Robert McKimson, Big Top Bunny, USA 1951
And we end, not only June Bugs 2022 but also the last Bug Bunny short of 1951.
Bugs gets a job at the circus, which doesn't sit with the show's current star Bruno the Slobokian Acrobatic Bear. Things escalate from there.
Okay, but Bruno is kinda of bland as a foil but Bugs holds his own.
I. Freleng, Ballot Box Bunny, USA 1951
Nearing the end of this month and we see another Yosemite Sam short. Sam is running for mayor, which doesn't bother Bugs. What does bother him is Sam's promise to rid the country of all rabbits. Bugs decides to throw his hat into the ring.
Good use of 3 and Bugs and Sam's campaign shenanigans wonderfully play out to a dark horse victory; even if the final gag is usually cut from most broadcasts.
I. Freleng, His Hare-Raising Tale, USA 1951
Another first, this time Bugs hosts his first clip show. We also met Bugs' nephew Clyde (unnamed here though).
The first segment is Baseball Bugs (1946) in which Bugs recalls his stint in the major leagues, which segues into his turn in Vaudeville in Stage Door Cartoon (1944). There was more money in boxing, however, and that brings us to Rabbit Punch (1948).
Bugs also talks about his time as a test pilot in Falling Hare (1943). When his nephew points out that Bugs has done everything but go to the Moon, Bugs corrects him with Haredevil Hare (1948).
Pretty good, and the framing wraparound is fine.
Robert McKimson, French Rarebit, USA 1951
Somewhat of a letdown when compared to the previous short, but still good.
Bugs ends up in Paris thanks to napping in the carrot patch. While strolling past all the sights Paris has to offer, Bugs ends up in the sights of chefs Louis and his rival Francois. Both men want Bugs for dinner.
Ok, but like I said, I found it a letdown. Louis and Francois are too similar both in temper and design. The ploys Bugs uses against them are good, with a few wonderful running gags.
Charles M. Jones, Rabbit Fire, USA, 1951
Arguably the best short Jones ever, or at least the best Bugs Bunny short. The first of the Hunters Trilogy and the first real change in Daffy Duck's personality.
Daffy leads Elmer to Bugs and tries to convince the hunter to shoot Bugs as it is clearly rabbit season.
Or is it duck season?
Wonderful and the verbal sparring between Bugs and Daffy is pure gold. Everything clicks on every level. Daffy found new life here too. Originally Daffy was just daffy, a screwball not unlike Bugs himself. Here? Greedy, conniving, and cowardly in equal measure, Daffy became the perfect foil for Bugs.
I. Freleng, The Fair-Haired Hare, USA, 1951
Yosemite Sam gets a slight resdesign, that's neat.
We open with Bugs just enjoying himself in his home, home being a hole in the ground as per custom. His enjoyment and song is interrupted when Yosemite Sam arrives and builds a cabin over Bugs' home. This causes some problems, taking it all the way to the highest court in the land (in a neat sight gag too). The ruling it that both fellows must share the property, and if one of them passes on the other gets the entire estate.
You can see where this is going. Good back and forth between Bugs and Sam, with Sam growing increasingly menacing yet failing to kill Bugs at the same time.
Charles M. Jones, Bunny Hugged, USA 1951
A slight remake of 1948's Rabbit Punch but different enough to be memorable.
The current champion of the world, the Crusher, is taking on challenger Ravishing Ronald, the De-natured Boy. Despite Ronald's best efforts and his good luck charm (Bugs), the Crusher makes mincemeat out of the challenger.
Not wishing to lose his meal ticket, Bugs enters the ring as the Masked Terror. In a straight physical fight, it's a no-contest, but Bugs then decides to use some strategy; including the single most genius way to pin a wrestler I've ever seen.
Seriously, I am shocked that no one has ever tried to pin someone to mat by using actual pins on their clothes.
I. Freleng, Rabbit Every Monday, USA 1951
Also the very first short to ever air on the Bugs Bunny Show.
Bugs tangles with Yosemite Sam. That could sum it up there, but a bit more detail. Sam is out hunting when he finds Bugs. Bugs, not wishing to be dinner, proceeds to trick and bedevil Sam in an increasing fashion, ending with a perfect stove gag that still kills.
