Tortoise Wins by a Hare (1943) User Reviews

Why Can't The Rabbit Beat The Turtle?

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 12 February 2007]

Bug is watching a movie about the famous race between "The Tortoise And The Hare." Bugs is frustrated and asks aloud, "Why does he (the turtle) always win?"

Bugs then turns to us, the audience, and explains all the reasons the rabbit should prevail in this contest. He then decides to go and ask (while in disguise, of course) "Cecil Turtle" the secret to his success. Cecil, wise to him from the start, gives him a lot of baloney about "airflow chassis that we turtles are designed with," etc. Bugs buys it, checking all the info out that is printed on blueprints.

Bugs then challenges the turtle to another race, to get the honor of the rabbit back....and that's the rest of the animated short. It was very good overall, even if we knew who was going to win that rematch.

A lesser-praised classic of true inspired lunacy

[phantom_tollbooth · 9/10 · 18 August 2008]

Bob Clampett's 'Tortoise Win By a Hare' is the second in the lesser discussed but underrated Tortoise and Hare series of cartoons. Starring Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle (just as a rabbit is the same thing as a hare in cartoon land, so a tortoise is the same thing as a turtle!), the Tortoise and Hare trilogy were each directed by different people: Tex Avery, Bob Clampett and Friz Freleng. An extract from Avery's classic 'Tortoise Beats Hare' opens Clampett's cartoon as Bugs watches his earlier humiliation by Cecil on a projector. The minute the Avery material switches to the Clampett material it's clear that we're in for a more anarchic ride second time round. The animation as the furious Bugs vents his exasperation is significantly more wacky and is absolutely compelling as a result. Clampett is on top form here, keeping up the crazed pacing throughout and throwing in tons of wonderful detail (my favourite moment is when a disguised Bugs allows the audience the briefest of glances under his disguise as if it were too brilliant for us morons to see through). The more dangerous edge often evident in Clampett's cartoons is in evidence here as a subplot involving the mafia is unveiled, leading to a series of violent encounters for Bugs and a climactic quadruple suicide.

Clampett's take on Bugs was always more aggressive and in 'Tortoise Win By a Hare', with frustration thrown into the mix of character traits, Bugs is positively psychotic! Many cartoon fans have rejected the Tortoise and Hare series simply because they cannot accept Bugs as the loser but I always find it refreshing when Bugs is out-heckled once in a while and it's a joy to see Clampett milk all the painful laughs he can out of Bugs' frustration and anger. With its insane script, 'Tortoise Win By a Hare' is a cartoon that only Clampett could have pulled off and in his hands this risk-taking, anarchic piece becomes a lesser-praised classic of true inspired lunacy.

Bugs Bunny decides to debunk a Fable . . .

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 19 February 2016]

. . . or take down a Legend during TORTOISE WINS BY A HARE. After losing his Umpteenth race against a turtle, Bugs disguises himself and interviews his competition to learn why rabbits are such losers. Bugs finds out that it's mostly because bunnies are so much dumber than turtles. To prove this point, the tortoise turns his greatest handicap--a cumbersome shell--into an advantage. He convinces Bugs that the shell provides an aerodynamic "modern design stream-lined edge" compared to the wind-resistant excess baggage of rabbit ears. This revelation prompts Bugs to outfit himself with a Heavy Metal shell--about the only racing load more burdensome than a turtle shell. To make matters worse, Bugs does not tell his fellow hares--who have bet serious carrots on his promised success--about this Switcheroo. To top it off, the tortoise dons a rabbit suit mid-race. Therefore, even when Bugs over-achieves and nears the finish line in the lead, half of his rabbit brothers waylay and pummel him, while the other half carry the turtle-in-a-rabbit-suit across the finish line for another tortoise triumph.

