''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. The title is derived from the narrative poem ''

The Courtship of Miles Standish ''The Courtship of Miles Standish'' is an 1858 narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about the early days of Plymouth Colony, the colonial settlement established in America by the ''Mayflower'' Pilgrims. Overview ''Th ...

''.

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

* Laserdisc - ''

The Golden Age of Looney Tunes ''The Golden Age of Looney Tunes'' is a collection of LaserDiscs released by MGM Home Entertainment, MGM/UA Home Video in the 1990s. There were five sets made, featuring a number of discs, and each disc side represented a different theme, being ...

'', Volume 2, Side 9 * VHS - ''Elmer Fudd Cartoon Festival Featuring " An Itch in Time"''

Notes

*The Miles Standish character is a caricature of comic actor

Hugh Herbert Hugh Herbert (August 10, 1885 – March 12, 1952) was an American motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches. Career Born in Binghamton, New York, Herbert attended Cornell Univers ...

and the Priscilla character is a caricature of actress

Edna May Oliver Edna May Oliver (born Edna May Nutter, November 9, 1883 – November 9, 1942) was an American stage and film actress. During the 1930s, she was one of the better-known character actresses in American films, often playing tart-tongued spinsters. ...

. The short features the voice of Arthur Q. Bryan as Elmer, who also performs the song "

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" is a popular song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer, written in 1938 for the Warner Brothers movie '' Hard to Get,'' released November 1938, in which it was sung by Dick Powell. The b ...

". *The prints of ''The Hardship of Miles Standish'' on ''

'' 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.

References

External links

* * 1940 films American musical comedy films Short films directed by Friz Freleng Merrie Melodies short films Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short films Films based on works by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Films scored by Carl Stalling 1940 musical comedy films 1940s Warner Bros. animated short films {{MerrieMelodies-stub