Roman Legion-Hare

It's Rome, 54 AD, and there's a game at the Colosseum. Unfortunately, they're all out of victims for the lions. No problem! Emperor Nero - bellicose as ever - orders Captain of the Guards Yosemite Sam to find one, or he'll be the victim. As you might have guessed, Sam decides that a certain long-eared, carrot-chomping rabbit will make an ideal victim. But of course Bugs Bunny isn't going to submit so easily, especially when the lions seem to be pretty hungry for Yosemite Sam.

Admittedly, the whole thing's rather silly. But there's nothing unpleasant here. Quite the opposite: Bugs plays some hilarious tricks on Sam. And the end puts a new kind of spin on the story of Nero playing his fiddle.

It is Rome 54 A. D. The Detroit Lions is in the Coliseum in the Season Opening. Emperor Nero wants his sacrifices for the lions but they have run out. He demands the Captain of the Praetorian Guard Sam to get more victims. Sam and his squad set out on a search. Bugs Bunny sees them and thinks that they are on a parade. Sam sees Bugs as an easy first catch. Bugs keeps getting the best of Sam until he accidentally locks himself in the ring.

This is a solid Bugs Bunny cartoon as he keeps winning against Yosemite Sam. The main problem is Emperor Nero. I don't really like his design. More than that, I would like a famous Looney Tunes character to play the part. I can think of several suitable replacements.

Nero is out of victims for the Coliseum. So Yosemite Sam (the Roman version of him) is sent to find one. Well, there seems to be only one rabbit available. So our hero is beset by Sam and has several potential encounters with he kings of beasts. It is colorful and a lot of fun. Sam, of course, is decimated over and over and over, but he never seems to lose heart.

I am an avid Looney Tunes fan, and I love Roman Legion-Hare. It is a little slow and obvious to begin with, but once it picked up I forgot about these minor misgivings. The animation is excellent, colourful, crisp and smooth, the backgrounds especially and like it is with many Looney Tunes cartoons the music has a lot of energy. The dialogue is witty and incredibly funny, Bugs and Sam both have a lion's share of great lines, and the sight gags particularly in the lion's den(Nero playing a violin before supposedly being mauled by the lions) are clever. Sam has great lines and is a great foil, he doesn't look too bad in Roman gladiator garb either, and Nero(a caricature on Charles Laughton?) is good too, but Bugs steals the cartoon just by his wit alone. Mel Blanc as always is superb, bringing life to these characters with terrific gusto. Overall, terrific. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Despite the story taking place in 54 A.D., the writers get their digs in early on the West Coast culture at the time as we see a sign for "Another Appian Freeway for your Safety" sign. It was during this time that many of the freeways in California were being built.

Anyway, we are in the Roman Coliseum and Emporer Nero wants a victim. (If the writers knew what brutal savage Nero was in real-life, would they still be doing a cartoon with him?) Yosemite Sam, the captain of the guards, and he goes out with a small legion to find victims to feed to the lions. Bugs Bunny sees the "parade" asks what's going on. He tells Sam, "Well, it looks like your out of luck. There's no one around but me." Mmm.....not a smart thing to say. The chase is on.

I liked Bugs comment about "these hot-rod kids," after Sam cracks up his chariot.

Overall, this was an entertaining Bugs cartoon. Even if Bugs has to battle lions, you know who is going to come out on top!