Posts

Posted on

Falling Hare

“Hey, I bet that was… say, do you think that… hey, could thata been a… gremlin?”

Directed by Robert Clampett

Originally, this short was to be called “Bugs Bunny and the gremlin” but Disney told them to stop, as they were making a film called “The Gremlins” based on a book by the amazing Roald Dahl and they alone had the naming rights. That never happened. At least the gremlins would appear in Epic Mickey. What am I doing? As I was saying…

At a U.S. army air field, Bugs is reading atop a bomb. He laughs at the thought of gremlins and their “die-a-bull-icall sab-o-tay-gee.” The bomb he is on starts shaking and Bugs looks at the source. It’s a tiny creature trying to set off the bomb Bugs is on. Bugs suggests he give it a try and only stops at the last moment. Bugs realizes that was a gremlin and gives chase. The gremlin hits him over the head with a mallet and leads him onto one of the planes. While Bugs is searching for him, he starts the plane up. He taunts Bug’s from behind a door (with an unbelievably funny laugh) and Bugs charges time and time again to get at him.

The gremlin opens the door eventually and Bugs runs out of the plane. (Briefly becoming a jack@$$.) He hurries back to the plane and slips out the other door thanks to the banana peels the gremlin left for him. Bug’s manages to stay in the plane, but the gremlin is now trying to crash into some skyscrapers. Bugs narrowly avoids a collision but the plane is now in a nosedive. Bugs completely loses it while the gremlin couldn’t care less. (I guess he doesn’t mind dying. Or he’s invincible?) The plane gets up to “incredible ain’t it?” miles per hour and the wings burn off. Then, a few feet off the ground, the plane stops in midair. The two characters apologize for running out of gas. Dang A cards.

Personal Rating: 4

Posted on

Draftee Daffy

“♪Oh the little man from the dra-aft board is coming to see me!♪”

Directed by Robert Clampett

Daffy is reading the paper and is happy to learn that the U.S. is doing great. (WWII) He dances around and sings patriotic songs. His number is interrupted by a call from the president. The duck’s being drafted. Daffy loses all of his vigor and cries. He tries to keep a look out for the little man who will deliver his letter, but he’s already there. (The little guy is strangely cute. I want a plush toy of him.) Daffy barricades the door and peeks out the upstairs window. He’s there. Daffy puts on a disguise and peeks again. He’s there wearing the same disguise.

Daffy packs up, calls for a flight to the North Pole, and runs to other door of his. The little man is there. Daffy hides in the closet. He’s in there. (Daffy reacts twice to this.) Daffy bolts, leaving the little man with a bomb. The man returns it. After the explosion, Daffy takes drastic measures. He locks the man in a safe, builds a house’s wall around him, and hops on a rocket that is to only be used in case of induction. His ride is a short one and he dies and goes to hell. (For avoiding the draft, I guess.)

Daffy is happy though, as he is rid of the little man. But remember: this is hell. It’s designed to be your worst nightmare. And Daffy’s is having the man around. He chases Daffy (while still holding the letter) into the fiery distance.

Personal Rating: 4

Posted on

A Gruesome Twosome

“Have you two putty-tats met?”

Directed by Bob Clampett

From the title alone, you’d probably never guess this is a Tweety short.

This is the last short with Tweety Clampett directed, and the last one where Tweety is naked. (He may be yellow, but he’s still got no feathers.) Apparently, it’s mating season for cat statues. (Yes, I know that the shadows don’t have to be animated) One female, who actually is pretty hot (and from an avid cat hater, that’s some compliment) has two suitors: A pot-bellied dolt nicknamed Snooks, and a horny Jimmy Durante cat. (None seem like ideal mates to me, but hey, she’s pretty nice to give them a chance.)

While they fight over her, a random dog pops up informing us that he does not belong in the short, but he’s not missing a chance to steal her kiss. My favorite part. Not wanting the titular twosome to fight over her, she tells them that the first one to bring her a bird will win her. (No specific bird? Would a plastic flamingo count?) The two both climb the same telephone pole (oblivious to each other) and find the same bird, Tweety. Upon noticing each other, they fight and Tweety causes them to fall and explode. (Cats do that, right?)

Jimmy decides they’ll have to work together if they want the naked genius. (I’m sure they are both planning a double cross) Their plan? Dress up as the most ridiculous horse in all history. (AKA the phony pony) Tweety isn’t fooled. In fact, he takes a bee out of his… pocket?, (So Tweety’s a marsupial?) slaps it around and shoves it in the costume. Making like the Lone Ranger he has a fun ride, until the cats crash into a tree.

While discussing another plan, Tweety takes a bone belonging to a bulldog, smashes him over the head, and tossing the bone into the costume. The dog runs into it and I’m pretty sure he ends up killing those two gruesomes. Tweety ends the film with his own Durante impression.

Personal Rating: 4

Posted on

Daffy Duck and Egghead

“I’m not crazy, I just don’t give a darn!”

Directed by Tex Avery

Only his second appearance and Daffy is already funnier than most people on TV today.

