Russian Rhapsody (S)

Russian Rhapsody is a 1944 Merrie Melodies animated short subject. Made during World War II, the film mocks Adolf Hitler, showing him defeated by "gremlins from the Kremlin." The wordplay symbolizes the Soviet Union, a vital ally of the Allied forces. After Falling Hare turned into a big hit in 1943, animation writer and director Bob Clampett made Russian Rhapsody which was released to theaters on May 20, 1944. The original title was Gremlins from the Kremlin, but producer Leon Schlesinger changed the title to "Russian Rhapsody" when The Walt Disney Company began making its own wartime short about gremlins. In Falling Hare, Bugs Bunny was the victim, while Hitler is the victim and main character in this film.