Best of the Bugs vs. Cecil trilogy

[Markc65 · 10/10 · 31 March 2002]

A hilarious sequel to Tex Avery's Tortoise Beats Hare (1941), the cartoon even starts out with Bugs watching selected film footage of the former cartoon. Bugs is very aggressive here and is determined to do everything in his power to win the race this time. If in the Avery cartoon the roles of Bugs and Cecil were reversed, so that Bugs was the loser and Cecil the heckler, here they literally switch identities. Bugs is dressed like a turtle in a mistaken belief that his "streamlined" shell will make him faster (If you're going to miscast Bugs Bunny as the loser you might as well go all the way with it), while Cecil is dressed like a rabbit because he knows the rabbit underworld has bet heavily on the hare to win and will use whatever means necessary to ensure a rabbit victory. Mel Blanc's acting is especially good here, probably one of his best performances. One standout scene is the passion in Bugs' voice as he draws nearer to the finish line. In an interesting side note, the newspaper that announces the rematch also contains an article in the lower right hand corner labeled "Adolf Hitler Commits Suicide." (Remember, this was 1943.) Were the animators at Warner Bros. clairvoyant? Unfortunately, the ending is censored on most television prints today, so try to see this cartoon uncut on videotape instead.

Mel Blanc's Finest Hour (Six Minutes?)

[daniel-persons · 16 November 2004]

Hilarious triple inversion not only of the original fable, but the previous Looney Tunes lampoons, this effort is a little more grounded than such Clampett monuments as "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery" and "The Big Snooze." As a result, it shows how the director, restrained from throwing out all the surrealistic stops, could channel his energy into a dizzyingly twisty plot.

Above and beyond that, this cartoon is worth tracking down for Mel Blanc's masterful and startlingly moving voice performance. From Bugs' near-hysterical outburst as he realizes he's winning to his heartbreaking chastisement of his so-called supporters ("You FOOLS! You FOOLS! I'm the RABBIT!"), this cartoon, all on its own, demonstrates that Blanc's talent reached far deeper than a mere capacity for silly voices.

Clampett's Tortoise Wins by a Hare is great!

[tavm · 10/10 · 8 January 2008]

When I was a kid, I watched a lot of Bugs Bunny cartoons on television. And he usually won in those. But in the shorts he made with Cecil Turtle, he lost both races in them and I remember being a little annoyed when that happened since I was always used to him as a winner even though the Aesop stories they were based on always had the Tortoise winning. Now, though, I can appreciate the way Bugs loses here since he's so arrogant and so blind-sided he sorta deserves his comeuppance here. And what a comeuppance it is since he dresses up like Cecil with an engine shell while Cecil dresses as a rabbit! Guess which one the rabbit gangsters try to keep from winning! Anyway, with Bob Clameptt at the helm, I highly recommended Tortoise Wins by a Hare.

The ending seemed a little inappropriate, but it was mostly OK.

[lee_eisenberg · 6/10 · 18 February 2006]

Bugs Bunny was still in his relative infancy when they made "Tortoise Wins by a Hare". It portrays Bugs Bunny angry that Cecil Turtle always wins and challenging him to a race. But this time, Bugs has a dirty trick up his sleeve: he finds out Cecil's secret - his "air flow chassis" shell - and makes himself one. However, this works against him, as the raceway is lined with rabbit thugs who mistake Bugs for Cecil, and keep impeding his performance.

The ending seemed like a weird one for a cartoon: when the rabbit thugs realize their mistake, they all blow their brains out. I've always wondered why cartoons would show those sorts of things. But no matter; this cartoon is mostly acceptable for everyone.

Viewers win by more then a hair

[movieman_kev · 10/10 · 24 November 2004]

Bugs Bunny attempts to beat Cecil Turtle in a race, but can't. This short shows that Bugs doesn't lose very often. But when he does he can be as sore of a loser as Daffy Duck. I found the short to be hilarious myself, with great sight gags. but I can see why others would disagree. This short leaves the ending unedited unlike when it's shown on TV. Also the ending brings to mind that there IS a fair amount of suicide in the Looney Tunes canon of shorts. I have no idea what THAT'S about. I'd definitely recommend this short without hesitation. This cartoon is on Disk 3 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1"

My Grade: A

Is it about the material?