Before the credits even begin, we see two walnuts. Daffy and Egghead each pop out of one, setting the scene. Egghead is hunting and is quite annoyed when a theater-goer won’t sit down. Egghead politely asks him to sit. He won’t. Egghead shoots him. He hears quacking, and pulls back the reeds to receive a bill bite to the nose. Daffy has joined the picture. Egghead winds up a duck decoy and lets “her” go towards Daffy. He is not amused and throws it back along with a sign. (“Ta’int funny, Mcgee!”)

A random turtle encourages them to duel which Daffy cheats at and gets the turtle shot. Daffy then puts an apple on his head for Egghead to shoot off. Egghead continuously misses. Daffy goes right up to the barrel of the gun and Egghead STILL misses. Daffy gives him a cup of pens, sunglasses, and a “blind” sign. (“Too bad, too bad.”) Daffy leaves to sing “Merry go round broke down” with his reflection.

Egghead fires at Daffy again, but Daffy pulls out a frightening mask, that has the bullets hiding back in the gun. Egghead stuffs some gloves into the gun’s barrel, attaches them to a fishing line and fires. The gloves knock Daffy out and bring back Egghead’s prize. He’s elated. Just then a truck from the insane asylum arrives. The driver takes Daffy and thanks Eggy for the help. Apparently, they’ve been hunting him for awhile now. The key word is “apparently”. The doctor is just as crazy as Daffy and the two “Hoo-hoo” into the sunset. Egghead snaps and joins them.

On a unrelated topic: R.I.P. Bob Hoskins. You were my favorite live-action actor in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

Personal Rating: 4

Posted on

Egghead

Just like Bugs, there was also a proto-Elmer. Just like the proto-Bugs, I consider this fellow a completely different character than the newer incarnation.

Egghead is a little man with a huge bulbous nose. His voice being similar to Joe Penner’s. He eventually would become Elmer. Heck, in one short he was called Elmer Fudd. Egghead may have fallen into obscurity but he can still be fondly remembered. (By some of us.) He stars in “Cinderella meets fella” which is one of “The 100 greatest Looney Tunes.” He also appeared briefly in “Looney Tunes back in Action.” Not only that, but he was in the brilliant “A day at the zoo,” “The Turn-tale wolf,” and our topic for next time: (which will be Friday. I wont make you wait too long) “Daffy Duck and Egghead.”

Posted on

Super Rabbit

“If thar’s anything I hate more than a rabbit, it’s two rabbits.”

Directed by Chuck Jones

In a typical Superman opening, Bugs demonstrates his abilities. We go into his origin story and see Bugs began as a lab animal. Professor Canafrazz (voiced by Kent Rogers) has just created a super carrot. He gives it to Bugs who devours it happily. The prof. tells Bugs that now he has superpowers. Hearing this, Bugs pulls out a newspaper clipping about a man named Cottontail Smith. He’s is in the middle of removing all rabbits from Texas. (I assume that includes hares too.) Grabbing some extra carrots and a costume, Bugs takes off.

As he flies he passes by a random horse (?) and recharges with another carrot. Seems the effects are only temporary. Digest and it’s gone. He lands at Deepinaharta Texas right in the middle of a rabbit stampede. He pulls a Clark Kent and disguises himself just as the villain arrives. Bugs follows along asking what’s going on, while constantly having Smith switch poses. After Smith has taken the place of the horse (and had a feedbag) he realizes what Bugs is. Bugs allows him a shot but he’s bulletproof. He let’s Smith try a cannon. After Bugs quickly recharges he allows Smith to fire. Bugs catches the cannonball and has a quick game of basketball. He even gets his enemies to cheer.  (I just want to point out that my brother who has no real interest in Looney Tunes, constantly chants their cheer. He’s weakening.)

Bugs flies off to think of more tricks. Smith and his horse follow in a plane and charge at Bugs. He simply grabs their plane, thus allowing the momentum to fling the two away. (They also fall back to Earth rather calmly.) Bugs tries to refuel again, but drops the carrots and plummets down himself. He finds that Smith and the horse ate the carrots and are now vastly superior. Bugs figures it’s time for a real super man. He goes into a phone booth and comes out dressed as a marine. With no more time for play he heads out to do his patriotic duty. Off to Berlin!

Bugs really would join the U.S. army as a private. He left many years later as a sergeant.

Personal Rating: 3

Posted on

Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur

“Well, I’ll bet you’re cranky before breakfast, too.”

Directed by Chuck Jones

Happy Birthday to Me! (Tomorrow.) Let’s celebrate with another Looney Tunes short! (I love those.)

As it begins, there is a disclaimer that there is no reason that this short takes place in prehistoric times. It just does. We see our host for this short, Casper Caveman. (I said ‘Casper’ not ‘Captain’.) He’s hungry and that means it’s time to go hunting. After calling for Fido, his pet sauropod. (Heck if I know what species he is!) Coming to a lake, he spies half of the cartoon’s namesake. He decides to eat this duck as it’s his favorite vegetable.

