I. Freleng, Hare Do, USA, 1949
And we end this look back at Bugs Bunny for 2021 and with the first short of 1949.
So we have Bugs being chased by Elmer. Not usual in that, but here Elmer actually has more cunning than previously shown, forcing Bugs to get creative to avoid him. A bit meta too, as the main setting is a theater, with Bugs dragging Elmer into the world of the stage with hilarious results.
Pretty good and keep an eye out for next month as we have a surprising return.
Charles M. Jones, My Bunny Lies over the Sea, USA 1948
Nearing the end and here's the last short of 1948.
Bugs again takes the wrong turn at Albuquerque and ends up in Lomond, Scotland. Mistaking a nearby piper for a woman being attacked by an octopus, Bugs leaps in and smashes the piper's bagpipes. Angus MacRory takes a great deal of offensive at this and starts the traditional chase, only this time with a blunderbuss instead of a shotgun. He does make a point to salvage the spent shot too ("Been in the family for years!")
MacRory finally decides to settle things the Scottish way, via golf. From there it's Bugs VS the game of golf. Who do you think wins?
Good, with Jones hitting all the marks, although I'm a bit disappointed we only got this short with MacRory. He'd show up in a few cameos here and there, but never as a headliner.
Robert McKimson, A-Lad in His Lamp, USA 1948
One of the first shorts where Mel Blanc didn't do all the male voices. Yup, an uncredited Jim Backus plays the genie.
Oh yeah, Bugs finds a genie.
Smokey, as Bugs dubs him, is your typical jerk genie. He mostly complains and refuses to grant wishes, but he does trick Bugs into wishing them back to the genie's home town of Baghdad, where both rabbit and lamp fall into the hands of Caliph Hassan Pfeffer.
Not horrible, and not nearly as racist as some of the previously mentioned shorts, although the portrayal of the Middle East isn't exactly 100% accurate. Everything looks straight from a storybook and all the cultures are pretty much tossed together. The caliph is a bit bland. He's not as violative as Yosemite Sam but he's not as dumb as Elmer, so he's doesn't leave the best impression. The genie is a bigger jerk.
Friz Freleng, Hare Splitter, USA 1948
Pretty good, although the status quo here is a bit different than normal. Brings to mind the Popeye shorts from the same period.
Here Bugs is preparing for a date with his gal Daisy Lou. His neighbor, Casbash (looking like the Easter Bunny from a few years earlier) is doing the same. Naturally Bugs isn't going to let this go without a fight, and so seeing Daisy isn't home Bugs puts on her Sunday best and proceeds to unleash hell against his romantic rival.
Like I said, pretty good, but while Bugs does his bit it just feels off. Seeing Bugs in a love triangle is new. Pity we haven't seen Daisy since then. From what little we glimpse here she looks like she can go toe to toe with Bugs, at least in terms of slapstick.
Robert McKimson, Hot Cross Bunny, USA 1948
Bugs Bunny VS mad science
Yeah, the foe this time out doesn't rate a name. He's just a generic mad scientist. Mad as in irate although he could be considered crazy by the end.
Bugs is in the hospital, serving as experimental rabbit#46. He's pampered and waited on, at least until his times and the Doc needs a subject. Bugs treats the operating theater like a real theater, at least until the doc breaks out the surgical tools. The chase is on.
Pretty good, but the doc is too bland a foe, although his comeuppance at the end is a nice joke to end the short.
The Music of Erich Zann (1980). Dir. John Strysik, Lurker Films
And the Summer of Love(craft) continues! We pretty much hit most of the films and TV, so why not go into the shorts?
Charles M. Jones, Haredevil Hare, USA 1948
And here might be my favorite short we've seen so far. Bugs is chosen (very reluctantly) to go to the moon. He lands, but guess who landed at the same time?
Yup, Marvin the Martian (although not named as such) lands and with his Uranium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator he plans to blow up the Earth. Can Bugs stop him in time?
Wonderful. Marvin isn't dumb like Elmer or an explosive idiot like Sam so the nature of his fights has to be different. Here it feels like Bugs has to work for his victory so that's a plus.
I. Freleng, Bugs Bunny Rides Again, USA 1948
Short version-Bugs VS Yosemite Sam
Slightly longer version-A wonderful send up of Westerns, with easily the best musical ques at this point. Sam is his full fledged self, being an orny gunfighter, with Bugs being the best one to whittle him down. Great music in each set and an ending with the best of use of the 'see ya' gag I've think I've seen at this point.
