Devil's Feud Cake

 Friz Freleng, Devil's Feud Cake, USA 1962

Oddly appropriate for Friday the 13th

So it's come to this, another clip show. Yosemite Sam robs a bank and hijacks a plane that Bugs happens to goofing off in (Hare Lift) and steals the plane's only parachute; at least he thinks it's the only parachute. Much to his shock it only contains silverware. 

So naturally he ends up in Hell. The Devil has had his eye on Bugs for a while, so he offers a trade. If Sam can get Bugs, he'll get a pass. Sam ends up in the desert as Bugs seeks shelter in a fort (Sahara Hare). Sam's stubbornness gets him blown up and sent down, but the Devil gives him another shot.

Sam's back and in modern times. He sees Bugs shooting a Roman empire flick nearby and one costume change later (Roman Legion-Hare), Sam tries to off the rabbit. Will he succeed?

Average, I mean the shorts are certainly good but seeing them again does take away their specialness a bit. The wraparound is good and the final gag is better than the short deserves.

Shiskabugs

 Friz Freleng, Shishkabugs USA 1962'

Back to Sam as the foil, although this time out he's Sam the Cook. 

Yes, cook. Serving at the pleasure of the Charles Laughton-esque king, Sam is frustrated when the King complains again. "Everyday the same thing-variety!" what the king wants is hasenpfeffer, and he wants it NOW.

Sam is stumped when Bugs strolls looking for a cup of carrots, then Sam learns that the main ingredient in hasenpfeffer is rabbit...

Decent, but Sam is really the victim here. I'm rather surprised Bugs didn't torment the king instead, since he did start this whole mess. 

This is also the shortest Bugs short made too, so there's that.

Bill of Hare

 Robert McKimson, Bill of Hare, USA 1962

Bugs VS the Tasmanian Devil, again. Which isn't a bad match but the plot does feel a bit run through.

Bugs is on the seaside cooking a meal when the Tasmanian Devil escapes his cage. He wants some rabbit for lunch but thankfully Bugs is a bit smarter than old baggy eyes. The gags are still pretty good, with Bugs tricking Tazzy pretty easy (truck crank for a rotisserie, train tunnel for a moose cave, etc.)

Decent but nothing special. We've seen more elaborate gags in other shorts, but Taz is still a decent foil. 

Wet Hare

 Robert McKimson, Wet Hare, USA 1962

Kicking off 1962 and we have the debut of one of Bugs' lesser-known foes: Blacque Jacque Shellacque. The story itself is pretty basic. All Bugs wants to do is take a shower in the nearby river but local lumberjack Blacque Jacque has dammed the water. His reason? So he can bottle up the river and sell the water at an outrageous price!

Naturally Bugs takes this kind of personal.

Decent; Blacque Jacque is more or less an evil Pepe Le Pew, only he's fixated on dam building than romancing a mis painted cat but he does have a bit more bit than Elmer. Yosemite Sam would be a poor fit here, but I could buy him as a lumberjack. 

Prince Violent

 Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt, Prince Violent, USA 1961

Also known as Prince Varmint, rather odd they'd parody Prince Valiant by this point, but eh, who's complaining?

Sam the Terrible and his elephant are invading whatever country the story is set in, and only Bugs stands a chance of stopping them. Can he stop them? What do you think?

Decent, slight gags are good, if a bit basic. Sam had become a bit cliche by this point but the chemsitry is still there. 

Compressed Hare

 Chuck Jones/Maurice Noble, Compressed Hare, USA, 1961

Bugs VS Wile E. Coyote; I know, again? But while this doesn't break any new ground we still have Wile E. at his arrogant best trying to have Bugs for lunch. The end gag is wonderful bit of escalating madness.

I always enjoyed the few interactions Bugs and Wile E had. Bugs wasn't the Roadrunner but that was what worked, plus Wile E. only talking with Bugs gives him another dimension. 

The Abominable Snow Rabbit

 Chuck Jones, The Abominable Snow Rabbit, USA 1961

Kicking off 1961, we see the last time Chuck Jones would handle Daffy Duck (at least in the theater shorts). 

Bugs and Daffy are taking a vacation, and wouldn't you know it, Bugs missed that turn in New Mexico and took them to the Himalayan Mountains. Daffy is rather put out and tries to leave, but on his travels, he runs into Hugo...better known to the world at large as the Abominable Snowman. 

And there's nothing Hugo wants more in this world than a little baby bunny rabbit of his own. Pity he can't quite tell the difference between a rabbit and a duck with some misplaced sleeves. 

Easily one of Jones' best, especially during this period. Hugo is a slight reworking on Lenny from Of Mice and Men but he still manages to provide some needed danger to the plot.