Vom Regen in die Traufe

Chuck Jones's 'Water, Water Every Hare' is significantly better than its truly dreadful title. Pitting Bugs against a bulbously headed green faced scientist and his furry orange, sneaker wearing monster (later dubbed Gossamer but here referred to as Rudolph), 'Water, Water Every Hare' features some breathtaking visuals in the opening minutes. His home beset by flooding, an oblivious, soundly-sleeping Bugs is washed away on his mattress. This sequence is glorious to behold with its flowing water and cascading waterfall. Ultimately, this watery subplot plays only a small part in the cartoon, making the dreadful title even more unforgivable. Most of the action takes place inside the castle. The most famous sequence is the hairdressing scene in which Bugs assumes the role of a camp beautician spouting a monologue about all the "inter-resting" monsters he's met (this is actually a rehash of a similar routine in the previous Gossamer cartoon 'Hair-Raising Hare'). Far more memorable, however, is the climactic chase scene in which Bugs and the green faced scientist are both under the influence of ether and bound across the screen in slow motion. It's an appropriately striking climax to a particularly handsome and dreamlike cartoon which proves to be inventive and entertaining in equal measures. A lesser talked-about classic, no less.

Bugs Bunny is whisked away via his bed to a mad scientist's castle when his rabbit hole is flooded in the great Chuck Jones directed and Michael Maltese penned Looney Tunes short. As a kid, i loved watching 'that VERY hairy monster' and still get a kick out of him as an adult. This is one of my favorites.

On a side note: I'm writing these reviews as I rewatch each tune as they're ordered on the 'Golden Collection' set. So after "What's up Doc?" and "Rabbit's Kin" I was VERY glad that I didn't have to sit through another Robert McKimson directed short. Don't get me wrong I'll ALWAYS be grateful that he created Taz and Foghorn, I just dont care for alot of his Bugs cartoons.This cartoon is the eighth Looney Tune short on Disk 1 of the 'Loony Tunes Golden Collection'

My Grade: A+

Bugs Bunny is too sound a sleeper to notice that a sudden rainstorm has flooded his rabbit hole and sent his mattress, with him on it, floating downstream toward a castle with helpful neon signs that say "Evil Scientist" and "Boo." Said Evil Scientist needs a brain for his mechanical monster, and when he sees Bugs Bunny floating by, decides a rabbit's brain is as good as any other. Bugs Bunny awakens to the horror of reposing mummies, an Evil Scientist with a huge, green head and an enormous robot waiting for its brain. Bugs tries to escape, but the scientist sends Rudolph after him. Rudolph is an unlikely beast covered with orange fur; it wears sneakers, but why not? Who says monsters don't have sensitive feet? Bugs poses as a chatty hairdresser, uses vanishing fluid on himself, and pours reducing fluid on the beast to thwart him. But Bugs's only weapon against the Evil Scientist will be a broken bottle of ether. Will it be enough?

"Water, Water Every Hare" is an amusing short with excellent artwork. (Love that mechanical monster!) But it's not as funny or as well plotted as the earlier, and very similar, "Hair-Raising Hare," which also featured a castle, an evil scientist, the same furry orange beast (with a different name), a scene where Bugs narrowly escapes a trap door and a scene where Bugs poses as a chatty beautician.

Silent movie fans will recognize the ether gag, a standard for that era, jazzed up with sound effects and cartoon animation. Bugs Bunny fans will notice that the beast from "Hair-Raising" has changed its name from Gossamer to Rudolph. Finally, horror movie fans will think the scientist is a prescient creation. Supposedly he's meant to evoke Boris Karloff. But he sounds much more like Vincent Price, who had not quite become the horror icon that he is now. How did Chuck Jones and company know? That's even spookier than this spooky-funny film.

Water Water Every Hare is a great Looney Tunes cartoon, helped by chiefly the beautiful artwork, the voice work and the script.

The story I do think is the weakest element here. Don't get me wrong, it is great and compelling enough, but everything else was even stronger.

The artwork is a thing of true beauty. You can never go wrong with beautiful backgrounds and sharp character features and this cartoon succeeded in both areas.

The music is also beautiful. Featured is the Raindrop Prelude by Frederic Chopin, and you know what, it works orchestrated. It gives a somewhat lyrical feel to it.

The script is fine, Bugs has some very snappy lines and the Evil Scientist is really sinister with his appearance, lines and especially his voice. The monster is hideous at first, but really is quite cute.

The voices are perfect. Mel Blanc excels as always, and John T Smith does a superb job as the evil scientist. All in all, excellent cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is an in-between short for me on the scale of my favourite to my least favourite Bugs Bunny episode (at the top is "Bugs and Thugs" and at the bottom is "Easter Yeggs"). In this episode, I enjoyed the plot, the animation and the jokes. I do not find these three parts incredibly good, but I find them pretty good. I think my favourite part of the episode is when Bugs becomes a hair-stylist - classic! :-) I shall remember that till I am 40 if I do not watch this episode again until then.

Basically this episode starts when Bugs Bunny is asleep in his flooded house (this part is also very funny). It continues when Bugs, along with his duvet and mattress, floats out of his burrow down a river. At the edge of a waterfall, an evil scientist has nearly completed his giant robot and he needs a living brain to finish him. When he spots Bugs, he "fishes" him into his castle, with exciting results...

I recommend this Bugs Bunny episode to people who like unusual Bugs Bunny episodes and to people who like funny Bugs Bunny quotes. Enjoy! :-)