Good and a perfect use of Sam.
Robert McKimson, Hare We Go, USA 1951
Kicking off 1951 for the rest of the month. Here we see another historical short, with Bugs working alongside Christopher Columbus. The crew is more of the antagonists this time, with Columbus being more misguided straight man.
Eh. Not the most offensive short ever, but a let down after yesterday's entry.
Charles M. Jones, Rabbit of Seville, USA 1950
Now this is a way to end 1950.
When they do those best cartoons of all time, this is usualy on the list and it's easy to see why. Much like Stage Door Cartoon, Bugs is being chased by Elmer. The twist is Bugs runs into a fancy amphitheater with Elmer in hot pursuit.
Then the curtain raises, and the orchestra starts play...
What follows is pure delight, with Bugs unleashing mayhem all the tune of Rossini's work. Honestly, a pure joy, which I am struggling not to quote as this would break down into a transcription of the short.
Robert McKimson, Bushy Hare USA 1950
One that isn't shown on TV all that much.
Bugs, due to some hijinks, ends up in Australia. One cameo from Hippety Hopper later, Bugs squares off against a native hunter dubbed Nature Boy.
Yeah. I mean, it isn't as racist as some of the earlier shorts we've seen, but yeah. Nature Boy is about as stereotypical a portrayal as one would see on TV in 1950.
I. Freleng, Bunker Hill Bunny, USA, 1950
Another Yosemite Sam short, but this time its 1776 and Bugs is defending his fort against the Hessian Sam Von Schamm.
Decent, and some good quotes from Sam but this isn't exactly breaking any new ground. The historical setting it nice, and this would be keeping with the theme of Sam's shorts for a while.
Robert McKimson, Hillbilly Hare, USA 1950
Yeah, for a good while America was obsessed with hillbillies. From Lil' Abner to the Ma and Pa Kettle, America seemed to fixate on the backwoods folks, usually in a comedic setting. This would prove to be no different.
Bugs is taking a vacation in the Ozarks when he runs afoul of Pumpkinhead and Curt Martin. The two cousins try to feud with Bugs and they both learn why this is a bad idea.
Bugs is in his element here and the final swing dance he unleashes on the cousins is a masterpiece of timing.
Charles M. Jones, 8 Ball Bunny, USA 1950
We open at the Brooklyn Ice Palace. The local Ice Frolics packs up and leaves, but in the confusion of the move their star gets left behind. Yup, Playboy Penguin gets left behind (and in his second only short too).
Bugs stumbles over the sharp dress bird but when he learns that penguins come from the South Pole, oy; but he promised. No matter how many down on their luck Warner Bros. stars he runs into...
Good. The final joke is a pretty good one and a wonderful way to end the short.
Robert McKimson, What's Up, Doc? USA 1950
Now this is a keeper. The first anniversary short, commemorating Bugs Bunny's tenth anniversary (not counting the pre-1940 shorts).
We open with Bugs chatting with a reporter from the Disassociated Press at his Hollywood home. He recalls his childhood and his getting into show business, plus his first encounter with Elmer Fudd.
Wonderful. I love the take, that Bugs is an actor, and the running gag of the chorus. Beautiful payoff at the end too.
I. Freleng, Big House Bunny, USA, 1950
Second short of 1950 with Yosemite Sam, albeit this time he's Captain Sam Schultz. Not a ship captain this time; no, this time he's the meanest hombre that ever did a bed check.
Bugs, on the run from some hunters, decides to seek sanctuary in the safest place he find; Namely Sing Song Prison and Sam is the number one guard. Sam mistakes Bugs for an inmate and decides to bring the hammer down (never mind that Bugs actually is guilty of trespassing, but never mind)
From there Sam learns that he isn't locked in with Bugs, Bugs is locked in with him. Good, with a perfect slowburn by Sam and his eventual fall all the sweeter.
Charles M. Jones, Homeless Hare, USA 1950
Back to Jones. One of his lesser works, but still a good one.
