Hase am Abzug

And thus was born the self-proclaimed rip-roaringest, Edward Everett Horton-est hombre what ever packed a six-shooter. Friz Freleng created Yosemite Sam because he didn't consider the dim-witted Elmer Fudd a formidable opponent for Bugs Bunny. So, he created the smallest man possible and gave him the loudest voice possible. "Hare Trigger" stresses Sam's diminutive stature by having the train pass right over him, and then he has to use a staircase to board his horse.

It's worth noting that Sam is sort of a composite of a few previous characters. There was Cottontail Smith in "Super-Rabbit", the southern sheriff in "Stage Door Cartoon" and Red Hot Ryder in "Buckaroo Bugs" (that last one is usually considered Sam's definitive prototype, albeit without the mustache or loud voice). Whatever Sam's origin was, you can't deny that with his loose cannon personality, he is truly one of the funniest of the Warner Bros. animated characters. And it all started with this cartoon three score and three years ago. Thank you Friz Freleng!

So far, this is my favourite Yosemite Sam + Bugs Bunny cartoon for the following reasons:

1. It has very intelligent humour that works very well with the usual roles of Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. 2. Partly because this is his first episode ,Yosemite Sam is portrayed in a way contrary to the other episodes I have seen on him and Bugs Bunny (as being particularly small). This portrayal of his minuteness works very well and adds a good deal of humour to the beginning of the cartoon. 3. It is not quite so slapsticky as the following YS + BB cartoons. I know this might be a disadvantage of this episode to some people, but personally I prefer a witty Looney Tunes joke to a slapstick one (generally).

Anyway, in this episode, we see Bugs Bunny on a train in the mail carriage, playing a banjo and being very relaxed. Unfortunately for him, a small but dangerous gangster, played by Yosemite Sam, invades the carriage and takes everything of value, including Bugs. The bunny soon puts Yosemite Sam to the test, will Bugs Bunny receive his revenge..?

I recommend this episode to people who like the old Bugs Bunny, to people who love/like Yosemite Sam and to people who enjoy Looney Tunes in general. Enjoy "Hare Trigger"! :-)

8 and a half out of ten.

This 10/10 scoring for the first Yosemite sam short I am reviewing is so deserving, its so funny. You'll be laughing again, and again, and again, and I can pretty much know this cartoon by heart. I love it so much. The Animation is so great, and much of the shots look like they're from 40 years later, and the comedy is some of the best of Friz Freleng. Need I say more? This cartoon will be gushed by everyone, and I'm so glad that this is the start to a great character by Friz, and this is the one of the best in the series.

10/10.

Wonderful first film featuring the diminutive Yosemite Sam. He replaced Elmer Fudd as Bugs' adversary. This is a great little feature with lots of action and a masterful performance by our irrepressible bunny. It takes place in the old west on a train and the two of them play off each other so well. Bugs is always in control, but Sam is unyielding at every juncture.

"Why, ev'rybody knows ME! I'm Yosemite Sam: the meanest, toughest, rip-rawlin'est, Edward Everett Horton-est hombre what ever packed a six-shoota!"

That's one of my most favorite quotes. Another one is where Sam says really calmly...

"Why did you pour ink on my head?"

This legendary cartoon series had some damn good writers, something that tons of toons these days miss terribly. Hopefully, these kind of cartoons will be revived soon 'cause they was some kinda magic. Michael Maltese was probably my favorite Warner Bros. cartoon writer. His stuff was just so funny it'd make a guy cry! Mel Blanc is hilarious; he can do hundreds and thousands of voices and still remember his real one!