User reviews

We are at the Hollywood exclusive nightclub, "The Mocrumbo," where dinners are $600 apiece (today that translates to thousands). The entertainment: "Leopold And His Chifafa Five." Leopold is Leopold Stokowski, the conductor who seems to be a favorite of the Looney Tunes crowd.

Eating a steak is either Gary Cooper or Gregory Peck; At the bar is Ray Milland in a parody of "The Lost Weekend." Using a straw for a drink is the super-skinny Frank Sinatra; Elmer Fudd is a waiter and Humphrey Bogart asks for some "fried rabbit." Humphrey slaps him around and demands a rabbit dinner. Back in the kitchen, Elmer hears the obnoxious chewing of Bugs Bunny eating a carrot. Bugs gives him the famous line from "To Have And Have Not," telling Elmer to "tell Bogie if he wants me, all he has to do is whistle."

I enjoyed seeing Bugs imitating Groucho Marx; hiding in Carmen Miranda's fruit-basket hat, and doing the conga dance. The ending was kind of lame, but it was "cute" to see Bugs serving himself on a platter to Bogie's girl, Lauren Bacall.

I enjoyed the rich colors in this cartoon which was included in the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Two.

Humphrey Bogart is in the Mocrumbo restaurant (a spoof of the legendary Mucombo in LA), where Elmer Fudd is working as a chef. Bogart wants fried rabbit, so Elmer chases Bugs around in hopes of making him dinner. Half the fun is the chase and all the shenanigans that entails. The other half is spotting all the personality parodies. There's Bogert, Grocho Marx, and Lauren Bacall, of course. But there's also Leopold Stokowski, Gregory Peck, Ray Milland, Frank Sinatra, Sydney Greenstreet, and Carmen Miranda. This animated short can be seen on Disc 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2. It also features an optional commentary by Micheal Barrier.

My Grade: A-

For this viewer, the directors who handled Bugs Bunny best were Isadore Freleng and Robert Clampett. Art Davis did well with his one entry, and Tex Avery clocked in, but Freleng and Clampett are still best over-all.

The "Mocrumbo" in "Slick Hare" is, apparently, where the stars came to be seen--which would explain why there are so many of them here. First up is Leopold Stokowski , or in this case "Leopold and his Chifafa Five" (that 'Chifafa' being taken from the lyric of the song hit of the 40s by Nat King Cole, known as "The Frim Fram Sauce"). It's hilarious to see Leopold deposit a nickel in the juke-box, and then do a pretend conductorship of the recording. Incidentally, the song played by the orchestra in that scene is "Nagasaki", composed by Harry Warren. As Carl Stalling drums up strains of "A Gal In Calico", we see Gregory Peck, cutting up a steak with a razor, Ray Milland trading in his typewriter for drinks at the bar, Sinatra being sucked up by a straw--instead of the other way around. The action finally settles on Elmer Fudd (and in this cartoon the voice is still being done by its initiator, Arthur Q. Bryan and not Mel Blanc--yet)and on Humphrey Bogart, who demands rabbit, and gives Elmer an ultimatum. There we have the scenario that sets the pace for the rest of the cartoon. We are treated to more cameo caricatures (the Marx Brothers, Sydney Greenstreet, and even a number by Carmen Miranda, whose voice is dubbed by a singer whose name I would like to know--as well as the name of the song).

Bogie turns up the heat on Elmer, and the pressure builds. Elmer can't come through and fears the worst. But a turn of events in cartoon logic changes things at that very moment, and the ending will come as a pleasant surprise to anyone who has not seen the cartoon...and I would recommend that the cartoon be shown to as many as would care to view it. Certainly not the best Bugs Bunny cartoon, but one of the better ones.

This is absolutely hilarious!!... It is my favorite BB cartoon. Bogie,Groucho, Ray Milland....its fabulous. Then hiding in Carmen Miranda's hat followed by the dance. Priceless. The fact that a cartoon character can provide laughs like this is living proof of the talent the creators had. If you want to see the essential "wise-guy" that was in essence the character itself, this is the one to see. This, along with the cartoon in which he is offered the "oscar", shows that this was one that played in the big-leagues. It also provides a little bit of a history lesson for the younger generations. It shows the "star power" that was in place at that time...and a mixture of comedians, dramatic actors and musical entertainers.

