A Feud There Was
Encyclopedia
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, seen inscribed on the side of the scooter driven by the protagonist, otherwise Avery's creation Egghead. This was a minimal first step in the evolution from one to the other. This is also the first Warner Bros. cartoon to be reissued as a Blue Ribbon Merrie Melody
(it was reissued twice: once on September 11, 1943 and again on September 13, 1952). Egghead's speaking voice was provided on this occasion by Arthur Q. Bryan
, although it did not resemble the more familiar "cwazy wabbit" voice which would later be performed for Fudd by Bryan. The character's singing voice was provided by Roy Rogers
and additional vocals in the cartoon were done by the Sons of the Pioneers.
, 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 motorscooter bearing the words "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 the would be peace maker 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!," taking one more shot at the star.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
cartoon short in the Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
series, directed by Tex Avery
Tex Avery
Frederick Bean "Fred/Tex" Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor and director, famous for producing animated cartoons during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He did his most significant work for the Warner Bros...
and written by Melvin Millar, and notable for being the first cartoon in which the name Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd
Elmer J. Fudd/Egghead is a fictional cartoon character and one of the most famous Looney Tunes characters, and the de facto archenemy of Bugs Bunny. He has one of the more disputed origins in the Warner Bros. cartoon pantheon . His aim is to hunt Bugs, but he usually ends up seriously injuring...
was used, seen inscribed on the side of the scooter driven by the protagonist, otherwise Avery's creation Egghead. This was a minimal first step in the evolution from one to the other. This is also the first Warner Bros. cartoon to be reissued as a Blue Ribbon Merrie Melody
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
(it was reissued twice: once on September 11, 1943 and again on September 13, 1952). Egghead's speaking voice was provided on this occasion by Arthur Q. Bryan
Arthur Q. Bryan
Arthur Quirk Bryan was a United States comedian and voice actor, remembered best for his longtime recurring role as well-spoken, wisecracking Dr...
, although it did not resemble the more familiar "cwazy wabbit" voice which would later be performed for Fudd by Bryan. The character's singing voice was provided by Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and additional vocals in the cartoon were done by the Sons of the Pioneers.
Synopsis
Two feuding families of stereotypical hillbilliesHillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
, 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
Silhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
against the screen, answers in the affirmative, and the McCoy takes a shot at him.
In the midst of the fray, a yodeling
Yodeling
Yodeling is a form of singing that involves singing an extended note which rapidly and repeatedly changes in pitch from the vocal or chest register to the falsetto/head register; making a high-low-high-low sound.The English word yodel is derived from a German word jodeln meaning "to...
, bulbous-nosed, domestic peace activist
Peace activist
This list of peace activists includes people who proactively advocate diplomatic, non-military resolution of political disputes, usually through nonviolent means.A peace activist is an activist of the peace movement.*Jane Addams*Martti Ahtisaari...
enters the feud zone on a motorscooter bearing the words "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 the would be peace maker 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!," taking one more shot at the star.