Bugs is going about his business as you do when a construction worker (unnamed, although Bugs dubs him Hercules) arrives and starts putting up a high rise where Bugs' rabbit hole currently resides.
From there, the worker does everything he can to drive Bugs away and Bugs fights back with his full bag of tricks.
Like I said, a lesser work. It isn't bad, but the whole Bugs defends his home bit was getting a bit stale at this point, and the worker is far too bland of an antagonist. The whole short would be remade in 1954 too, but we'll get to that one later.
I. Freleng, Mutiny on the Bunny, USA 1950
The first Yosemite Sam short of 1950, sort of. Here he is Shanghai Sam but the idea is the same.
Sam lives up to his name though, as his sole crew member escapes the Sad Sack, forcing Sam to go hunting for a new crew, i.e. one person. A certain rabbit wonders by and sees the signs promising a free world trip.
From there things get worse for the captain. Overall pretty good. Sam is the perfect foil and casting him as a ship captain works perfectly, even better than a pirate.
Robert McKimson, Hurdy-Gurdy Hare, USA 1950
Kicking off the year 1950 and we see Bugs getting involved with a hurdy-gurdy.
Which is a string instrument, but the thing Bugs uses is a street organ, but it lacks the alliteration I suppose.
Bugs gets the organ and a monkey to get the change people give, but when the monkey cheats him, Bugs figures he can do the job himself. The monkey, enraged over being fired, gets a gorilla to mess with Bugs. Wackiness ensures.
Ok? Not terrible and it is odd seeing Bugs being so proactive this time out; even if he never gave much thought to needing a job before. The gorilla is a bit bland though.
Charles M. Jones, Rabbit Hood, USA 1949
And now we have the final Bugs short from 1949.
Bugs, feeling a bit peckish, plucks a carrot from a nearby garden. Pity that those are royal carrots, a fact the arriving Sherrif of Nottingham is quick to point out. Much wackiness ensures.
Darn good and a fantastic way to end the year. We see a perfect use of the rule of 3 (Little John's assurance that Robin Hood would soon be there; Bugs tricking the Sheriff 3 times, twice with the King's arrival) and Bugs in full force.
I. Freleng, Which is Witch, USA 1949
Yeah, this is a hard one to get through. We've come so far since the last June Bugs but nope. Here's one that doesn't get a lot of airplay.
Bugs is in Africa when he runs afoul of witch doctor Dr. IC Spots. The doc wants Bugs as an ingredient, Bugs disagrees and that's the show. Basic chase but yeah. There is a reason one doesn't see Dr. IC Spots among the classic Looney Tunes characters.
I will say the joke about Bugs flipping himself to determine which way to go was funny but that's about it.
Charles M. Jones, Frigid Hare, USA 1949
Not one of Jones' best, but cute in its own way.
Bugs takes the wrong turn and ends up at the South Pole. There he runs into Playboy Penguin (unnamed here) and a nameless hunter.
From there Bugs is roped into saving the penguin from the hunter's spear multiple times.
Not awful, but the hunter is an utter cipher who only speaks in grunts. Yosemite Sam would have been a better fit I think. Playboy does alright as a plot device; cute but not cloying. The final punchline is a blast though.
Robert McKimson, The Windblown Hare, USA 1949
Another fable fill in. This time Bugs runs afoul of the 3 Little Pigs.
The Pigs have been reading ahead in their script and they are not keen on losing their homes, however poorly made they are. So they sell the straw house to Bugs for ten bucks.
When the Big Bad Wolf blows it down, Bugs is annoyed, but he picks up a real bargain on a wooden house; which is also blown down.
So Bugs declares war on the Wolf, but is he the real enemy though?
Not bad. The plot twist is neat. I found the wolf to be a bit too dim to be a credible threat, but I liked the fourth wall breakage.
Robert McKimson, The Grey Hounded Hare, USA 1949
Another famous one, and a slight sad one at that. This was the last Bugs Bunny short to air on network TV as the series finale of the Bugs Bunny & Tweety Show, which is a review for another day.
Bugs ends up at a racetrack, annoying the prize runner Gnawbone. While one would think it would be a 'Bugs annoys a bigger character' short, we get a twist. Yeah, the motive here is love.
