Even though cartoons aren't my strong suit, I feel as though I'm required to talk about at least one starring one of the most well known animated characters from the past century: Bugs Bunny. This film (which I've already seen dozens of times) is one of the funniest he has ever appeared in, even though it's incredibly hard to single out just one. It begins with him singing a song from the movie The Time, the Place and the Girl outside the home of an opera singer, Giovanni Jones. The latter is practicing for a big opera concert where he is to perform, but finds it impossible to focus on singing with Bugs making noise outside. He storms out there and destroys Bugs' banjo. In a separate incident, Bugs is playing a harp outside Giovanni's house, which again leads to the opera singer getting frustrated. He slams both ends of the harp down on Bugs' neck, trapping his head inside it. Bugs Bunny, now convinced Giovanni isn't just a music hater but a rabbit hater as well, plans his vengeance. When the night comes for Giovanni's concert, Bugs stands on top of the amphitheater and pounds it with a large hammer, sending strong vibrations down to the stage that make Giovanni fall headfirst into a tuba. Bugs continues to sabotage Giovanni's efforts by filling his throat sprayer with a chemical that causes his head to shrink and voice to become more high pitched. He also poses as an obsessed fan begging Giovanni for his autograph and gives him a stick of dynamite in place of a pen. As Giovanni prepares to perform his last set, Bugs disguises himself as a famed conductor named Leopold, and all the musicians on the ground are fooled. "Leopold" instructs Giovanni to do a series of notes to gauge his singing skill, after which he holds his left hand up high and instructs him to hold a high G note. Bugs leaves his glove floating in the air (while Giovanni continues to sing) so he can order a pair of earmuffs in about 5 seconds. When he returns, he finds the oxygen-starved Giovanni's face turning all different colors until finally the theater collapses on him. As the audience cheers, Bugs notices a large rock sitting on a beam right above Giovanni. He directs the singer to sing the note again, causing it to fall. Finally victorious, Bugs takes out a (new) banjo and begins playing. This short is the very definition of classic. While there isn't really much to comment on because it's so short, Chuck Jones was never short on innovation. Bugs is kind of depicted as someone who doesn't know what actual good music is and does nothing but embarrass himself (at least in Giovanni's eyes) whenever he plays his banjo. Speaking of which, the instrument itself has an undeserved reputation of being the favorite of anti-intellectuals everywhere. Giovanni is made out to be a sophisticate, and lives in a spacious house with a pool, cacti, and abstract sculptures. I realize it's just a cartoon, but it's my habit to analyze everything I watch. Overall, Long Haired Hare is one of the most well made Looney Tunes, and shows how when someone crosses the normally laid back Bugs, he means business.
Review of Long-Haired Hare
