What's Cookin' Doc?

Plot synopsis:
The plot centers on the Academy Awards presentation. The action begins with actual color film footage of various Hollywood scenes (edited from A Star Is Born), narrated by Robert C. Bruce. It leads up to the Big Question of the evening: Who will win "the" Oscar? The film shows the stereotypical red carpet arrivals of stars, as well as a human emcee starting to introduce the Oscar show.
At this point the film switches to animation, with the shadow of a now-animated emcee (and now voiced by Mel Blanc) continuing to introduce the Oscar, and Bugs (also Mel Blanc's voice, as usual) assuring the viewer that "it's in da bag; I'm a cinch to win". Bugs is stunned when the award goes instead to James Cagney (who had actually won in the previous year's ceremony, for Warner's Yankee Doodle Dandy). Shock turns to anger as Bugs declares the results to be "sa-bo-TAH-gee" and demands a recount.
Bugs then tries to make his case by showing clips from Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt (which includes clip of Hiawatha attempting to "cook" the rabbit) as proof of his allegedly superior acting (an inside joke, as the cartoon had actually been nominated for an Oscar and lost). He hurls a set of film cans off-screen and tells someone named "Smokey" to "roll 'em!" Bugs tells the audience that these are some of his "best scenes". Immediately a "stag reel" (with the title card depicting a grinning stag) starts to roll, and the startled Bugs quickly stops it and switches to the right film.
Finally, he pleads with the audience, "What do you say, folks? Do I get it? Or do I get it?" (echoing Fredric March's drunken appeal to the Academy Award banquet audience in A Star Is Born). The emcee asks the audience (in an affected nasal voice), "Shall we give it to him, folks?" and they yell, "Yeah, let's give it to him!" whereupon they shower Bugs with fruits and vegetables (enabling him to briefly do a Carmen Miranda impression)... and an ersatz Oscar labeled "booby prize", which is actually a gold-plated rabbit statue. Bugs is so pleased at winning it, he remarks, "I'll even take youse to bed wit' me every night!" The statue suddenly comes alive, asks in a voice like that of radio character, Bert Gordon, "Do you mean it?", smooches the startled bunny, and takes on an effeminate, hip-swiveling pose. The screen fades out, Clampett's famous vocalized "Bay-woop!" is heard, and the "That's all, Folks!" card appears.

Tags: psychedelic

Review:
I've seen other things just as racist as this and they are not banned..
This is a very good Bugs Bunny episode which is banned because it has some racial references to Native Americans.
I have seen this in other things which have not been banned, so I personally think it was rather silly to ban this.
And anyway, in those days, people did not realise it was racist, they thought it was all right, but now we realize that shorts like this (which include a great deal of others which are way more racist) can insult other cultures.
Personally I am very much agaisnt rascism, but I can watch it in an old cartoon.Aside from all this chatter, "What's Cookin' Doc" is a clever, hilarious and well-animated episode.
It also includes some old live-action clips of Hollywood (because of this I recommend this short to people who are interested in history).
A voice announces the viewers to enter the place where Oscars will be awarded.
We go in and the scene turns to cartoon.
Bugs Bunny waits excitedly behind a curtain, absolutely certain that he will win the Oscar.
When it is awarded to James Cagney, Bugs Bunny is shocked and insulted.
He immediately shows the watching crowd something he has starred in, which is a short short film about him and Hiawatha (the racist part).
What I find very interesting is that the rabbit we meet first has more modern animation, the type in Robert Clampett Bugs Bunny shorts and in the short film with Hiawatha, Bugs Bunny is done in his older animation.
Personally I prefer the first style of animation to Bugs.
Will Bugs win the Oscar..?I recommend this to anyone who does not mind rascism (at all) in a cartoon and people who love Bugs Bunny.
Enjoy "What's Cookin' Doc?"!
What idiot insisted on banning this fine cartoon?.
I found this cartoon under the heading "banned cartoons" on Youtube.
Now if it's true that Warner Brothers DID pull this from circulation because it might be seen as culturally insensitive, then the people responsible for this are total idiots.
While SOME older cartoons are truly insulting and awful in how they depict minorities (particularly awful films featuring the character "Black Sambo"), this one can only be seen as insulting to someone so devoid of a sense of humor and so politically correct that practically nothing is funny to them and everything is offensive.