With a stuffed rabbit.
For those not in the know, greyhounds chase a fake rabbit around the track. When Bugs spots this particular model, however, he falls head over heels and vows to protect his lady love from the beasts bothering her.
Silly but Bugs really sells us on the idea that Bugs is in love with a stuff animal.
I. Freleng, Knights Must Fall, USA 1949
The first time Bugs was in medieval times, so there's that. Bugs ends up annoying Sir Pantsalot and they duel. That's about it.
Rule of 3 is in effect again, and the idea of Bugs beating a knight with steam engine is pretty funny. I suppose that's my biggest problem with the short. It's funny, but nothing we haven't seen before, and Sir Pantsalot is a fairly dull foil.
Charles M. Jones, Long-Haired Hare, USA 1949
And here's one of the best.
Now, I could leave it there but let's dig a bit. We open with Bugs plucking a banjo and singing "A Rainy Night in Rio". Which wouldn't be a problem, except opera singer Giovanni Jones is trying to rehearse for his show that night. He smashes the banjo. "Hmm, music hater" deduces Bugs.
Jones continues, but again he is interrupted. This time Bugs is strumming "My Gal is a High-Born Lady" on a harp. This ends the same. "Hmm, rabbit hater"
Jones tries again, but this time it's a tuba that interrupts. He yanks Bugs through the instrument. At which point Bugs then declares war.
From there Bugs utterly destroys Giovanni in the best way possible. You got a perfect snobs V slobs story with Jones being the snobby opera singer taking on the popular music singing rabbit. Of course, Bugs is kind of doing this right in Jones' backyard, so I can kind of see his point. Also a perfect use of the Rule of 3.
Arthur Davis, Bowery Bugs, USA 1949
Something different at least. We have the first and only Bugs Bunny short Arthur Davis directed, and I believe the first time Bugs tangled with a real person.
Sort of
Bugs is chatting with an old man about the legend of Steve Brody, who jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886. We flashback to that time. Seems Brody was born with a mile wide luck streak, every bit of it bad. So he decides that the thing he needs is a rabbit's foot. Brody heads out to Flatbush to get himself a fresh foot, but Bugs directs him to a swami (himself) with much mayhem ensuring.
Pretty good. Brody is a pretty much a dumb thug, but the way Bugs drives him crazy is hysterical.
I. Freleng, High Diving Hare, USA 1949
Bugs is doing a vaudeville show, with the main event being Fearless Freep. Freep gets waylaid by a storm though, so the show will go on without him.
That doesn't sit will with Freep's number one fan Yosemite Sam however, and he makes it clear he paid for the high diving act so he's going to get a high diving act.
Bugs doesn't ague, although Sam ends up taking the dives instead.
Yeah, this has one joke but it's a good one. The set ups are simple, but the punchlines are perfectly surreal which makes it work.
Robert McKimson, Rebel Rabbit, USA 1949
AKA the gif you've seen a thousand times
Yeah, this one had a resurgence, didn't it? Bugs is checking out the bounties on various animals, but when he learns rabbits are only worth two cents, well, that is an insult that won't stand.
Bugs unleashes hell upon the people, including the famed sequence of him sawing Florida away from the mainland. So he can't be all bad, can he?
A pretty basic story but the joy is watching Bugs start out with vandalism before moving onto wide scale devastation. Odd they move back to Bugs being a vengeful trickster character but a nice change of pace.
Chuck Jones, Mississippi Hare, USA 1949
Continuing from last year, we're still in 1949.
Bugs, due to some misunderstanding, ends up on a South bound riverboat. Disguising himself as a gentleman, including a ticket, he runs afoul of riverboat gambler Colonel Shuffle.
Shuffle and Bugs square off over cards, with Bugs countering the Colonel's five aces with six aces. Naturally this leads to pistols and Bugs easily outmatches the Colonel.
Pretty good and a running gag of Shuffle getting thrown off the boat is great, even if some of the racial jokes aged like milk. Shuffle didn't have much of a career, but I can see way. Even ignoring the racial aspects of the character, he comes across as a slowed down Yosemite Sam. .
