Ep 16. French Rarebit
- June 30, 1951
In the Looney Tunes season 1951 episode 16, titled "French Rarebit," viewers are treated to a riotous romp through the French countryside. The episode begins with a group of rabbits enjoying a feast of cheese, when one young bunny named Bugs takes a liking to a particularly pungent variety called Roquefort. He gorges himself on the cheese until he falls asleep, and dreams that he's the French King.
In his dream, Bugs commands his court to prepare a feast fit for a monarch, complete with roast beef, turtle soup, and mountains of Roquefort cheese. But when the cheese is all gone, Bugs becomes desperate to get his hands on more. He sends his chef, a bumbling Frenchman named Francois, on a dangerous mission to steal the secret recipe for Welsh Rarebit from the British King.
Francois, eager to please his new ruler, embarks on the treacherous journey armed with only his wits and a basket of baguettes. He narrowly escapes a pack of hungry wolves and a fire-breathing dragon, but eventually reaches the King's castle.
There, he faces another challenge in the form of the King's tricky jester, who insists on playing a game of wits before revealing the recipe. Francois manages to outsmart the jester and secures the recipe, but his triumph is short-lived when he realizes he's forgotten to write down the crucial ingredient - cheese!
Desperate for a quick solution, Francois turns to Bugs for help. Bugs, as it turns out, has a plan all along. He sends Francois back to the castle with a giant magnet, which he uses to steal all the cheese from the King's pantry. The two return to Bugs' castle triumphantly, greeted by a feast of Welsh Rarebit smothered in Roquefort cheese.
The episode ends with Bugs waking up from his dream, still munching on a hunk of Roquefort cheese. Francois appears, delivering a message from Bugs' doctor to cut down on the cheese. Bugs promptly dismisses the advice and continues snacking, grinning from ear to ear.
Overall, "French Rarebit" is a delightful episode filled with silly hijinks and classic Looney Tunes humor. Bugs Bunny's larger-than-life personality shines through, and Francois provides a perfect foil with his endearing clumsiness and loyalty to his King. The episode is a must-watch for fans of classic animation and anyone who loves a good laugh.