Friz Freleng. Buccaneer Bunny, USA 1948
Here we met Sea-going Sam (Yosemite Sam as a pirate) as he buries his treasure. His jaunty shanty of Dead Man's chest turning into a rumba aside, things are good, at least until he tries to finish burying the loot into what turns out to be the rabbit hole of our star.
Great Bugs/Sam chase and fight. The setting of a pirate ship is utterly perfect, with Bugs breaking out a perfect Captain Bligh impression and all the ship's trappings used to comedic effect.
Chuck Jones, Rabbit Punch, USA 1948
There haven't been that many boxing shorts, but this is one of the better ones. We open with Battling McGook defending his title against Dyspectic McBlaster. The champ retains but one voice in the crowd isn't happy. Yup, Bugs is in attendance and he hates the unsportsmanlike behavior from the champ.
So naturally the champ decides to yank Bugs into the ring and have another match, right there. He also decides to make it a wrestling match instead of boxing but the short ends with the best breaking of the fourth wall I've seen.
Charles M. Jones, A Feather in His Hare, USA 1948
Rare misstep from Jones. The plot is your typical Bugs gets Chased, except instead of Elmer it's just Ed Wynn done up as a Native American. Not awful, although I suspect they did the Native character so Bugs could do the 'last of the Mohicans' joke at the end.
Robert McKimson, Gorilla my Dreams, USA 1948
Moving into 1948, we open with Bugs adrift in the ocean, with only some carrots and the latest copy of Esquire to keep him company.
He's saved when he nears the shore, but trouble comes up when he nears the island of Bingzi-Bingzi, where the apes live like people. He's saved by Mrs. Gruesome Gorilla, who desperately wants a baby, but Mr. Gruesome is pretty clear he doesn't want one. She decides Bugs would be perfect.
Bugs is a rare treat here. He just goes along with an insane idea and trolls a 500 pound gorilla just because. You have to respect that.
Fritz Freleng. Slick Hare, USA 1947
Caricature cartoons were a staple of the early Warner Bros., with a flimsy plot based around various celebs hanging around. The Looney Tunes crowd did this too, usually based around either nightclubs or bookstores.
Here, Elmer is working as a waiter in Mocrumbo Club. It's a busy night, but it's about to get more so when none other than Humphrey Bogart demands fried rabbit. "What Baby wants, Baby gets" he makes it clear to the hapless Fudd, despite his protests that they're out of rabbit.
In a bind, Elmer is freaking out when he happens to find Bugs, happily munching on some carrots out in the open (which doesn't speak well for the club's health standards). Bugs is most delighted when he hears that none other than Mr. Bogart wants to have him for dinner but that changes quick when he realizes the menu. Can Bugs escape in time? Will Baby have to settle for a ham sandwich?
Darn good, and the use of the celebrities doesn't overwhelm the story (so if you fail to recognize anyone, don't worry.)
Robert McKimson. Easter Yeggs, USA 1947
I'm surprised it took this long to do an Easter themed short. To wit, Bugs is minding his own business when he stumbles across the Easter Bunny. Surely he must be busy, delivering colorful eggs to all the boys and girls, right?
Nope; seems his feet are sore and out of luck, so there just won't be an Easter this year (don't worry folks, he's ok. He just does this every year to get out of work). Well, that won't stand, not with Bugs around! So with basket in hand Bugs goes about his new rounds.
Pity he runs into a dead end kid and Elmer Fudd.
Pretty good with an explosive ending. Keep smiling folks.
I. Freleng, Rabbit Transit, USA 1947
At long last our national nightmare is over. Yes, this is the last and final appearance of Cecil the Turtle. Here, Bugs and Cecil are enjoying a steam bath, with Bugs reading about the tortoise and the hare fable. A race is proposed, with the emphasis on no cheating.
Cecil thus shows how he'll win, namely a rocket propelled shell. Glad to see the tradition of fair play is being kept.
Bugs is at least provoked in this short, but Cecil is just such a jackass (plus wins by cheating, so while a good heel not exactly someone you want to root for).
Bob Clampett/Arthur Davis. The Big Snooze, USA 1946
So with this we end Bob Clampett's career at Warner Bros.
Bugs and Elmer are up to their old tricks (mostly lifting footage from All This and Rabbit Stew, minus the racist caricature) until Elmer gets fed up with always jobbing so he walks out.