Sure, this is an Indian (the American-type, not the Apu-type) in the cartoon, but he's the basic Bugs Bunny foil--nothing more and nothing less.
Does this mean that ANY depiction of Indians is forbidden in cartoons unless they are Earth-loving and noble like the film POCAHONTAS--which, by the way, was highly inaccurate and silly in how it portrayed the natives.As for the cartoon itself, I saw this one several times over the years and it's a darn clever one that features an obnoxious Bugs Bunny trying to convince the Oscar people (A.M.P.A.S., by the way) to give him the award for Best Actor.
While I wasn't thrilled with its use of a clip from a previous film, the odd style where Bugs appears in the real world with real people is pretty interesting and worth a look.Don't believe the hypersensitive.
This is a good cartoon and it probably won't offend the average sane viewer..
Plus ca change....
One of the most famous of all Bugs Bunnies, in which our hero believes he's a shoo-in for a Best Actor Oscar.
Behind the comedy is a laceratingly cruel satire.The film opens with a traditional Voice of God introduction to the Oscars, as our narrator shows us the Hollywood sights before showing us the hotel where the event will take place, the crowds awaiting their favourite stars.
Already Hollywood, the entity, the myth is reduced to a series of recognisable signs - the Hollywood Bowl, the Troccadero, the Chinese Restaurant etc.; the stars who exist only as their popular image, cemented in a ghostly pair of feet on some footpath.Bugs is convinced that he will win because he can do impressions of all the stars.
This is a stunningly versatile monologue as Bugs mocks everyone from Jimmy Cagney to Bing Crosby, but surely it's an insolence to think that mere mimicry can be as worthy as a great performance?
But Bugs' point is precisely this - the Awards pretentiously think that they are rewarding high art, when these great actors are locked in stereotype and received image.
They are the sums of their persona.
Bugs IS greater than them because he can do an impression of Cagney AND Crosby; they can only do impressions of themselves.
A list of Oscar winners from the period proves Bugs unerringly right (MRS.
MINIVER, according to Oscar, is a far greater film than CITIZEN KANE.)As a further treat we are shown a clip from Bugs' LITTLE HAIWATHA, in which a bathing Bugs realises that he is about to become rabbit-meat for a placid Indian/Elmer Fudd.
This remarkable clip, stunningly self-reflexive about Hollywood ideology and racism, reveals Bugs' true worth, but for the Academy to reward him would be to admit their own worthlessness and fraudulence.
So they stone him.
He is awarded, however, the first Raspberry, moulded in his own image, which comes to life and kisses him.
This is Hollywood's ultimate insult, but it's eventual proof of Bugs' superiority, his versatility, his embracing of fragmentation and metamorphosis at the expense of rigid, conservative, stereotypical, wholeness.As animation, the short isn't as fleet-footed, violent or versatile as the great Tex Avery masterpieces, but there's a belligerent gaudiness of colour that suits the subject admirably..
Nice Bugs Bunny.
'What's Cookin' Doc' is partly cartoon, partly live action.
First we get a live action introduction to the Academy Awards.
Then we go inside and meet Bugs Bunny who thinks he is up for the Best Actor award.
When the winner is revealed it is not Bugs but James Cagney who takes the honors.
Then we see Bugs explaining why he should have win the award.
To make his point he shows a piece from a cartoon he starred in.I liked this short film, although there were no real laughs.
A lot of smiles and chuckles, especially in how Bugs is mocking the Academy.
There is quite some truth in what is said.
The cartoon is one of the censored (which basically means banned) cartoons since it depicts Native Americans in an offensive way.
I understand why that is, but on the other hand it is quite innocent.
Judge for yourself..
Well, I loved it.
is one of Bugs Bunny's best cartoons overall I am not sure.
But for me it was an interesting and hilarious one.
I personally didn't see anything that offensive in the Hiawatha clip shown or in the overall cartoon(the portrayal of Indians was stereotypical but in my mind it wasn't racist), then again there have been times where it was probably back then but is actually not that bad now, and that was the case for me with What's Cookin' Doc. Not to mention there have been far more blatant cases of this in animation.
The animation is beautifully done, it is very colourful and detailed and Bugs is drawn brilliantly.
The music is full of energy, as is the pacing.
