Hare Force

Granny has just tucked Sylvester the dog in for the night when she hears a knock at the door. She opens it and sees a half-frozen Bugs Bunny, who is exaggerating his sorry plight for effect. Granny buys the act and lets Bugs sleep right next to Sylvester in front of the fireplace. But the jealous dog is having none of it. The first chance he gets, he throws Bugs back out in the cold. Bugs plays on the dog's pity to get back in but can't resist a dirty trick. When a snow sculpture of himself melts, Sylvester thinks it's the real rabbit and succumbs to paroxysms of guilt before he discovers the ruse. From then on, the two play a game of one-upmanship that ends when Granny gets in on the game.

Bugs Bunny made a smart career move when he began playing a more sympathetic character—still violent but only when sorely provoked. Still, you gotta love the jerk he often was in his early films. He gets Sylvester to feel sorry for his unkind actions; he could have left it at that. But no, he has to go and torment the dog and generally cause trouble. And what Bugs does at the end?

"Ain't I a stinker?" Yeah, Bugs, you really are!

This cartoon is included in the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume Three," Disc 1.

This time, Bugs Bunny is stuck outside in the dead of winter, until a kindly old woman lets him into her house. The only thing is, her dog Sylvester doesn't like anyone getting his spot in front of the fireplace, and proceeds to try and get Bugs out of the house. Pure mayhem between Bugs and Sylvester ensues, and I didn't predict that ending.

Considering that the dog is named Sylvester, it's probably a preview of how the famous cat with that name would do everything possible to eat Tweety but always get his comeuppances. Maybe.

Overall, not the greatest cartoon, but still OK.

Cartoonists must have liked the name "Sylvester" back in the classic here. In this Bugs Bunny animated short, the first animal we see is "Sylvester," but not the cat that we all know. This time, it's a dog, snuggled up and pampered by his owner, nice and warm "as a bug in the rug" next to the fireplace on a cold winter night.

That's quickly interrupted when there's a knock on the door and it's a frozen Bugs. The old lady immediately gives him the rug and blanket and plops him down at the fireplace. The dog is not happy.

From that point, it's Bugs verses Sylvester, battling it out on who's going to stay warm and enjoy the fireplace. Bugs, as usual, is far superior in the brains department and his opponent has more heart. Unfortunately, in most of these cartoons the wise guy (Bugs) beats out the dumb goodhearted opponent.

Some funny touches included Bugs roasting a carrot and later, the dog howling outside while Bugs glances at a sad painting of the dog over the fireplace and a note the supposedly-dumb dog leaves Bugs!

More good stuff out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. It's easy to see why he was the most popular Looney Tune character of them all.

P.S. The ending of this is guaranteed to make you smile.

On a cold snowy Winter night, an elderly woman takes in a cold Bugs Bunny who is dying on her doorstep. Her dog Sylvester doesn't like this one bit and tosses him out, of course you know that this means war and they take turns throwing each other outside. This cartoon is pretty good although Bugs seems to be off somehow from the version we all know and love. The dog made a pretty fun, if simple, foil for the rascally rabbit though. Not among the top wrung of the Bugs shorts, but fun none the less. This animated short can be found on Disk 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 3 set.

My Grade: B

Bugs Bunny has always been one of animation's best, funniest, most interesting and most iconic characters. While Chuck Jones perhaps had the larger amount of masterpieces, Fritz Freleng was still responsible for some thoroughly enjoyable to great cartoons.

While both Bugs and Freleng have done better cartoons than 'Hare Force', there is still a huge amount to enjoy and love. My only real complaint in fact is the character design of Bugs, it has been said that Bugs does look off and personally have to agree, the design is a bit scrappy and the movement has been smoother since.

That aside, the animation is fine. The colours are vibrant, the backgrounds very meticulous in detail and the drawing fluid and very smooth.

Carl Stalling never disappoints and one of my favourite composers in cartoon history, 'Hare Force' does nothing to change that perception. Anybody expecting luscious orchestration, characterful rhythms, clever use of instrumentation and sounds and the ability to elevate gags to a greater level rather than just adding to it will find all of those aplenty.

Dialogue is high and delicious in freshness and wit, and the gags are beautifully animated, high in energy and with not a single misfire. Bugs, despite the design, doesn't disappoint in personality and humour, and Sylvester is a very amusing foil and interacts wonderfully with Bugs, even if Bugs is the funnier and more interesting character.

Voice acting is terrific all round, especially from Mel Blanc.

Overall, great, thoroughly enjoyable cartoon if not among the best from either Bugs or Freleng. 9/10 Bethany Cox