Hare Force

Hare Force
Merrie Melodies (Bugs Bunny) series
Title card
Directed by I. Freleng
Produced by Leon Schlesinger
Story by Tedd Pierce
Voices by Mel Blanc
Uncredited:
Bea Benaderet
Tedd Pierce
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Manuel Perez
Richard Bickenbach
Ken Champin
Jack Bradbury
Gerry Chiniquy
Virgil Ross
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date(s)
  • July 22, 1944 (1944-07-22) (U.S.)
Color process Technicolor
Running time 7:00
Language English

Hare Force is a 1944 Warner Bros. cartoon in the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Friz Freleng and starring Bugs Bunny and an old lady. Although the title is an obvious play on Air Force, the cartoon's plot has nothing to do with the military. "As Time Goes By" is sung in this short by Sylvester the dog (not to be confused with Sylvester the cat) and Bugs at different points.

The short is also the first short to use Bugs difinitive design outside of a short directed by Bob Clampett. Though this is a slight variation to Clampett's design of Bugs.

Plot

On a cold and snowy night, Bugs wangles his way into the good graces, and more importantly, the house, belonging to an old lady (voiced by Bea Benaderet). Sylvester, her dog (voiced by writer Tedd Pierce), takes an instant dislike to the Bunny, and most of the cartoon is spent with the two tricking each other into going outside the house and getting locked out. Finally they get into a schtick where they are each throwing the other out the front door in turn, in quick succession. The old lady, fed up with all the bickering by now, intervenes (out of frame) and tells them both to get out, when suddenly she is thrown out, startled and indignant. Bugs and the dog have made peace, and are lazing by the fire. Bugs turns to the audience and says, in typical fashion, "Gee, ain't I a stinker?"

Connections

The story is very similar in concept to Hiss and Make Up (1943) where Granny warns her constantly feuding pets that she would throw them out into the snow if she hears any more noise.[1]

Availability

This cartoon is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD set (volume three, disc one) uncut. It can also be found on the "Bugs Bunny: Hollywood Legend" VHS, the "Starring Bugs Bunny" VHS, the "Looney Tunes Collectors Edition: Canine Corps" VHS from Columbia House, and the "Bugs Bunny Classics" laserdisc.

Sources

  • Shull, Michael S.; Wilt, David E. (2004). "Filmography 1943". Doing Their Bit: Wartime American Animated Short Films, 1939-1945. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0786481699.

See also

References

  1. Shull, Wilt (2004), p. 144
Preceded by
Hare Ribbin'
Bugs Bunny Cartoons
1944
Succeeded by
Buckaroo Bugs
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