Today we are in for a real treat in the universally beloved spooky animated short Hair-Raising Here from 1946 starring Bugs Bunny. This is one of my personal favorites and I have been waiting patiently until Halloween weekend to feature it.
I don't know that much of an introduction is needed honestly? Just about everyone should be familiar with the plot, but just incase someone isn't I'll explain it briefly. Our hero, the one and only Bugs Bunny, is lured to the castle of a mad scientist (who resembles actor Peter Lorre) by a sexy female rabbit robot to be a meal for a mysterious monster. True to form, Bugs is too much for the scientist to subdue so he releases the monster in hope that he can procure his own dinner. The monster, a giant fuzzy orange creature named Gossamer who is something between Bigfoot, Elmo and a decorative pillow, is also no match for the rabbit who sends him packing by pointing out that there is a theater full of people watching them.
In this case the real monsters were you and me.
Hair-Raising Hare is a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon, released on May 25, 1946. It was directed by Chuck Jones and written by Tedd Pierce. It stars Bugs Bunny and features the first appearance of Chuck Jones' imposing orange monster character, unnamed here, but in later cartoons named "Rudolph" and then "Gossamer".
Animation director J. J. Sedelmaier writes, "It's interesting to see how different Bugs' character is in this film, from, say, the cool and calm Bugs in Rabbit Seasoning (1952). He's much more the Groucho Marx type in this short; in fact, I doubt you'll find another cartoon in which he does the Groucho walk more than here. The other unique aspect that has always grabbed me about this particular cartoon is the design of the monster. Where do his hands and arms go when we don't see them? Why the sneakers? It's this sort of stuff that reminds me why I love good cartoons: You don't care about this stuff. You just enjoy it. - Wiki
Director Chuck Jones always thought of Hair-Raising Hare as one of his favorite cartoons. He often noted that it was about that time at Warner Bros when he felt that he truly understood and had a good working relationship with Bugs. Maybe that is why he let him essentially direct himself in the short by giving himself cues, stage directions and communicating directly with the audience.
Bugs Bunny: And don't think it hasn't been a little slice of heaven... 'cause it hasn't.
Bugs Bunny: Listen, Dracula... Have you ever had the feeling you were being watched? Like the eyes of strange things are upon you? Look, out there in the audience.
Bugs Bunny: [Bug then starts speaking, extra slowly and almost whispers] Look, out there, in the audience.
Gossamer: PEEEE-PLE! Aieeeeeeee!
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