Papere e conigli

With duck season in full swing, Daffy has no choice but to turn attention from himself by pretending that it is actually rabbit season. With Elmer Fudd on the hunting trail, Daffy points him onto where Bugs is living, but he finds that Elmer is easily turned back onto Daffy by Bugs.

I'm not usually a fan of Daffy where he is greedy and manipulative, as I prefer his manic period much more. However here is one of his best cartoons that I have seen where he is partnered with Bugs in the role of greedy, selfish and untrustworthy sidekick. True to form, Daffy has told Elmer that it's rabbit season and not duck season. As one would expect, Bugs tricks Elmer into shooting Daffy instead. This happens about 10 times in the cartoon and in fact is actually the only joke in the cartoon. However, the more it is repeated the funnier it gets - it's hard to imagine that one single gag repeated over again would do this but it totally works here!

Bugs is fantastic but for once it is Daffy that actually steals the cartoon. The manner in which Daffy reacts to getting shot is hilarious and the little black duck shows that he is a character with great timing regardless of him being crazy or selfish! Fudd is also very funny and he plays his character very easily befuddled - we don't see him as a threat we just think his bemusement is good for our amusement!

Overall this is a very funny cartoon that had me rolling! Usually if someone says that something is a `one-joke affair' they meant it as a criticism; but when the one joke is as funny as the running gag is here then it can only be a good thing!

This is a real "classic cartoon", where you're just waiting for the cartoon-figures to say all their famous lines. It's like this short film is set on repeat, and every time you watch it, you'll laugh more, even higher.

I also think, that the beauty of these short movies is that you don't have to analyze them from top to bottom. Instead just watch it!!!!

So, If you like short movies, cartoons or you just want to laugh, I can really recommend this.

And i can only say one more thing,

THAT IS WHY WE LIKE EM'.

"Duck! Rabbit! Duck!" is the best of the "Hunter Trilogy." From the ubiquitous sign gags that only get funnier (Daffy: You dirty dog... Bugs: And YOU'RE a dirty skunk! Daffy: I'm a dirty skunk? I'M a dirty skunk!? Sign: Dirty Skunk Season Elmer: Blam!) to the wonderful ending where poor Elmer gets driven mad, this short is a laugh a second, and one of the prime examples why Chuck Jones will be missed.

The "Hunting Trilogy" of Rabbit Fire (1951), Rabbit Seasoning (1952), and Duck! Rabbit! Duck! (1953) should be considered the comedic high water mark of the Chuck Jones-Michael Maltese collaboration. While they are seldom mentioned in lists of the "greatest" or "most important" cartoons in the history of animation, they are certainly THE FUNNIEST cartoons I've ever seen. Michael Maltese never got the credit that directors like Jones, Freleng or Avery got, but it's his dialogue and situations that make Warner Bros. cartoons, and these three in particular, some of the FUNNIEST ever made.

This is another one of those "It's duck season. No, it's rabbit season." You know, back-and- forth as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck each try to send stupid Elmer Fudd off to shoot the other guy during hunting season, beginning with signs pointing the way. There were three of these similar-themed animated shorts, one each year from 1951-53. This was the final one of what some call "the hunting trilogy."

Anyway, as usual, Bugs gives Elmer some ridiculous line which is working until Daffy interrupts, saying "What is this? A cooking class? Shoot him!" Daffy was always one to get right to the point....but Bugs is the brains of the three.

The parts that made me laugh hardest were the looks on Daffy's face several times, like the kind Jack Benny used to make. It's also incredible how many times the poor duck has hill bill blown off. Daffy's final line to Bugs sums it up best: "You're despicable!"

Overall, an excellent episode. It can be seen on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume three DVD.