Elmer's Candid Camera

The Elmer character is different from the one we are more familiar with from the toons of the late 40's and 50's. The rabbit character is a prototype of Bugs Bunny. Interestingly, the rabbit has a laugh similar to Woody Woodpecker's at one point.

Elmer's Candid Camera (1940)

*** (out of 4)

Elmer, in his first appearance, is reading a photography book, which inspires him to head out into the wilderness to photo some wildlife. Sadly for him his first target is a troublesome rabbit (a future Bugs Buggy). This certainly isn't classic Looney Tunes but it's a fairly entertaining short in its own right. I think most people will prefer the more classic approach to the characters but if you're fair to this film then you should enjoy it. Not too much happens storywise as Elmer keeps getting jokes played on him. None of the jokes are all that funny but that doesn't mean there isn't any charm here. The highlights are certainly the sequences where Elmer finally goes overboard and blows his cool after the rabbit plays all his jokes.

Elmer Fudd takes up wildlife photography. He takes all his camera gear into the woods and finds a rabbit. The rabbit has some fun at Elmer's expense.

This is mostly interesting to see the progression of Bugs Bunny. He's not called Bugs here. He doesn't sound like Bugs. In fact, he does a Woody Woodpecker laugh to close out the short. He does have the attitude and he is that trickster. The design is a little rough and not as cute. Elmer Fudd's design is also a little different and he has the voice. As it stands, this is a very familiar Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny story. The designs are fascinating for historical reasons.

I am a great fan of Looney Tunes, so I was all for seeing Elmer's Candid Camera. It is one of Elmer Fudd's first cartoons, but sadly it is not one of his best. It is not completely terrible, the animation is very beautifully coloured and detailed and the music is wonderfully orchestrated and lively in tempo which helps to give Elmer's Candid Camera some energy. Mel Blanc and Arthur Q Bryan are great, though they is even better in later cartoons, and Elmer is still rather likable. However, the rabbit character that looks like Bugs but doesn't act like Bugs is not very likable, he lacks verve and he is too sadistic at times as well. The humour also feels flabby rather than funny, the dialogue is not as fresh or as witty and the gags not as clever or imaginative. The story was a good idea but drags badly in the middle that the cartoon lacks momentum. There was the sense that everything was trying to find its feet. Overall, could have been much more, it's not a complete disgrace but it is towards the "my least favourite" end of the Looney Tunes spectrum. 5/10 Bethany Cox

*Wiping tears from eyes with hankie*

All right, not really, but for some reason I love this rabbit, even if he is a little mean to his companion in the cartoon.

In this old WB cartoon, we see a rabbit who is probably called Happy Rabbit and he was the bunny that evolved into Bugs Bunny. He first appears as a rabbit that looks a lot different (but better) in "Porky's Hare Hunt" and this bunny's next appearance was "Prest-O Change- O". He was called, informally, Happy Rabbit. Happy Rabbit then evolved into another cartoon bunny (I do not know if he was called Happy Rabbit as well) and his first appearance is "Hare- um Scare-um". His last appearance is this cartoon, which is why I have mentioned all this information.

BE PREPARED FOR MORE INFORMATION. This is one of Elmer Fudd's debuts. His other debut is "A Feud There Was." In "A Feud There Was", there is an old WB character called Egghead, but he is called Elmer Fudd. The reason this cartoon is one of Elmer Fudd's debuts is because that this is the first cartoon where his name is mentioned. In "Elmer's Candid Camera", he behaves more like Elmer Fudd and looks more like Elmer Fudd, but his appearance was to change into who we know today in the future.

Anyhow, in this cartoon, Elmer is going to photograph wildlife. He goes out and soon finds Happy Rabbit, peacefully sleeping (for some reason in open view). Happy Rabbit wakes up and is very angry with Elmer for photographing him, as he had never met him. You would not like being photographed by a complete stranger without permission, would you? Cartoon capers commence...

I like this cartoon for Happy Rabbit (even though some of his violence aimed at Elmer is a wee bit unnecessary), Elmer Fudd, the animation and the way some of the gags turn out. There is no real plot, even less so than in most plot less cartoons.

I recommend this to people who have an understanding of how it feels to be photographed by a complete stranger, Happy Rabbit and Elmer Fudd. Enjoy "Elmer's Candid Camera"! :-)

P.S CCTHEMOVIEMAN-1!! THE ANIMATION REMINDED ME OF BAMBI TOO! :-)