Dîner de monstres

I love the big hairy monster guy. He might not have any arms but you just want to hug him, even tho he won't hug back. The Doctor guy who owns him however, HE is scary. With a grotesquely over-sized head and massive eyes he makes Stewie Griffin from Family Guy look normal.

There's always some insane reason for Bugs Bunny to wander into his castle and get involved in a chase and that's exactly what happens. However, in the end Bugs and the monster become pals and the evil doctor gets what he deserves.

It's been done before and this cartoon is only one version of this same old plot but it's still very funny as anything with Bugs Bunny is. Daffy is still my fave tho.

Chuck Jones's 'Hair-Raising Hare' pits Bugs Bunny against a genuinely disturbing Peter Lorre scientist caricature and his huge orange monster. The monster (later named Gossamer and also featured in Jones' luscious sequel to this short, 'Water, Water Every Hare' under the name Rudolph) is an extremely memorable villain who, despite his size, never poses much real threat to Bugs once he turns on his heckling. Although it is not as visually luscious as 'Water, Water Every Hare', Tedd Pierce has turned in a great script which includes some viciously amusing eye-poking, a priceless scene involving a suit of armour and the best "What's up, Doc" joke you'll ever hear. Bugs' wisecracks are top drawer ("Don't go up there, it's dark") and the high energy level is kept up throughout. It's also the only cartoon in which you'll get to hear Gossamer speak. All in all, then, 'Hair-Raising Hare' is a blast and makes a cracking double bill with its less gag-driven sequel.

Bugs finds himself in a laboratory where Peter Lorre is housing a monster. The monster isn't all that frightening and bugs sort of has him for lunch. There are continuous chase scenes and typical schtick. Nothing new to this, but, then, Bugs is Bugs. This episode has him yelling, "Is there a doctor in the house" with predictable results.

"Peter Lorre" playing an "evil scientist" (that's what it says in neon lights on his hilltop castle!) who has invented a mechanical "rabbit lure" sets out the diabolical hare on Bugs Bunny. The mechanical lure - a beautiful female - quickly lures Bugs to the castle. Bugs grabs her, kisses her madly on the hand and arm, and the machine literally starts spinning and falls apart.

"That's the trouble with some dames," says Bugs. "Kiss them and they fly apart."

Bugs attempts to leave but the scientist won't let him and wants to introduce him to his other "friend." Bugs tries to escape but can't, and then this big furry monster comes out and chases our hero all over the castle. They stop here and there as Bugs pretends to be a lampshade, pretends to be a manicurist (and does the monster's nails with a hilarious impression of a manicurist), pretends to be a painting on the wall and assorted other bizarre things....all making it a very entertaining cartoon.

The ending of this was really clever with Bugs talking to the audience in the movie theater!

Bugs Bunny thinks he's being watched. Is the bunny getting paranoid in his old age? Nope, because as we see, someone IS watching him, an Evil Scientist. The scientist uses a robotic female rabbit to lure Bugs into his castle. Once there the robot self-destructs as Bugs kisses it. Then the evil scientist lets Gossamer, the hair monster to catch the wasscily rabbit. That's when the fun starts. For some reason this short didn't tickle my fancy as much as others that I've seen with Gossamer in them. Not to say this one isn't worth seeing, as it most definitely is.This cartoon is on Disk 3 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1" It also has an optional commentary

My Grade: B