Hyde and Hare

Friz Freleng, Hyde and Hare USA 1955

Thus we end another feature for the year. This time we see the 2nd time Friz Freleng took a stab at the Jekyll and Hyde story. 

Bugs is doing his thing at the park. An nice old fellow has been feeding, so Bugs figures he should do another 'cute bunny' bit if he wants some more carrots. He pushes things though, just straight asking the old fellow if he can come home with him. 

The man, a doctor by trade, is overjoyed. Taking Bugs back to his rooms, he leaves the rabbit in a room while slips into a lab and makes himself a drink. He tries to resist but he downs it. The changes are immediate and the now monstrous man skulks the floor, finding Bugs. 

Bugs, thinking the fellow is simply sick, tries to find the doc, unaware of the man's condition. From there, Bugs and the doc play a game of cat and mouse with a neat twist at the end. 

Overall good, the doc/Hyde bit was rather weak though; why does the doc take Bugs back home? The formula changes him when he drinks, except when it doesn't or when there's another cause for the change. Not very consistent.    

This is a Life?

Friz Freleng, This is a Life? USA 1955

This is Your Life ran on NBC from 1948 to 1961 (the first four on NBC radio) and yup, this is a parody.

If you know the show, then this is hilarious. 

Elmer Fudd, acting as host, talks about the show's special gust of honor, Bugs Bunny. Much to the annoyance of Daffy Duck, who's sitting in the crowd and generally being boorish; much to the irritation to Granny (June Foray). Elmer brings out a special guest for Bugs, namely Yosemite Sam.

From there we watch the highlights from A Hare Grows in Manhattan, Hare Do, and Buccaneer Bunny, and which we see Elmer and Sam are up to the something, but what is it and how can Daffy make it about himself?

Pretty good and the first time we had a short with three on one fight, and the first time Foray voiced Granny. The parody may fly over some viewer's heads today but the humor still holds up. 

Rabbit Rampage

 Charles M. Jones, Rabbit Rampage USA 1955

Sometimes a sequel isn't always a good thing. In 1953, Jones did Duck Amuck, considered one of Daffy Duck's best shorts (and a cameo by a certain rabbit, but June Bugs will be focusing on the staring roles). Why not revist it?

Bugs gets up for work on another Warner Bros. short, but when he sees the artist, he tries to quite. The artist isn't having this so for the next six minutes Bugs is forced to undergo a series of humiliations before he pulls down the ending credit. Elmer Fudd, at the drawing board, is happy he got some payback. 

Not awful, but Daffy is cruel enough to warrant some torment, by now Bugs getting this kind of treatment just comes across as mean but the whole meta thing feels played out as it's same joke as before. 

Disapointing from Jones and Selzer. 

Hare Brush

 Friz Freleng, Hare Brush USA 1955

We open with a board meeting of the Elmer J. Fudd Corporation. Things are grim and only looking worse; as evidenced by the man himself, Elmer J. Fudd, enters. 

He's convinced he's a rabbit. This is concerning for quite a few reasons and thus they have no choice but to commit the man to the Fruitcake Sanitarium. He's there for a while when he spots Bugs happening by. 

One switch later, and Elmer's running free and Bugs is relaxing in bed. The doctors see only a man with the worse case of rabbitistis they've ever seen. Thankful some intensive therapy later Mr. Fudd, millionaire, is cured. 

Just in time for hunting season too!

Not bad, but this was first time Elmer really got one over on Bugs. It never sat right with me, as Bugs seemed too dim and Elmer just comes across as a jerk near the end. 

Sahara Hare

 Friz Freleng, Sahara Hare, USA 1955

The first Sam short of 1955, and the first use of the "Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" as the theme. 

Bugs enters a sandy area. Assuming it's Miami Beach, he goes charging towards the surf. Sometime later, and now thoroughly beaten down by the sun and heat, he admits he may have gotten lost. That's when he runs into Rif-Raff Sam, who does not appreciate some long eared galoot getting footy prints all over his desert. 

Good, even if some of the gags were reused from earielr shorts. Funny enough this parts of this short would be get reused too, but we'll get to that later. 

Sam is in fine form and Bugs uses his stubborness against him perfectly. 

Beanstalk Bunny

Charles M. Jones, Beanstalk Bunny USA 1955

And we greet 1955 with a short from Chuck Jones. 

Daffy, having just traded his cow for some beans, curses his luck and tosses them aside. When they grow into a giant beanstalk stretching up into sky, he changes his mind. When he notices Bugs Bunny's bed tangled in the vines, Daffy kicks him away. On account on this being a 'Jack and the Beanstalk' picture and HE'S Jack.

Bugs opts to follow and where there is a giant beanstalk there's a giant. Elmer in this case, and he's looking for Jack. Bugs doesn't sweat it, and why should he? He's not Jack, pointing to Daffy. 

Jones, Maltesse plus Bugs and Daffy? Perfection. Bugs is at his heroic best, while Daffy and Elmer provide the best foes he can hope for. 

Baby Buggy Bunny

Charles M. Jones, Baby Buggy Bunny USA 1954

Another favorite of mine, and so good the Wayans opted to remake it as Little Man. 

Bugs is minding his own business when it rains pennies from heaven, or to be more accurate fat wads of cash. Bugs doesn't question and lo and behold, someone leaves a foundling baby on his doorstep! An adorable moppet named Finster, who's just overflowing with love. 

And greed, as Finster is also better known as Ant-Hill Harry, notorious bank robber. 

Bugs takes some licks before he figures it out, but when he does Finster is going to wish he stayed on the straight and narrow. 

Wonderful; Bugs is perfectly used here and Finster is a perfect foil. Honestly shocked he didn't get used more, but I suppose the whole 'short adult pretends to be tall baby' had a set shelf life.