I. Freleng. Hare Force. USA 1944
Well, this is the end of June Bugs. I admit feeling a little disappointed and a bit sad. Disappointed, in that I honestly thought I'd be churning out pages of material but I'm finding these shorts a bit harder to write about and sad as the Looney Tunes Show usually signaled the end of Saturday Morning cartoons. After that it was Soul Train and the Lone Ranger.
Bugs, lost in a snow storm, finds shelter in the home of a kindly old woman and her not so kindly mutt Sylvester (voiced by Looney Tunes writer Tedd Pierce). It's hate at first sight and the spend the entire short tricking the other in going outside. The ending is a slight twist that I honestly didn't see coming.
And that's all folks. Will I do this again next year? Maaaaybe.
Tune in tomorrow though as I've other surefire idea that'll blow your socks off.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Monday, June 29, 2020
Hare Ribbin'
Robert Clampett. Hare Ribbin'. USA 1944
After all we've seen we're back to a chase. This time out our chaser is a Russian accented dog with a red bouffant. Lot of gags and some good back and forth, but here the most notable thing is the ending(s).
Yes, plural as the short ends differently depending on which version you're watching. The original one had the dog apparently shooting himself, while the director's cut had Bugs cutting out the middle man and shooting the dog directly.
Yeah, I can see why those got cut. A bit dark for 1944.
After all we've seen we're back to a chase. This time out our chaser is a Russian accented dog with a red bouffant. Lot of gags and some good back and forth, but here the most notable thing is the ending(s).
Yes, plural as the short ends differently depending on which version you're watching. The original one had the dog apparently shooting himself, while the director's cut had Bugs cutting out the middle man and shooting the dog directly.
Yeah, I can see why those got cut. A bit dark for 1944.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips
I. Freleng. Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips. USA 1944
...yeah this one's a hard sit through. Pretty darn racist even by '44 standards, we see Bugs in a war time cartoon.
Bugs, floating in a box somewhere in the Pacific, ends up on a small island. It is sadly occupied by some Japanese soldiers, but Bugs manages to make short work of them thanks to good 'ol American knowhow.
Also racist stereotypes
I realize this was made in 1944, but dang. I mean, even the few good gags get ruined. Bugs appears as a 'Good Rumor' ice cream vendor but tosses out some slurs to the soldiers. Plus the portrayal is sadly keeping in line with the racist propaganda at the time.
I get why this one isn't aired.
...yeah this one's a hard sit through. Pretty darn racist even by '44 standards, we see Bugs in a war time cartoon.
Bugs, floating in a box somewhere in the Pacific, ends up on a small island. It is sadly occupied by some Japanese soldiers, but Bugs manages to make short work of them thanks to good 'ol American knowhow.
Also racist stereotypes
I realize this was made in 1944, but dang. I mean, even the few good gags get ruined. Bugs appears as a 'Good Rumor' ice cream vendor but tosses out some slurs to the soldiers. Plus the portrayal is sadly keeping in line with the racist propaganda at the time.
I get why this one isn't aired.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears
Charles M. Jones. Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears. USA 1944
Winding things down and here we see the return of Chuck Jones and the first appearance of the Three Bears. The Bears were never a huge part of the Looney Toons, but they were different from the usual boneheaded hunters.
Papa is short of height and temper. Mama is long suffering, while Junior is slow witted as his father is angry.
All three bears are starving. Deciding to lure Goldilocks, they decided to brew up some porridge. Sadly all they have in the pantry are carrots, so they make carrot soup. This doesn't get them Goldilocks but it does get them a certain rabbit.
Papa had his heart of Goldilocks, but he'll settle for rabbit stew. Naturally they have to follow the storybook, a fact Bugs uses to his advantage, at least until Mama decides to tenderize him. Turning on the charm, Bugs pitches woo at the severally love-starved ursine, but maybe he would have been better off in the stew pot...
Pretty good and Mel Blanc is clearly having a ball as the abusive pa.
Winding things down and here we see the return of Chuck Jones and the first appearance of the Three Bears. The Bears were never a huge part of the Looney Toons, but they were different from the usual boneheaded hunters.
Papa is short of height and temper. Mama is long suffering, while Junior is slow witted as his father is angry.