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 12 July 2015]

Or why does the turtle always win? Well maybe, it's about the material a lot in racing. But also at least as much in film. And in here is some good material. The races between turtle and rabbit were a famous topic in these old cartoon movies, even if the outcome was always the same. This is the second of 3 Bugs Bunny movies about this topic. And it seems he finally found his match. Not only in the turtle here, but also in a bunch of rabbit brutes from the betting mafia. Bugs decides it must be about the turtle's aerodynamics, so he dresses up like the turtle, but sadly for him he is mistaken by the brutes mentioned before and beaten up several times, so he won't win the race. And who wins it? The turtle. In a rabbit dress of course. When I saw it first in that, I had to laugh. Robert Clampett and Warren Foster, both very prolific back in the day made this short and the voice acting is all about Mel Blanc once again. Michael Maltese did not write this as he usually does, but he did some voice acting in here for the thugs, which is an interesting aspect. Still, I have to say that this 7-minute cartoon is not on par with Disney's Oscar-winning "The Tortoise and the Hare". That one profited a lot from the tortoise being such a gentle and fair sportsman and the turtle in this Warner Bros film here is actually pretty arrogant, which I did not like that much. Nonetheless, this is a solid short film. It could have done with a bit less of the thugs scenes as it gets a bit repetitive towards the end, but it's all good. Recommended.

The best if the Cecil Turtle cartoons

[wermuth601 · 10/10 · 6 April 2006]

This was the first cartoon with Cecil Turtle that I have seen, and it's instantly been one of my favorite Looney Tunes shorts. It's also my favorite of the three Cecil Turtle cartoons.

When I first saw this cartoon, I thought it was weird that Bugs was basically a bad guy (like in Falling Hare) and actually lost. However, I thought it was funny and clever that Bugs dressed like a turtle while Cecil dressed like a rabbit.

I first saw this on TV, and due to censorship I didn't get to see the ending until this carton was shown uncut on The Bob Clampett Show. I won't spoil the ending here, but the ending is very funny (this cartoon is available uncut on the first Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD, as well as all previous video and laserdisc releases).

All in all, this is my favorite of the three Cecil Turtle cartoons.

Eh, now he tells us!

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 21 July 2023]

'Tortoise Wins By A Hare (1943)' is a short film in which Bugs Bunny is determined to finally win a race against Cecil Turtle (I'm not sure why his surname is Turtle considering that he's the eponymous tortoise). Bugs is normally calm and composed, but here he's fraught and obsessed with winning at any cost. By contrast, Cecil is slow and steady, using outsmarting his opponent at almost every turn. I suppose he didn't take on his most well-known persona until a little later on in the Looney Tunes library, but it's still undeniably a bit jarring to see Bugs get trounced and not particularly gracefully. Regardless of this potential disconnect, the piece is a propulsive and generally enjoyable effort throughout. It has a handful of funny moments and some entertaining animation, but it also has a couple of odd elements. The most notable of these is its ending, which sees four wise guy rabbits line up in a row and literally shoot themselves through the head. This is a weird, almost distasteful note on which to end; it comes close to undercutting the success of the overall affair. It doesn't quite do that, though, because most of the piece is lively and enjoyable. Because it's so uneven, it definitely isn't one of the best Looney Tunes outings, but it's mostly successful and retains its franchise's distinct charm.

A Uniquely Bizarre Satirical Masterpiece of a Cartoon

[thetasteofcinema · 10/10 · 14 April 2020]

This is a very special cartoon. It's main idea is not unique, seeing as "Tortoise Beats Hare" premiered two years before. What it does is show us a darker side to the rabbit we know as Bugs. The charismatic, witty rabbit has been replaced by one who wants only to win, no matter at what cost. Bugs does not become a figure we want to become in wits, but one who is fails, one who is prideful, one is is human. We can relate to him in his trials and ultimate failure. Bugs is not a god. And when he fails, we see he can be as naive and ignorant as any one of us. Through this, I see this cartoon as a satire on the Bugs Bunny cartoons themselves. As an audience we want Bugs to win. So do the thugs who unknowingly betray Bugs. So our desire is flipped upside down to what we don't want. When he finally breaks down at the end, we feel his pain thick and through.

Overall if none of the stuff above interests you, you'll still be in for a good time. Like all Clampett cartoons, you'll be enriched in brilliant expressive animation and trademark Bob Clampett black comedy. This is a must-see for any animation fanatic, cartoon lover, or just someone looking for a good laugh.

Boring

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 4/10 · 5 November 2004]

Bugs is sure acting out of character in this cartoon. He sounds and behaves a lot like Daffy Duck. Why would Bugs cheat in a race with a turtle? He doesn't need to. But he's made to, to fit in with the story of this dull short.

