Hare Trigger

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.

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.

I love Looney Tunes, always have done, always will do, and I love the pairings of Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. With them, I am used to razor-sharp dialogue, clever sight gags and explosive character interaction. With Hare Trigger I was not disappointed at all! The animation is colourful and looks as though care has gone into it. And the music is very energetic and fits with the story and action well.

The cartoon goes at a fast pace, and has a good and rarely predictable story. The chemistry between Bugs and Sam is a sheer delight, Bugs is his witty and likable self, while Sam bags the best lines and utters them with relish. Mel Blanc's stellar vocals only add to the fun, Blanc's voice work is always consistent and as I've said many times he had a knack of elevating even the weakest of material.

Hare Trigger's real creme de la creme is in the humour. The dialogue is razor-sharp and very witty and with the chemistry between Bugs and Sam as explosive as it already is it has the impact of firecrackers going off. But it is actually the action and sight gags that drive it. The action is exhilarating, while the sight gags do not fall into the trap of being predictable and work on repeat viewings.

All in all, a hilarious cartoon and a must for fans of Bugs or Yosemite Sam. 10/10 Bethany Cox