Racketeer Rabbit

Of course, I'm referring to Billy Crystal's Edward G. Robinson routine which refers to "10 Commandments". Yep, you get to see "Little Ceasar" here with Peter Lorre as a sidekick. And bugs outsmarts 'em, of course. Look for a "Bugsy" cameo. Pure fun, ya see!

This 1946 looney tunes cartoon from Warner Brothers really was one that tried to capture pop culture and the current times of the Gangster era. Called "Racketeer Rabbit" the story involves Bugs going away to a hotel to get a night's sleep or rest only two gangsters show up on the run and you guessed it the rabbit is clever as he outsmarts the two and keeps the pressure on them! The gags and jokes are just right and Bugs does a little parody by being a wise guy himself in the form of the famous Bugsy Siegel! Overall fun cartoon that's clever with good backgrounds and animation a highly memorable one.

Bugs stars with Robinson and Lorre in one of the finest gangster cartoons ever!

As our story begins we find Bugs making himself at home in a large, deserted house. No sooner does he get to sleep than he is awaken by two mobsters returning from robbing the bank, Rocky and Hugo, who have claimed the old house as their hideout.

After they ward off the police through the use of a revolver and machine gun (Hugo appears to be having a little trouble), they count out the money. When Bugs seems to get the biggest cut of the doe, Rocky gets mad and grills him to make sure he hasn't witnessed anything that may get them into hot water. He soon decides that Bugs knows too much and asks Hugo to "take him for a ride", in other words, to do away with him. But surprise, surprise- Bugs returns from the outing instead of Hugo!

After some hilarious antics between the two (including an amusing scene where tough-guy "Bugsy" threatens to give an intimidated Rocky "the curtains") Bugs fools the mug into thinking that the cops have tracked him down and are coming to take him away. But after begging Bugs to hide him and going through several painful trips up and down the stairs while locked in an old trunk, Rocky realizes that he's better off with the coppers and runs into town, yelling for them to take him away from "that crazy rabbit!"

One of my all-time Bugs Bunny favorites and highly-recommended viewing for all!

One of the things that I like most about the Looney Tunes cartoons - aside from their full-scale irreverence - is how they play off of the popular culture of their eras. "Racketeer Rabbit" features gangsters Rocky and Hugo (resembling Edward G. Robinson and Peter Lorre, respectively) hiding out in a house where Bugs Bunny is staying. As soon as the rascally rabbit meets the thugs, he makes their lives a living hell. I think that my favorite scene is when they make Bugs talk; if only we all had the courage to do that! And then of course, there's the handing over of the dough.

Anyway, it's totally hilarious. You just might laugh yourself sick. A veritable classic. Of course, I didn't get the cultural references when I was really young.

And don't worry about not laughing: you'll probably spend the whole time in laughter.

Utterly hilarious and absorbing from start to finish, Racketeer Rabbit is a must see for any Looney Tunes fan. Bugs is on top form, as is Rocky, and the two make an unmistakeably great duo, making the most of some truly juicy dialogue, hilarious sight gags and an interesting story. Also superb is the animation, the backgrounds are very nice and both Bugs and Rocky are drawn really well. The music is also great, rousing, jaunty, tongue-in-cheek yet beautiful as well. The pacing is just right, and Mel Blanc's vocal characterisations are nigh-on perfect, is there anything this immortal voice actor cannot do, he never fails to impress me. Overall, hilarious and a must-see! 10/10 Bethany Cox