Casper slings a rock at Daffy, but he easily avoids it and gets it to hit Fido in the head. Daffy is safe in the water as there is no swimming allowed. (For cavemen, not ducks.) Casper decides to try elsewhere. (Remember me saying I saw a clip of “Corny Concerto” on Bill Nye? I saw clip of this one on the show too. Of course, I was the only kid in the class who knew that. It’s hard to be me.)

Daffy paints himself on a rock and when Casper clubs it, it gives him a monster headache. Daffy cures him and Casper (quite graciously) puts out a hand to shake. Daffy instead gives him a card advertising the best duck ever! Free to be eaten even! Casper follows many signs only to arrive at a ginormous duck. Really just an inflatable, courtesy of Daffy. (Where he got that had better not be your biggest question.) Casper sums up his courage and stabs it. KABLOOMER! The resulting explosion ends up killing Fido, Casper, and Daffy. (Check it out! Casper the ghost!) Daffy wonders if that was his best idea.

Personal Rating: 3

Posted on

The Bear that Wasn’t

“You are a silly man, who needs a shave and wears a fur coat.”

This short isn’t a Looney Tune. It’s from MGM! (*Screams*, “Withcraft!” “It’s all over.”) Indeed. Why talk about it? It was directed by Chuck Jones and based on a book by Frank Tashlin. Good enough for me.

A bear takes note that the geese are migrating. He knows that this means it’s time to “hibernate.” (Bears don’t hibernate, they just sleep throughout most of winter. Hibernating means your body temperature drops as well.) While he snoozes, a factory is built over the cave he is in. Eventually, Spring arrives and the bear leaves the cave. He is shocked to find what has happened. A coffee/smoke break happens and the bear gets caught up in it. When it ends, the foreman scolds him for not going back to work. Luckily, the bear speaks English and tells him that he’s a bear. The foreman doesn’t believe him.

They keep going to higher authority to tell of the lazy/crazy “man” who thinks he’s a bear. Eventually they reach the president of the place. He tells him that he can’t be a bear, because bears don’t work at factories. He takes him to a zoo to confirm with the other bears. They agree that if he were a bear, he’d be in the enclosure with them. The bear goes back to work at the factory, and continues for quite some time. Eventually, Winter starts again and the bear is sad that he is a man, and therefore can’t go “hibernate.” Freezing, he decides to sleep in a cave anyway. Finally understanding that he is and always was all bear. Our moral is: Just because everyone say’s you are something, doesn’t mean it’s true. A very good moral in my opinion.

Personal Rating: 4

Posted on

Point Rationing of Foods

“Rationing assures everyone of his fair share.”

Yes, this is not technically a Looney Tune. But it was made by Warner Bros. so that is close enough for me.

Interestingly enough, this is what taught me about point rationing. For those of you who don’t know, we’ll start at the beginning. The short tells us that since it is WWII we need to save as much food and tin for our soldiers as we can. That leaves less food for us. How do we share it fairly, so we don’t create our own side war? Point Rationing!

A family would be given a book of stamps that could be exchanged for edible material. Everyone would get 48 points to use for a limited amount of time. Obviously enough, the less scarce the product was, the less points it would cost. And vice versa. Blue stamps could be exchanged for soup and produce, while the red ones could be exchanged for meat. Every store will charge the same number of points to be fair.

The short also shows us an example. A woman is going grocery shopping. Two of the items on her list are peas and dried fruit. The narrator suggest that she substitute green beans for the peas and fresh fruit over the dry kind. The beans can be obtained in a bigger size and the fresh fruit costs no points at all.  I’m proud to say that most of what i know about WWII is from Looney Tunes.

Personal Rating: Seeing as how it’s nothing more than a historical curiosity, it’s a 1.

Posted on

Rocket Squad

“A cop’s life isn’t all b-beer and skittles, you know.”

Directed by Chuck Jones

Our hero’s of this picture are two cops. Joe Monday (Daffy) and Schmoe Tuesday (Porky). Yes, they are smoking cigarettes. It’s stupid how everyone is so scared that they can’t ever show a cigarette in a cartoon. I think non-smokers will know better than to take it up, and kids are smarter than we give them credit for. (Knowledge wise, when it comes to entertainment kids are morons.)

Back on topic. The two are called by their chief to solve a case. They arrive at a building (heavily influenced by “Duck Dodgers in the Twenty fourth and a half Century“) and learn that the Flying Saucer Bandit is on the loose. They take a convenient evaporator that takes them directly to the scene of the crime. The acme clue collector is there, and gives them all the clues it’s gathered. They feed it to a machine which gives them some sheet music. They play it and this leads them to figure out it was George Machree. (the song playing was “Mother Machree”)

They go to the file of known criminals, (among which is Tedd Pierce, Chuck Jones, Eddie Selzer, and my idol: Mel Blanc) This tells them that their suspect is ordering from a sandwich machine. (I want one) You choose a filling, bread, and condiment. (Why is butter an option? Does it go with any of those fillings?) They arrive one minute too late and begin chasing. They find him using some smog as camouflage, and arrest him. Despite the fact he says he’s innocent. They take him to court and wouldn’t you know it? He WAS innocent. Because of the false arrest, the pair are sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Personal Rating: 3