but the knights, led by Pantsalot, reappear in formation to joust together against Bugs. Bugs calls timeout and builds a glass and cast-iron steam case resembling a tank and a bomber in a nearby blacksmith shop to house himself, his pony, and lance. After emerging, Bugs and the knights charge to each other and end up (off-screen) crashing into each other, rattling the crowd. The cartoon ends with Bugs as "The Smiling Rabbit", selling all of the defeated knights suits of armor and disposing of another carrot in what was Pantsalot's suit ("Ehh, So it shouldn't be a total loss."). Analysis While a parody of the Arthurian legend, the short avoids using familiar names. The ending, however, is clearly based on the final fight in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889), where the knights of England attack the protagonist en masse and fall to him. It is a battle between modern American technology and old English ways. The narrative of the film never explains the arrival of Bugs in this time period. He is simply there. Yet his American ways have a calamitous effect, as did those of Hank Morgan in the original novel, giving this short a dark side. The film also evokes images of the post-war era. For example, the pavilion of Bugs is a military surplus tent with the markings of the United States Army. There are references to Errol Flynn, popular films, Dick Tracy, speakeasies, and bombers. The jousting field is depicted as a typical sports field transferred to the Middle Ages. There is an announcer, a vendor selling programs, a football field, and references to baseball, boxing, and pool. There is also an appearance by a kazoo-using marching band at half-time. The first half of the joust consists of three passes each ending in defeat for Bugs. In the first two, he is sent flying into a wall. In the third and last, he shatters his lance. The second half of the joust is a free-for-all, making use of multiple weapons. In an opening sequence, the two combatants smash each other with clubs to the tune of I've Been Working on the Railroad. Sources References External links 1949 films 1949 short films 1949 animated films Short films directed by Friz Freleng Films set in the Middle Ages Films set in England Merrie Melodies short films Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short films Films scored