The Hardship of Miles Standish explained

The Hardship of Miles Standish
Director:	I. Freleng
Story:	Jack Miller
Animator:	Gil Turner
Music:	Carl W. Stalling
Producer:	Leon Schlesinger
Studio:	Warner Bros. Cartoons
Distributor:	Warner Bros.
Color Process:	Technicolor
Runtime:	(one reel)
Language:	English

The Hardship of Miles Standish is a 1940 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on April 27, 1940, and features Elmer Fudd.^[1]

The title is derived from the narrative poem The Courtship of Miles Standish.

Plot

Elmer Fudd is messenger John Alden, sent to give Miles' love letter to Priscilla. While delivering the message, however, her house is attacked by Indians, and John is the only one who can save her.

Home media

• VHS - Elmer Fudd Cartoon Festival Featuring "An Itch in Time"
• Laserdisc - The Golden Age of Looney Tunes: Volume 2, Side 9

Notes

• The Miles Standish character is a caricature of comic actor Hugh Herbert and the Priscilla character is a caricature of actress Edna May Oliver.^[2] The short features the voice of Arthur Q. Bryan as Elmer, who also performs the song "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby".
• The prints of The Hardship of Miles Standish on The Golden Age of Looney Tunes LaserDisc had the 1940 ending card replaced with the 1947-48 Merrie Melodies ending card for reasons unknown. Hence no print with the original ending card has ever been released on home video.

Notes and References

1. Book: Lenburg . Jeff . The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons . 1999 . Checkmark Books . 0-8160-3831-7 . 6 June 2020 . 77–79.
2. Book: Beck . Jerry . Friedwald . Will . 1989 . Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons . New York, NY . Henry Holt and Company . 102 . 0-8050-0894-2.