Not just the scene, mind you, but his entire Warner Bros. contract. While Elmer is content to fish and sleep, Bugs is in a panic. You can't have much of a chase short if there's no chase, right? So he does the only sensible thing, namely knocking himself and entering Elmer's dreams to mess with him there.
Certainly the most surreal short Bugs ever did at this point.
I. Freleng. A Hare Grows in Manhattan. USA 1947
Moving into 1947 now, and this is a first for Bugs-an adaptation. Yeah, this story was based on a short story that first ran in Coronet back in 1945, in which Bugs detailed his humble beginnings growing up in the rough streets of Manhattan.
The short runs more or less the same. We open with a gossip reporter talking to Bugs about his childhood, who the flashbacks to his carefree days. Bugs, as a youth, is walking through the Lower East Side when a gang of dogs decide to mess with him.
Pity those dogs...
Pretty good and by now they have Bugs' characterization down. He's just going about his day when a stronger foe messes with him and Bugs unleashes pure comic chaos against them.
I. Freleng. Rhapsody Rabbit, USA 1946
Very historical short here. As one, it was the first cartoon aired on Cartoon Network, and two, it shares more than a few similarities with the Tom & Jerry short a Cat Concerto.
As for the short itself, a beautiful blend of classical music and perfectly written slapstick. Bugs is a pianist this time out and he's trying to put on a show, but a mouse keeps interrupting and stealing the show.
Pretty good, although like I said the comparisons between this and the MGM short are too many to just be a coincidence.
I. Freleng. Racketeer Rabbit, USA 1946
Bugs VS Rocky, no, not that one.
Yes, the common gangster often paired up with Mugsy appeared here, but this time he looks more like Edward G. Robinson than the diminutive tough guy he'd be later.
The short is pretty decent. Bugs, seeking drier accommodations, ends up in the hideout of gangster Rocky and Hugo. All he wants is some water and a good night's sleep but what with the goons counting their ill gotten gains and the shooting, well, you understand that this means war...
Great short with plenty and gangster related puns and a neat reference to the 1932 Scarface.
Robert McKimson. Acrobatty Bunny. USA. 1946
Another first, in that this is the first short directed by Robert McKimson.
Bugs is relaxing in his hole, as you do, when a circus sets up shop directly over them. Nero the Lion ends up targeting Bugs when the rabbit takes the elevator up to the surface. Chases scenes aplenty.
Pretty good, although Nero is a bit flat when compared to Elmer or Yosemite Sam. He's still a danger though, so he does provide a decent challenge at least.
Charles M. Jones. Hair-Raising Hare. USA 1946.
One of my favorites. Bugs is menaced by a Peter Lorre-ish mad scientist and Gossamer. Much wackiness ensures and more than a few Groucho walks, plus the best use of "What's up Doc?" seen in the series so far.
Gossamer is a wonderful addition to Bugs' foes. His design is so simple yet nothing is wasted. He's just a big menacing glob of hair and sneakers. Somehow he just works, and the way Bugs beats him is perfectly in character for him.
Frank Tashlin. Hare Remover. USA 1946
And here's the last short Tashlin directed. A Jekyll & Hyde parody, with Elmer playing the mad doctor. The catch is he's trying to transform his test animals into monsters. He's had nothing but failure but why not work with a rabbit? Pity he goes with Bugs as a test subject...
Pretty good, although I found Tashlin's style to be a bit off and too rubbery for my taste.
I. Freleng. Baseball Bugs. USA 1946
A sports themed short this time. Bugs is simply trying to take in a baseball game, the local team the Tea Totallers defending against the Gas House Gorillas. It's a pretty one-sided beatdown on the home team, something that Bugs takes some offense to; so naturally the Gorillas take his heckling personally and make him act as the entire team.
Wackiness ensures
Pretty darn good. Bugs this time is taking on a foe that is an actual threat and even outnumbers him. The Gorillas are a bit flat as far as characterization goes, but they get the job done.
Charles M. Jones. Hare Tonic. USA 1945
Another Bugs/Elmer short but a bit more focused this time out. Elmer is heading home after buying a rabbit for supper. Bugs is flattered, but not keen on the idea, as you can well imagine. Once home, Bugs turns the tables rather quickly on the unsuspecting Mr. Fudd and torments him throughout the short.
What works is the extent Bugs messes with Elmer and what has to be the lengthiest fourth wall break I've seen in a Warner Bros. short.
Charles M. Jones. Hare Conditioned. USA 1945
Now this is Jones showing us what he's capable of, at least in regards to Bugs.
