Rothäschen und der böse Wolf

Of all the Little Red Riding Hood spoofs, this has to be my favorite. The sight gags from this short are cliche now, but they were new back then...the chase up and down the stairs and through the doors, etc.

The best part about this one was the totally obnoxious Red Riding Hood, the bobby-socked, puberty-challenged brat singing "Five O'clock Whistle". I'm sure she was modeled after someone's kid..I just wish I knew who!

This cartoon is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons, one of them being that it's a showcase for the sound F/X that were created by Robert Clampett and used throughout in the WB cartoons, even the ones that he didn't direct, such as this one. There is the "bee-whup," the singular "boit," and the most famous one, the "yada-yada-yada." There may even be a couple more I can't think of, but those three are instantly recognizable to long-time Bugs Watchers as Clampett's own.

Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Classic Merrie Melodies short is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story except here we have Bugs Bunny being what the wolf is wanting. A lot of people seem to be rather hit and miss on this short but I've always found it to be quite funny from start to finish. Some put down the granddaughter as being too annoying but I think that's the entire point and it does pay off well in the ending where things get mixed up a little. The action between the wolf and Bugs is pure classic with a number of great scenes including the wonderful one where Bugs puts a hot coal inside the wolf's pants. The animation is extremely well done and there's enough action for two movies.

In 'Little Red Riding Rabbit' we follow Little Red Riding Hood on her way to grandma. She brings him a bunny rabbit, Bugs Bunny of course. This time the wolf, hiding in grandmas bed, is not interested in the little girl (presented slightly more mature than you might expect), but in the rabbit. While the wolf is chasing Bugs, the girl interrupts them from time to time.

This cartoon, the first to credit Mel Blanc for his voice work, has a great start and ending, both good for some great laughs. The middle part is pretty standard with the chasing moments, although I liked it when they were interrupted by a very annoying Little Red Riding Hood. Maybe this cartoon does not belong to the greatest, it is entertaining nonetheless.

The 'big, bad wolf' (apparently on sabbatical from Disney Studios) plans trick innocent Red Riding Hood into surrendering her basket, which is full of delicious rabbit. Mayhem ensues. The cartoon opens with Red belting out an obnoxiously loud rendition of 'Five O'clock Whistle' as she bops her way over to Grandma's (who's off Rosie-riveting at Lockheed). The wolf, now in old-lady drag, tricks the credulous bobby-soxer into leaving the basket only to end up the target of Bugs' usual semi-sadistic shenanigans. Despite being dismissed from the tale early, Red feels obligated to carry out her usual role of questioning Grandma's big eyes, big ears, big teeth etc., much to the irritation of the wolf, and eventually, the rabbit. Bea Benedict (of Petticoat Junction (1963) fame) is fabulous voicing the irritatingly loud and brassy granddaughter. A funny cartoon war-time cartoon with a great score from a time when the wabbit was as much a bastawd as he was a wascal. (#41 in the '50 Greatest Cartoons'),