The dialogue is deliciously witty especially with Bugs' mocking, which is unrelenting but funny and somewhat true, and the gags and caricatures(Carmen Miranda is always fun to spot) are imaginative.
Bugs is spot on being arrogant and intelligent(one of the cartoon's funniest moments was his scream), and Mel Blanc's vocals superlative.
In conclusion, I loved What's Cookin' Doc. 9/10 Bethany Cox. Bugs at the oscars.
Bugs Bunny thinks he's gonna win the 'best actor' oscar but is snubbed in favor of James Cagney.
He tries to convince the audience of his point while doing some impressions and showing a clip from Haiwatha's Rabbit Hunt.Self-indulgent to the extend and not a funny moment in this 8 minute short.
It may try to make some points on Hollywood and the Oscars, as a previous reviewer stated, but what it really tries to say is unclear.The movie is banned from tv nowadays because of some racist-related links and impressions, but nothing to get too excited about.Dull.
A great one-bunny show which is unfortunately marred by a poorly chosen Friz Freleng excerpt.
Bob Clampett's 'What's Cookin', Doc?' is a brilliant cartoon with one major flaw.
The premise here is that Bugs Bunny is attending the Oscars, confident that he will win a statuette for best performance.
When the honour is instead bestowed upon James Cagney, Bugs blows his top and attempts to convince the voters to change their mind by showing a clip of one of his previous performances.
This is where the problem comes in.
Up to this point, 'What's Cookin', Doc?' has been a cartoon bursting with Clampett's trademark energy.
The clip Bugs shows to the audience, however, is a poorly chosen extract from Friz Freleng's 'Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt' in which very little happens.
While this perverse choice was likely an in-joke of some kind, the segment from Freleng's cartoon severely slows 'What's Cookin', Doc?' down.This little niggle aside, 'What's Cookin', Doc?' is a marvellous short.
After the success of Chuck Jones's one character Daffy Duck cartoon 'Duck Amuck', a few attempts were made to create a solo vehicle for Bugs, resulting in the lacklustre 'Rabbit Rampage' and 'Baton Bunny'.
This was entirely unnecessary since Clampett had already made the great one-bunny show with 'What's Cookin', Doc?'.
While other characters are seen in silhouette or heard off screen, Bugs carries the bulk of 'What's Cookin', Doc?' entirely by himself with a remarkably energetic, shape-shifting performance.
He impersonates Hollywood stars and pantomimes various acting styles, he shifts from smug, laidback nonchalance to disbelieving, ego-driven frenzy.
Clampett makes this all characteristically beautiful.
Bugs looks amazing here and snaps from one pose to another with breathtaking smoothness.
Clampett tosses in a few of his trademark dirty gags too, one of which is the closing joke of the cartoon.
'What's Cookin', Doc?' is, in part, a masterpiece but its partial brilliance makes the unfortunate interruption from Freleng's uneventful excerpt positively infuriating..
And the Winner Is.....
(1944) *** (out of 4)Entertaining short has Warner Brothers spoofing the Oscars as Bugs Bunny shows up to the award ceremony to pick up a trophy but instead he's beaten by James Cagney.
After losing he demands a re-count and shows a clip from his film HIAWATHA'S RABBIT HUNT.
Overall this is a nice little film, although there's no doubt that it's far from a classic and doesn't rank as one of the best Bugs shorts.
I say that because the film shown within this film is actually so much better and we only get one brief clip from it.
With that said, Bugs does give a good impersonation of a few legends like Edward G.
Robinson and that alone makes this worth watching..
funny and unpleasant to watch.
"What's Cookin' Doc?" probably looked a lot funnier when they first created it, but the racist portrayal of Indians will probably make most people cringe in the 21st century.
Aside from that, there's some pretty funny stuff, as Bugs Bunny hopes to win an Oscar but loses to James Cagney, and tries to make the audience change their mind by showing a short movie starring himself.Watching this cartoon nowadays, I realize that they mentioned people like Edward G.
Robinson.
I don't know whether or not any six-year-old children would have recognized that name in 1944, but I can guarantee that as a six-year-old I wouldn't have recognized that name.Anyway, pretty interesting, but just be sure that you understand the racist portrayal of Indians..
"OK, Smokey, roll 'em!".
"What's Cookin' Doc?" is a good Bugs Bunny cartoon directed by Robert Clampett.