Here we find find Bugs working as a display model in Stacey's Department Store. The manager informs him that they won't need him to advertise camping equipment anymore. No, he's moving up-right to brand new desk.
Bugs is fine with this, at least until what he learns what taxidermy means. This kicks off the chase that lasts the whole short.
Pretty good, and Jones really works with the limited animation. The manager is a bit flat but he works in this context. I'd actually think Elmer might have been a better fit, but he works fine enough for this short.
I. Freleng. Hare Trigger. USA 1945
And with this we see the first proper appearance of Yosemite Sam.
Bugs is riding in the baggage car of a train when the meanest, toughest rip-roarinest Edward Everett Horton-est hombre to ever pack a six shooter robs it. Yup, the meanest gun this side of the Pecos makes his proper debut and Bugs finally has a opponent he can go all out against. The end is a wonderful play on the fourth wall too.
Now, having seen a few of these shorts, yeah, they did tend to repeating a few things (Sam tries to commit a crime, Bugs stops him) but with the run time it doesn't make a huge deal.
Frank Tashlin. The Unruly Hare. USA 1945
The first short directed by Frank Tashlin and it's Bugs VS Elmer.
This time out Elmer isn't hunting, rather he's trying to survey the land. Emphasis on trying, as Bugs is taking an issue with Elmer's job as he is plotting the railroad to go right through the rabbit's home. The ending is unusual, in that Elmer wins albeit accidently.
Yeah, Bugs ends up blowing up his home and lays the railroad tracks. No sooner has the last spike fallen than a train passes by. The final punchline is a bit dated though, with Bugs jumping on the train then jumping off, saying civilians should avoid unnecessary travel. 1945 was the year after all.
The overall short is good, although nothing really stands out. The problem with Elmer as the antagonist is clear here, as he isn't villainous enough and in the course of the short he's just trying to do his job and he's otherwise too dumb to really pose a challenge to Bugs.
I. Freleng. Herr Meets Hare. USA 1945
Bugs VS the Nazis.
While that sums it up pretty well, this one sees Bugs taking a wrong turn in New Mexico for the first time and ending up in the Black Forrest, where a certain high ranking German is on vacation.
I'm surprised to see one of the jokes, Bugs dressing as a Valkyrie, was done here first. "Fatso" Goering is pretty much a Nazi Elmer Fudd. They even redid a dressing as Hitler gag from Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips.
Not the worst thing ever, and not nearly as racist as the last war short, but yeah. Rare to see a short age this badly.
I. Freleng. Stage Door Cartoon. USA 1944
And with this we end 1944. The short is pretty basic, with Elmer chasing Bugs into a theater. The rabbit drags Elmer into the show though, including a bold new take on Shakespeare.
Oddly enough, this plot would be redone a few times, but we'll get into those later. Freleng had certainly come a long way. Some of the jokes haven't aged all that well, mostly the Red Skelton references, but Bugs is the proper trickster and Elmer the sap. There's even a prototype of Yosemite Sam as the sheriff, but we'll get to him later.
Robert Clampett. The Old Grey Hare. USA 1944.
This one has Elmer, crying over his repeat failures to get a certain wabbit. A voice from above tells him to keep at it, but Elmer falls asleep and doesn't wake until the far off time of 2000!
Sure, he's ancient when he wakes up but so's Bugs. Plus he has a genuine Buck Rogers raygun! Pity that even old and with lumbago Bugs is still Bugs.
Pretty good, and the idea of Bugs and Elmer having a life long feud is funny considering they had both only been around for a few years at this point. Some of the sight gags didn't age that well, but the back and forth between Bugs and Elmer make up for it.
Robert Clampett. Buckaroo Bugs. USA 1944
Bringing this one back for a second year, we'll be taking a look at the work and life of Bugs Bunny.
This is the few later shorts with Bugs as the villain. As the carrot rustling Masked Marauder, Bugs must square off against Brooklyn's own Red Hot Ryder. The catch is Ryder's horse has more smarts in his shoes that Ryder has total.
Not bad but honestly it falls a little flat. Bugs isn't over the top enough (no sawing Florida away here) plus Ryder is just too dumb to be effective. Yosemite Sam at least has over the top violence to make up for his dumbness. Ryder's just a moron. The William Tell Overture is nice touch though.
As a funny aside, this was the first Looney Tunes to star Bugs and the last short produced by Leon Schlesinger before he sold the whole thing to Warner Bros.