While most cartoons had Bugs Bunny doing his own stuff to irk Elmer Fudd - and sometimes Daffy Duck - here he has the unexpected help of Hollywood's top stars. When Humphrey Bogart (sorry, it's not really him doing the voice) attends a fancy restaurant and orders rabbit, Elmer has to serve him within twenty minutes, or else. Sure enough, the only rabbit in the vicinity is that carrot-chomping rascal who isn't going down so easy.

All in all, "Slick Hare" makes one nostalgic for old Hollywood* in many ways: it's the era of Bogie, Ray Milland, etc., but also the era when the people behind the Looney Tunes cartoons were producing some of the greatest cartoons of all time. You just gotta see it. Because remember: what baby wants, baby gets.

*I know, Hollywood is the emptiest place on Earth, but this cartoon still makes one nostalgic for it.

How can Looney Tunes be so good? How can Bugs Bunny be so good? He never ceases to amaze me. This is not my favourite of his episodes, but it is certainly up there in my Top 20 Bugs Bunny Cartoon List (probably). In this episode I enjoyed: 1. The caricatured appearances of the actors. I did not recognise all of them, but the ones I did recognise (Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx), I enjoyed watching and I found the spoofs on them funny. Am I misunderstanding or did Looney Tunes have it in for Frank Sinatra? Poor him.

2. Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, they played their characters well and you feel sorry for Elmer Fudd.

Anyhow, this episode is set in a posh, expensive restaurant, where many film stars are having their meals. Before any of the Looney Tunes characters appear, you see various film star/performer references, some you might recognise. Elmer Fudd is serving Humphrey Bogart, who wants a rabbit for supper. Elmer apologises and says they are out of rabbit. Bogart is unsatisfied and threatens poor Elmer with death if he does not produce a rabbit within twenty minutes. Elmer finds Bugs and he is determined to serve him up to the film star...

I recommend this episode to people who like old Bugs Bunny episodes, film star references and Looney Tunes in general. Enjoy "Slick Hare"! :-) 8 and a half out of ten.

Man how I loved this Looney Tunes cartoon. The animation is excellent, colourful, fluid and lively, and the music is dynamic and expressive. The dialogue is witty and moves fast, the story doesn't fall into the trap of being predictable and the sight gags are consistently impressive. Both Bugs and Elmer are great foils for each other, and Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan both do superb jobs with the vocals. It is the celebrity caricatures that made Slick Hare so entertaining, what a delight to see all those famous faces- Gregory Peck, Ray Milland, Carmen Miranda, Groucho Marx, Frank Sinatra, Sydney Greestreet, Leopold Stokowski, Lauren Bacall and especially Humphrey Bogart. Overall, hugely entertaining and definitely recommended. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Starting out like one of the Hollywood Star caricature cartoons like 'The Coo-Coo Nut Grove' or 'Hollywood Steps Out', 'Slick Hare' quickly distinguishes itself by injecting Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny in amongst the other famous faces. These cartoons are mostly recommended for movie buffs who will still recognise the stars being parodied (here they include the Marx Brothers, Carmen Miranda, Ray Milland, Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart) but 'Slick Hare' offers a chase between Bugs and Elmer for anyone not interested in celebrity spotting. The combination of these two elements doesn't really work that well, the caricature routines slowing down the action whenever it threatens to get going (culminating in a tedious, overlong dance routine from Carmen Miranda and Bugs). A further problem is that the central chase is quite uninspired, with only a scene in which Bugs orders pies and then puts them in Elmer's face really standing out. Bugs also seems excessively brash and obnoxious in this cartoon, from his loud "Am I the first to arrive" routine at the beginning of the cartoon to his frenzied cat-calling at the end. All in all, 'Slick Hare' is a lumpy and jarring experiment gone wrong.

Slick Hare (1947)

**** (out of 4)

Elmer Fudd plays a waiter at the Mocrumbo, a restaurant with Hollywood's A-list stars. Humphrey Bogart orders rabbit but when Elmer tells him they're out the legendary tough guy demands he get one. Back in the kitchen lies Bugs Bunny but will Elmer be able to serve him up? This is a great cartoon from start to finish because of all the celebs we get to see. Not only do we have a great impression of Bogart but we also see the Marx Brothers, Frank Sinatra and a funny bit of Ray Milland in his THE LOST WEEKEND role. Bugs and Elmer are also at the top of their game as the action between the two is great as are all the jokes. One of the highlights deal with pies being thrown and Bogart taking one in the face.