So he loses the first race and wants to go again, like Mike Tyson being unable to lose with the indignity of a defeat. Bugs is now bound to win with the support of other rabbits and the mob behind him. But he disguises himself as a turtle (and the turtle a rabbit) for the race. Naturally the rabbits and the mob fall for this and keep him behind while the real turtle wins.

Then they all commit suicide by blowing their brains out!

Strange. Not funny. And one kick yourself for missing.

A toitle beating a rabbit?!

[slymusic · 11 January 2006]

Directed by Bob Clampett, "Tortoise Wins by a Hare" is a sequel to the Tex Avery cartoon "Tortoise Beats Hare" (1941), using some stock footage from that short as well. Bugs Bunny once again tries to match wits with Cecil Turtle in a race, and once again Bugs loses. He constructs a steel shell for an "airflow chassis," and he tucks his ears inside of a bathing cap to prevent any wind resistance. Problem is, he resembles a turtle in his getup, and Cecil accordingly disguises himself as a rabbit. The rabbit mob subsequently mistakes Bugs for Cecil, so all the gangsters erroneously inflict all kinds of torture on Bugs to prevent him from winning the race.

Some of the better gags from "Tortoise Wins by a Hare" include the following: In order to find out Cecil's secret to winning a race, Bugs disguises himself as an old man with a phony beard, underneath which he conceals a typewriter as he chats with the turtle. Upon Cecil's entrance to the starting line, all of his other turtle friends carry him and very badly sing "He Did It Before and He Can Do It Again." And Bugs opens the short by overreacting in his own amusing way to the film of his losing the last race with Cecil.

One final observation: I really feel that the one gag that kills this cartoon is the very ending, in which all the rabbit mobsters blow their brains out upon realizing their mistake. In my opinion, this gag is quite unnecessary and tasteless, and it's no wonder that certain television stations have cut the gag out of their prints.

Quite a morbid ending...but quite enjoyable regardless.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 2 June 2014]

This is the second of three shorts by Looney Tunes (this follows "Tortoise Beats Hare") featuring Bugs Bunny racing the tortoise--and, as usual, the clever tortoise gets the best of him.

In this case, Bugs decides to do a bit of spying before the re-match. The tortoise tells Bugs he won due to his streamline design--so Bugs makes a turtle costume of his own. However, this is NOT a good idea, as a syndicate of gambler rabbits are determined to make sure the tortoise loses the race--and the real tortoise is disguised as a rabbit. The results are quite funny but what comes as a real shock is the extremely violent and dark ending--even compared to other Looney Tunes shorts! Funny and well worth seeing.

I think this is the best of the Bugs vs. Cecil cartoons

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 11 June 2010]

I love the Bugs vs. Cecil cartoons, but I think Tortoise Wins by a Hare is the best of the three. It is hilarious, and moves along really quickly. I also think Mel Blanc supplied simply phenomenal voice work here, it was not only hysterical but also very moving as Bugs despairs over Cecil always beating him and that he is the butt of the joke. At first when watching Rabbit Transit, I found it unusual that Bugs was outsmarted rather than outwitting his co-stars but I think it worked here, instead of the arrogant persona you sometimes see, you do see a cunning Bugs but also a Bugs you feel for. Cecil is wonderful as well, his asides are just as funny as Bugs's shrill cries of despair and he is definitely a worthy opponent.

The animation is great here, colourful and lively, and the orchestral music is a delight. Also delightful are the witty and hilarious dialogue, some fun visual gags and a fun ending. Overall, hugely enjoyable, while not Bugs's very best cartoon, it is his most enjoyable with Cecil. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Masterpiece

[Michael_Elliott · 19 April 2009]

Tortoise Wins by a Hare (1943)

**** (out of 4)

Semi-sequel to TORTOISE BEATS HARE has Bugs Bunny asking Cecil Turtle for a rematch since the rabbit can't stand losing the race. Bugs tries to gain an advantage but have no fear because Cecil has a few tricks up his own sleeve. This is another very enjoyable film that manages to be as fun as the original. I enjoyed both of the shorts but think I prefer this one a little more because of the supporting characters, which include a bunch of rabbit gangsters who show up to make sure Bugs wins. The uncut ending, available on the Warner DVD, is a bit over the top and we probably didn't need it but it doesn't take away from any of the laughs in the film.