Case of the Missing Hare

When a magician desecrates Bugs Bunny's tree home (yea I know Bugs doesn't usually live in a tree, but just go with it), the rabbit decides to go to the magician's show to heckle him unmercifully, making him look quite the fool in front of his audience. If you can get over the whole tree thing, you'll find that this IS a truly funny short, and worthy to be more widely known than it appears to be. This animated short can be found on Disk 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 3 and includes an optional commentary by Greg Ford which is quite informative by itself and is worth at least one listen.

My Grade: B+

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".

Bugs Bunny goes to war on renowned magician Ala Bahma after he hung up a poster on Bugs Bunny's treehouse.

Ala Bahma also blasted Bugs Bunny with some blueberry pie.

The mischievous rabbit ruins Ala Bahma's show.

These early 1940s cartoon has zaniness courtesy of Chuck Jones but is not as polished as the later ones.

Bugs Bunny still provide some nice touches as during the sword scenes.

Ala Bahma, the world renown magician is performing at Bijou Theater, amidst a lot of fanfare. (Billboards announcing this event are everywhere.) It turns out the slob magician is the one posting all the notices. He makes the mistake of posting on on a tree in which Bugs is occupying. (That's the first time I've seen Bugs living in a tree. What's with that?)

Anyway, Bugs gives the guy lip and the portly one throws a blackberry pie in the rabbit's face. It is then we hear the famous words, outside of "What's up, doc?" of a BB cartoon: "Of course, this means war!"

Unfortunately, the war isn't much. It would have been 5-10 years later in the Looney Tunes cartoons but these early 1940s ones weren't very wild. They were very tame - too tame - compared to the 1950s editions. In other words, not a lot happens here.

Also, what's with all the big kisses on the lips? It seems to be another trait of the period, along with the corny humor. I see it here several times and in other cartoons of the early '40s? Kissing your opponent on the lips.....was that supposed to be funny?

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.