A Wild Hare (1940)

. . . of his "Wabbit" hole to smooch Elmer Fudd three times on the mouth in A WILD HARE. The plot of this eight-minute animated short establishes that: 1)Rabbits love carrots, 2)Birds sing in trees, and 3)You can pick up a skunk by its tail WITHOUT getting sprayed. But the rules are constantly changing for Hollywood. They may have done a scene-for-scene remake of PSYCHO, but just try doing the same with such classics as BIRTH OF A NATION or GONE WITH THE WIND nowadays. By the same token, Bugs' Pretzeling of Mr. Fudd's rifle here puts A WILD HARE on the NRA boycott list, along with BAMBI and THE YEARLING. The only way that a major Tinsel Town studio could conclude A WILD HARE today would be with product placement for "Wabbit" jerky!

It's a classic set-up. A round-headed, bulbous-nosed hunter creeps through the woods brandishing his gun, briefly turning to the audience to inform them "Be vewwy, vewwy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits". Coming across a rabbit hole, the hunter begins to dig while from an adjacent hole a grey bunny emerges, casually moseys up to the hunter and, with a breathtaking confidence that suggests he sees the hunter as no threat whatsoever, asks "What's up, Doc?" And cinema history is changed forever.Tex Avery's 'A Wild Hare' not only created a universal superstar in Bugs Bunny but also remains the quintessential Bugs cartoon to this day. Mention the name Bugs Bunny to anyone and 90% of them will immediately picture a rabbit hole in a forest and Elmer Fudd stalking towards it. Not only does 'A Wild Hare' open exactly this way, the first line is Elmer's most famous catchphrase. When Bugs puts in an appearance, his opening line is perhaps the most famous catchphrase of all time. So the scene is set, the template established for a rivalry that will continue for decades. There's enough history in the opening couple of minutes of 'A Wild Hare' to make any serious cartoon fan's heart swell with joy but there's plenty more to recommend it. While it may seem like a comparatively no-frills cartoon for those who grew up watching the many, many variations on this set-up that followed, keep in mind that this was Bugs's debut and these now familiar routines are being tried out for the first time. Bugs has rarely been cooler or looked more handsome than he does in 'A Wild Hare', his nonchalance really striking a chord with audiences and ensuring his place in cartoon history.While there were a handful of cartoons that predate 'A Wild Hare' starring prototype Bugs Bunnys, Avery's cartoon is undoubtedly the first time he was the character we all know and love and, therefore, clearly his official debut. Avery's expert timing, Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan's instant chemistry as Bugs and Elmer and a solid script by Rich Hogan all contribute to creating an Academy Award nominated classic and the smell of history that now lingers around 'A Wild Hare' makes it positively electric. 'A Wild Hare' is an experience to treasure which, for me, will never lose its heart-stopping air of excitement.

On one level, "A Wild Hare" is a historical reference as it was the first teaming of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. But even ignoring that, it's still a hoot, with that "wascawy wabbit" making mincemeat of Elmer.There's just one thing that raises my eyebrows nowadays. Elmer asks about Hedy Lamarr, Barbara Stanwyck and Olivia de Havilland. Did six-year-old children in 1940 know who those women were, cuz I sure didn't recognize those names when I was six.Oh well, it's still a great cartoon. Always a classic. And it sure wasn't the wast time that that wascawy wabbit twicked Elmer Fudd.Olivia de Havilland. Just yesterday, I saw "The Adventures of Robin Hood", and let me tell you: she looked hot in those dresses!

Here is Tex Avery's magnificent film in which we are first introduced to a brownish-gray colored hare named Bugs, although we really don't hear his name spoken in this film. Yet that immortal phrase, "What's Up Doc???" is here, and Bugs is a sly, bold, incredibly smart woodland creature outfoxing that "wovable" hunter, Elmer Fudd. No more wacky prototypes. Bugs is at last fleshed out the way he should be. I appreciate his "Dad" and "Grandpa" very much. Someone's dream wouldn't have come true without them and our star might never have been born without them. Nevertheless, the star is Bugs Bunny!!! And after this film, he was well on his way to becoming what he is today.Thank you Tex Avery!!!