It's Oscar night, folks!
The severely cocky Bugs Bunny is confident that he will win that treasured golden statuette.
When he doesn't, he nearly hits the roof!
Trying to prove that he deserves a recount, he brings along some footage of one of his earlier pictures (1941's "Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt", directed by Friz Freleng).My favorite moments from "What's Cookin' Doc?" include the following.
Bugs tries out various caricatures at his dinner table and later onstage as the Oscar presenter makes a speech.
Bugs does a hilarious scream when the projectionist screens the wrong film.
And Bugs poses as Carmen Miranda (with some appropriate musical accompaniment) when he receives a barrage of fruit.Those of you "old movie" buffs will appreciate the live-action shots of some famous Hollywood hangouts at the beginning of "What's Cookin' Doc?" No, it's not one of the more outstanding Bugs Bunny films, and the stock footage Bugs chose was not his funniest work.
But it's still worth watching..
Bugs Bunny pulls a "Kanye West" at the Oscars .
. on his own behalf, demanding a "recount" when James Cagney's YANKEE DOODLE DANDY beats him out of the statuette he thought he was a cinch to win.
Poor Bugs.
He had no idea how "politically correct" Oscar voting tends to be.
To illustrate his body of work, Bugs shows the gathered Academy Awards voters a clip from LITTLE HIAWATHA, widely denounced as a defilement of Native Americans from the get-go.
Bugs tries for the Big Tobacco voting bloc by following this with the distribution of Cuban cigars.
He even anticipates WHIPLASH to drum up support.
Despite his pains, the animated rabbit gets pelted with rotten vegetables prior to receiving the very first Raspberry Award.
probably came out during an animator's strike, since about half of it is (pretty boring) live action footage, and half of the rest is recycled material.
But since Bugs and Cagney are about the same height, and equally perceived as vocally abrasive, a one-on-one popularity contest between hare and leprechaun would have proved interesting..
Excellent, stunning, magnificent!.
Bugs waits for the award but it goes to a man named James Cagney.
He tells the audience that he should be the star by showing Academy Award Nominee Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt, directed by Friz Freleng.
It shows the Elmer Fudd Hiawatha cooking him in soup, but Bugs manages to jump out of the pot when he realizes he was the rabbit.Of course, James Cagney gives his Oscar to Bugs and it comes to life, kissing Bugs as the cartoon ends.The cartoon was the final one to use the 1942-43 rings, as the next cartoon had a new set of rings and the finalized MERRIE MELODIES logo on opening titles and ending titles.The 1995 Turner "dubbed version" with the altered 1938 end card is available via Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4, via Bugs Bunny: Superstar, along with 8 other cartoons, all in their dubbed versions, except I think 1 which has an unrestored AAP print.
Also, the "dubbed version" is available on Warner Bros.
Home Entertainment Academy Award Animation Collection with other Looney Tunes cartoon.
The cartoon is restored for such DVD releases.The MGM print is available via DailyMotion with red borders on opening and ending rings, as the "dubbed version" had no borders..
WHAT'S COOKIN' DOC?
WHAT'S COOKIN' DOC?
WHAT'S COOKIN' DOC?
WHAT'S COOKIN' DOC?
simply illustrates the recipe for disaster .
. that Warner Bros.' uncanny Looney Tunes prognosticators sniffed out 72 years before the event itself.
Savvy viewers will see at a glance that the rabbit-shaped statuette thrown at Bugs Bunny (along with a generous heap of fruit and vegetables) at the close of DOC, engraved as a "booby prize," denotes the Elephant Party's nomination for U.S. President, Class of 2016.
When James Cagney is announced as the winner of the Main Event here, Bugs immediately screams, "I demand a recount!!" Though the miffed hare had impersonated Edward G.
Robinson and Bing Crosby (among others) earlier, he's never more spot on than in channeling Donald Trump's main quotation from the upcoming Pachyderm Convention in Cleveland.
Trump might be practicing thumping a bass drum right now, as this is Bugs' Step Two in drumming up a riot from his presumed legion of angry supporters.
However, this only elicits the aforementioned produce barrage and booby prize for Bugs in DOC.
Now that we've completed 99%-plus of the journey from DOC to the Tuskers Confab, even lay people can decipher Warner's handwriting on the wall (and it's NOT in Mexico!).