NO SCHULTZ, IT ain't FANTASIA! It is rather one of those great old Cartoon Short Subjects that we all took for granted in years gone-by.

STILL RELEGATED BY many as being strictly kids' stuff, the animated Cartoon short has slowly gained its proper place and commensurate dignity in the art of cinema. An objective viewing of any good, cross sampling of these 10 minute surrealist comedies would probably surprise many of their staunchest critics.

TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION today's honored "guest", SLICK HARE (Warner Brothers Pictures, 1947). The madcap "plot" consists of a customer's desire to order Roast Rabbit and all of the complications that spring-up between customer and waiter. Then factor in that the principal characters involved in this mêlée are Customer(Humohrey Bogart), Waiter (Elmer Fudd) and the bone of contention, the Rabbit (Bugs Bunny).

ADD IN SOME fine and genuinely funny gags; along with a whole company of Hollywood caricatures; a list of which would do Hirschfeld proud, and whatta ya have? You'd have a top flight comic romp, animated or live action. For all of its gag happenings, the film rolls along at an unbelievably brisk rate; with the ending coming along all too quickly.

THE CRITICISMS WE hear about the short involve the inescapable fact that the Hollywood folks spoofed as well as the contemporary nature of the the then recent occurrences, leaves a modern audience in a bit of puzzlement.

THIS WE CAN understand; having failed recognition of unknown Cowboy as Gary Cooper in the Bob Hope starring vehicle, ALIAS JESSE JAMES (Hope Enterprises/United Artists, 1959). Being about 12 years old at the time and an avid TV Watcher, quickly identifying Gail Davis (Annie Oakley), James Arness (Matt Dillon), Ward Bond (Major Adams of WAGON TRAIN), Hugh Obrian (Wyatt Earp), Fess Parker (Davy Croket) and Jay Silverheals (Tonto). (Roy Rogers & Trigger were super easy, playin themselves!) But I digress! Now back to SLICK HARE!

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS being lampooned here are basically as well known today as they were in 1947. Furthermore, speaking for those among us who they call "Film Buffs", the Films and Stars of that Golden Age; as well as their Film Credits, are more familiar than an awful lot of current Hollywood. While we do enjoy a certain number of today's cinematic output, we do spend a lot of time on the Oldies; as we had viewed them; being on Turner Classic Movies, Fox Movie Channel and American Movie Classics (the old AMC, that is).

I stumbled onto this cartoon on Facebook on its TCM site before going elsewhere online to see the whole thing. It's quite amusing seeing all the various Hollywood celebs being caricatured especially the main one being Humphrey Bogart who wants fried rabbit from waiter Elmer Fudd. Of course, Bugs Bunny is settling in the restaurant kitchen when Elmer looks for one and the chase is on! Other celebs being parodied include Leopold Stokowski, Gregory Peck, Carmen Miranda, Frank Sinatra (when he was skinny and young, the gag pulled on him is especially hilarious!), and, Lauren Bacall, Bogart's wife. Many funny gags involving both Bugs and Elmer and many of those stars. So that's a recommendation of Slick Hare.

In a slick New York club for the rich and famous, Mr Humphrey Bogart orders rabbit. Waiter Elmer Fudd is at a loss where he'll get fresh rabbit at that time of night until he finds Bugs Bunny feasting on carrots. With running out, Fudd tries to get Bugs into the pot.

Starting out with a range of topical cameos from entertainers and film stars of the period, this film risks being hit and miss in the today but happily many of them will still be recognisable to modern audiences. After these jokes we move into what is the usual Bugs/Elmer fare of chases and trickery. Most of this is pretty funny and it all moves quite slickly, some of it is a little lesser than it should be but none of it really misses.

Bugs is a god character, even if it feels like he isn't the star here. Elmer does good work as a waiter but Bogart's voice work lets him down and doesn't totally sound realistic or natural. The celebrities were pretty well caricatured and quite funny (or at least those I recognised).

Overall this was an enjoyable short apart from the unavoidable failing that I wasn't totally sure who all the celebrities were at the start.