Gorilla My Dreams is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes theatrical animated short directed by Robert McKimson and written by Warren Foster.[2] The short was released on January 3, 1948, and stars Bugs Bunny.[3]
| Gorilla My Dreams | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | Robert McKimson |
| Story by | Warren Foster |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by | Carl Stalling |
| Animation by | Charles McKimson Manny Gould John Carey[1] |
| Layouts by | Cornett Wood |
| Backgrounds by | Richard H. Thomas |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7:25 |
| Language | English |
The story is a parody of the many jungle films that were prominent in the 1930s and 1940s which often featured gorillas extensively (though not always behaviorally accurately), most notably the Tarzan films. The title is a play on the expression "Girl o' My Dreams". The short featured Gruesome Gorilla, who reappeared in Hurdy-Gurdy Hare and as a boss in Bugs Bunny and Taz Time Busters.
The cartoon was remade in 1959 as Apes of Wrath.[4] The Gorillas later make their appearance in Looney Tunes Cartoons Valentine’s Extwavaganza!, only this time in their most substantial role to date where they are voiced by Fred Tatasciore while still being anthropomorphic as usual.
Plot
editBugs Bunny becomes stranded at sea inside a barrel, where he remains calm while entertaining himself with reading and singing. He then encounters an anthropomorphic society of gorillas in Bingzi-Bangzi, where they exhibit human-like behaviors including family structures, language use, and cultural activities such as reading literature.
Mrs. Gruesome Gorilla, feeling sorrowful about her lack of children and her indifferent husband, finds hope in Bugs Bunny, whom she sees as a substitute offspring. Believing Bugs to be her "baby gorilla," she takes him to their treehouse, leading to comedic situations as Bugs goes along with her maternal fantasies. When introduced to Mr. Gruesome, Bugs tries to fit in by imitating gorilla behavior, resulting in humorous conflicts with the patriarch.
Through a series of adventures, Bugs retaliates against Mr. Gruesome's harsh treatment, leading to a frantic chase. Despite temporary setbacks, Bugs uses his wit and agility to outsmart Mr. Gruesome, ultimately winning the day by swinging from a branch.
Music
edit- "Down Where the Trade Winds Play", uncredited, by Cliff Friend, lyrics by Charles Tobias
- "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals", uncredited, by Raymond Scott
- "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat", uncredited, by Leon René, Otis René and Emerson Scott
- "Sweet Dreams, Sweetheart", uncredited, by Ray Noble
- "Congo", uncredited, by M.K. Jerome
- "Goombay Drum", uncredited, by Charles Lofthouse, Schuyler Knowlton and Stanley Adams
- "Ahí, viene la conga", uncredited, by Raúl Valdespí
- "Hey, Doc", uncredited, music by Edgar M. Sampson
- "Valurile Dunarii (Danube Waves)", uncredited, music by Iosif Ivanovici
Home media
editGorilla My Dreams is available, uncut and restored, on Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2 (Disc 1).
Gorilla My Dreams is available on Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 3 (Disc 1).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Robert McKimson's "Gorilla My Dreams" |".
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 58–62. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Gorilla My Dreams". BCDB. 2012-12-16. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013.
External links
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