Le chapeau magique

Magician Ala Bahma is hanging his own posters for an upcoming performance. He covers a hole in a tree which is the entrance to Bugs Bunny's home. During the performance, Bugs comes in and claims to want to help. It's not the type of help that Ala is looking for.

This is swimming in muddied waters. I can't tell if Bugs is actually trying to help or pretending to help. It is his trickster nature and it could be both. I would like a scene to definitively signify one way or another. Papering over his door seems minor, but it is fine for him to over-react. I can't tell and in the end, that does bug me.

Bugs Bunny starts a war with a magician called Ala Bahma.When Ala is on stage, it's Bugs who comes out of his hat.Case of the Missing Hare (1942) is a Chuck Jones short.Mel Blanc is the voice of both Bugs Bunny and Ala Bahma.This short has a lot of hilarious stuff.Ever since Bugs gets a pie in the face and uses the Groucho Marx catchphrase: Of course you realize this means war! One funny moment is where Ala tries to lure Bugs out of the hat with a carrot, and Bugs hits Ala with a mallet that was meant for Bugs.And what about when Bugs pretends to be a little boy from the audience, assisting the magician.Bugs goes in the basket, and the magician sticks swords through it.Bugs screams inside the basket, as if the swords penetrate him.And that causes excessive sweating to Ali.Also the use of colors brings a stylish touch to this short.

In this Bugs Bunny episode, we meet the rascally rabbit living happily in a tree. And why are some people not OK with this? It is perfectly fine - it is actually quite a good touch to the episode - funny in some aspects.

Also, kissing can be quite funny, cartoon or real life. The way that the Looney Tunes characters used to do it can strike up a chuckle or two. In this day and age, I do not find it terribly funny, but it does not matter.

Anyhow, this is a very funny episode, another one of those ones where Bugs Bunny earns revenge from a nasty stage person. The animation of Bugs Bunny is good, the jokes are good (especially where Bugs Bunny is imitating a dog with his fingers) and the theme of the episode is used well.

In this short, a stage magician is putting up posters advertising his magic show. He so happens to pin a poster over the door of Bugs Bunny's home - a tree, funnily enough. Bugs Bunny starts to become annoyed with the stage magician, who in fact turns out to be an obnoxious meanie. Bugs Bunny will soon fight for revenge...

I recommend this Bugs Bunny episode for anyone who likes stage magic (a lot of the jokes here are based on it), old Bugs animation and Looney Tunes. Enjoy "Case of the Missing Hare"! :-)

Case of the Missing Hare (1942)

*** (out of 4)

Magician Ala Bahma is in the forest hanging up posters for his upcoming show and he crosses paths with Bugs Bunny. After throwing a pie into his face, Bugs decides to go to the show and cause the magician some trouble.

While this film is far from a classic it still contains enough good moments to where fans of Bugs will enjoy watching it. As you'd expect the animation quality is extremely high and that beautiful color is on full display throughout. Ala Bahma appeared in several shorts and I honestly never found him to be the greatest of villains. The entertainment factor certainly comes from Bugs with one of the highlights dealing with swords.

TIDBIT - Hey, all you up-and-coming magicians: it's not a good idea to get a bunny mad at you.

In "Case of the Missing Hare", Bugs Bunny takes matters in hand when vile magician Ala Bama (as mystical as the same-named state) plasters posters for his show all over Bugs' woodland home and gets plastered himself with a blackberry pie. Of course you realize, this means war!

That night at the theatre, the magician finds himself embarrassed, humiliated, clobbered and otherwise cut down to size by the vengeful Bugs as Ala tries to pres-ti-digi-toot (or pull) a rabbit out of his hat and fails...several times.

Director Jones and writer Pierce create a case for all magicians to stick with working with more docile animals...like tigers or lions, maybe. And as always, Mel Blanc's voices make it all the funnier.

Ten stars and a RED LIGHT for this nut "Case".