Bugs and Thugs

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Gangster Animation Comedy Crime Family Short

When Bugs calls a cab he doesn't know it's the getaway car for a couple of bankrobbers (he does know the capital of Nevada).When Bugs calls a cab he doesn't know it's the getaway car for a couple of bankrobbers (he does know the capital of Nevada).When Bugs calls a cab he doesn't know it's the getaway car for a couple of bankrobbers (he does know the capital of Nevada).

Director
- Friz Freleng
Writer
- Warren Foster
Star
- Mel Blanc

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

1.9K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Friz Freleng
Writer
- Warren Foster
Star
- Mel Blanc

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos12

+ 6

Top cast1

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Mel Blanc

Bugs Bunny
(voice)
…

Director
- Friz Freleng
Writer
- Warren Foster
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews17

8.01.9K

Featured reviews

9lee_eisenberg

bugging the thugs

Even if you're not totally familiar with gangster movies from the '40s and '50s, "Bugs and Thugs" still comes out quite funny. When Bugs Bunny accidentally enters a gangster car while crook Rocky is robbing a bank, Rocky decides that Bugs knows too much (e.g., 2+2=4, Carson City is the capital of Nevada, George Washington was our first president), so they take him hostage. As always, Bugs is ahead of everyone. But it's not until the end, during a trick involving the cops - Irish, natch - that Bugs shows his true, normal colors. I probably would have done what Rocky and Mugsy did.

It's just always great how the Looney Tunes cartoons played off of the popular culture of their era. Rocky was probably a parody of James Cagney, and Mugsy just seems to be a big excuse to be dimwitted. Anyway, it's a really funny cartoon, even if we have to wait a little while until Bugs does his usual stuff.

Michael_Elliott

Classic Bugs

Bugs and Thugs (1954)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Bugs Bunny jumps into what he thinks is a cab but it turns out to be the car of gangsters Rocky and Mugsy. The two think Bugs knows too much so they drive him to a cabin where they plan on shooting him but we all know the rabbit is a lot smarter. This is yet another winning short for Bugs who manages to get involved in some really nice action as well as some great gags. The gag involving him checking to see if a train is coming is certainly predictable but the laugh is still there. Another great gag has to do with a gas stove. Rocky and Mugsy are great characters as well and you can't help but laugh at them.

8movieman_kev

Shut up shutting up

Gangsters Rocky and Mugsy are first introduced in the short that has Bugs Bunny getting into the getaway car of the duo by accident when he mistakes it for a cab. The short is pretty funny, yet Bugs isn't really in the top of his form here. Still it's worth watching and contains a highly quotable line or two. The ending is a tad on the weak side however. It's still the best of the Rocky and Mugsy shorts (they were in two others I believe, but don't quote me on that). This animated short can be found on disc 4 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1.

My Grade: B-

8utgard14

"I must be dreamin'. It couldn't be this easy."

I always loved it when Looney Tunes parodied the old Warner Bros. gangster pictures. In this short, Bugs Bunny gets mixed up with a pair of bank robbers, diminutive Rocky and his dimwitted sidekick Mugsy. This short is similar in many ways (including a lifted gag involving an oven) to the classic Racketeer Rabbit. This one has a lot going for it on its own, though. The music is energetic, the colors are lovely, and the animation is creative and fun. The peerless Mel Blanc handles all of the voices so you know what kind of quality you'll get there. The pace is fast and the jokes are very funny. Bugs is as likable as ever and the two thugs are goofy caricatures you can't help but enjoy.

8TheLittleSongbird

Clever and well worth seeing to see how Bugs outwits the thugs

The cartoon does start off slowly, and the secondary characters are a little clichéd, especially the Irish cop. But it is very clever and funny, with Bugs excellent as usual and the gangster a nice little addition. Coupled with beautiful artwork, a good script, some funny gags-especially the oven gag- and nice music this really is worth seeing especially to see how Bugs outwits the thugs. By the way, the title of the short is a very effective touch, and Mel Blanc is stellar yet again.

Overall, while a little slow and clichéd, this is clever and funny and compensated by the usual ingredients that make these cartoons so enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Near the end of the film, Bugs' office has a sign that says "-Member- Detective Guild, Local 839". Local 839 of the IATSE was the Animation Guild, whose members made the cartoon.

Goofs
When Bugs gets a carrot out of his safe deposit box, there are no keys involved - and the box only has one slot for a key. Usually two keys are required - one held by the bank, and one held by the renter of the box, for security.

Quotes
[Bugs makes sounds like a police car stopping]
Bugs Bunny: [Irish accent] All right, Clancey, take the boys and surround the house.
[Runs through the door]
Bugs Bunny: Jiggers, the cops!
Rocky: Hide me! Quick, hide me!
Bugs Bunny: Here. hide in here, quick.
[Puts Rocky inside the stove]
Mugsy: Hide me too! Hide me! Wah-hah-hah! It's not fair! You've gotta hide me, too!
Bugs Bunny: I must be dreaming. It couldn't be this easy. Okay, quick. Hide in here.
[Hides Mugsy in stove]
Bugs Bunny: Now don't move until I tell you too.
Bugs Bunny: [Knocking on door] All right, open up! This is the police!
[Forces door open]
Bugs Bunny: All right, where's Rocky? Where's he hiding?
Bugs Bunny: [Normal] He's not in this stove.
Bugs Bunny: [as policeman] Oho! He's hiding in the stove, eh?
Bugs Bunny: Now look, would I turn on this gas if my friend Rocky was in there?
Bugs Bunny: [as policeman] Um, you might, rabbit. You might.
Bugs Bunny: Well, would I throw a lighed match in there if my friend was in there?
[Throws match in stove; it explodes]
Bugs Bunny: [as policeman] All right, rabbit, you've convinced me. I'll look for Rocky in the city.
[Closes door]
Bugs Bunny: The coast is clear, fellas. They've gone.
[Rocky and Mugsy come out of the oven, all burned and groggy; just then the real police arrives]
Policeman: Okay, Clancey. Take the boys and surround the house.
Bugs Bunny: Jiggers, fellas! The cops!
[Rocky and Mugsy hide back in the oven]
Policeman: [Knocking on door] Open up! This is the police!
[Bursts through door]
Policeman: All right, Rabbit. Where's Rocky? Where's he hiding?
Bugs Bunny: He's not in this stove.
Policeman: Oho! He's hiding in the stove, eh?
Bugs Bunny: Would I turn on this gas if he was in there?
Policeman: Um, you might, rabbit. You might.
Bugs Bunny: Well, would I throw a lighed match in there if he was in there?
Rocky: Oh no, you don't!
[He and Mugsy burst out of stove and grovel at the policeman's feet]
Rocky: Take me with you! Don't leave me with that screwy rabbit! I confess! I did it! Arrest me! Arrest me!

Connections
Edited into The Bugs Bunny Mystery Special (1980)

Soundtracks
Spring Song
(uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn
[Plays when Bugs says, "...through winding roads, past the green meadows and down shady lanes."]