All three bears are starving. Deciding to lure Goldilocks, they decided to brew up some porridge. Sadly all they have in the pantry are carrots, so they make carrot soup. This doesn't get them Goldilocks but it does get them a certain rabbit.
Papa had his heart of Goldilocks, but he'll settle for rabbit stew. Naturally they have to follow the storybook, a fact Bugs uses to his advantage, at least until Mama decides to tenderize him. Turning on the charm, Bugs pitches woo at the severally love-starved ursine, but maybe he would have been better off in the stew pot...
Pretty good and Mel Blanc is clearly having a ball as the abusive pa.
Friday, June 26, 2020
Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968)
Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968) dir. Vernon Sewell, Tigon British Film Productions
Also known as five other films. Tigon British films has gotten a bad rep among horror fans, often derided as 'Hammer-lite' but they did managed to get Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff.
Oh, and since this is the summer, yes, the Summer of Love(craft) lives again! Sort of, as this is kind of a version of Dreams in the Witch House, albeit uncredited.
Also known as five other films. Tigon British films has gotten a bad rep among horror fans, often derided as 'Hammer-lite' but they did managed to get Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff.
Oh, and since this is the summer, yes, the Summer of Love(craft) lives again! Sort of, as this is kind of a version of Dreams in the Witch House, albeit uncredited.
What's Cookin' Doc?
Robert Clampett. What's Cookin' Doc?. USA 1944
I believe this might be the second meta cartoon Warner Bros. ever did. Bugs here is himself at the Academy Awards. Bugs is sure he's a shoe-in to win, but sadly he comes up short against James Cagney.
Declaring sabotage, Bugs highjacks the evening and tries to convince the stars in attendance that he deserves the Oscar. He does this mostly by showing highlights from Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt.
Interesting version of Bugs here; not a trickster or villain but rather the Bugs we've seen so far has been an actor playing a role. Daffy and Porky did a similar thing in You Ought to Be in Pictures (1940), although that was more behind the scenes.
Rather surprising at the level of humor. I can't imagine them doing a 'stag reel' gag even five years later.
I believe this might be the second meta cartoon Warner Bros. ever did. Bugs here is himself at the Academy Awards. Bugs is sure he's a shoe-in to win, but sadly he comes up short against James Cagney.
Declaring sabotage, Bugs highjacks the evening and tries to convince the stars in attendance that he deserves the Oscar. He does this mostly by showing highlights from Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt.
Interesting version of Bugs here; not a trickster or villain but rather the Bugs we've seen so far has been an actor playing a role. Daffy and Porky did a similar thing in You Ought to Be in Pictures (1940), although that was more behind the scenes.
Rather surprising at the level of humor. I can't imagine them doing a 'stag reel' gag even five years later.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Little Red Ridding Rabbit
I. Freleng. Little Red Riding Rabbit. USA 1944
Little Red Riding Hood was a surprisingly popular subject for shorts back in the 40's. Tex Avery's take may be the best known, but Friz Freleng's version is certainly a version...to have.
We have an opening of the fable, with Red bringing her grandma a bunny rabbit (guess who?). The Big Bad Wolf is already there, as Granny is working her shift at Lockheed. He has to throw out the other wolves first though. When Red arrives, the Wolf goes through the 'big eyes, ears. etc' but that's because he doesn't want Red. No, he's got his eyes on rabbit stew.
A nice twist on the story. I rather liked Freleng's take on Red. She's a thoroughly obnoxious bobby-soxer who constantly interrupts the story. Even Bugs and the Wolf get sick of her, and that is certainly a different view on things.
Little Red Riding Hood was a surprisingly popular subject for shorts back in the 40's. Tex Avery's take may be the best known, but Friz Freleng's version is certainly a version...to have.
We have an opening of the fable, with Red bringing her grandma a bunny rabbit (guess who?). The Big Bad Wolf is already there, as Granny is working her shift at Lockheed. He has to throw out the other wolves first though. When Red arrives, the Wolf goes through the 'big eyes, ears. etc' but that's because he doesn't want Red. No, he's got his eyes on rabbit stew.
A nice twist on the story. I rather liked Freleng's take on Red. She's a thoroughly obnoxious bobby-soxer who constantly interrupts the story. Even Bugs and the Wolf get sick of her, and that is certainly a different view on things.
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