catching up to him, he tries to hide, but is hit. The short ends with the gremlins celebrating in victory, and Hitler remarking, in Lew Lehr fashion, that "Nazis is the craziest peoples!".

Production

Many of the Gremlins are parodies of the Warner Brothers cartoon staff. The style of caricature is reminiscent of a 1936 Christmas Card from the staff, as drawn by T. Hee. Among the recognizable gremlins are Chuck Jones, Robert Clampett, Friz Freleng, Melvin Millar, Michael Sasanoff, Leon Schlesinger, Michael Maltese, Henry Binder and Ray Katz. Freleng and Binder are also referenced during the fake German rant at the beginning of the cartoon.

The ending of this cartoon was referenced directly in the South Park episode Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants (2001) in which, in a homage to American World War II cartoons, Bin Laden is mocked in a similar way like Hitler. When Osama survives a dynamite explosion he remarks: "Terrorists is the craziest peoples.", a parody of the final line of "Russian Rhapsody".

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xs8TVkJSUc "Russian Rhapsody"] on Youtube
* Internet Movie Database article at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037236/]
* Big Cartoon Database article at [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/244-Russian_Rhapsody.html]