A Feud There Was

"A Feud There Was" was a 1938 Warner Bros. cartoon short in the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Tex Avery and written by Melvin Millar, and notable for being the first cartoon in which the name Elmer Fudd was used. The Elmer depicted here was the beginning of a transition from Warner's earlier character, Egghead. Elmer's speaking voice was provided by Arthur Q. Bryan, although the voice did not resemble the more familiar "cwazy wabbit" voice which would also be done by Bryan. Elmer's singing voice was provided by Roy Rogers and additional vocals in the cartoon were done by the Sons of the Pioneers.

ynopsis

Two feuding families of stereotypical hillbillies, the Weavers and the McCoys, spend their time taking potshots at each other. At one point, a McCoy asks if there are any Weavers in the movie audience. One man, shown as a silhouette against the screen, answers in the affirmative, and the McCoy takes a shot at him.

In the midst of the fray, a yodeling, bulbous-nosed, domestic peace activist enters the feud zone on a motorcycle bearing a sign "Elmer Fudd, Peace Maker", and goes to each side preaching peace and an end to wanton bloodshed. Neither side is impressed, and when Elmer attempts once more to preach peace to both families, both sides get furious at him and open fire on Elmer together. When the smoke clears, only Elmer is left standing. He gives a final yodel and says "Good night, all!", and the Weaver in the movie audience yells "Good night!" and takes one more shot at Elmer.

Links

*Big Cartoon Database entry at [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/4491-Feud_There_Was.html]
*Internet Movie Database entry at [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030129/]