Hare Conditioned

Hare Conditioned isn't an absolute classic for me, but it is enormously entertaining and definitely worth watching more than once. The story is a well-constructed one, not the most effective one there is, but it works very well. But there were many other elements that made Hare Conditioned so enjoyable. The animation is wonderful, with lively backgrounds and imaginative colouring, and the music is fun and jaunty. The dialogue has a constant sense of fun, and the visual gags are very clever. The antagonist here is a strong(and big) one, while Bugs is still witty, intelligent and somewhat arrogant here as well, both are brilliantly voiced by Mel Blanc. Overall, if you love Bugs Bunny, I think you'll love this. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Bugs does rabbit demonstrations at a department store. Unfortunately, the taxidermy department needs a rabbit, and the manager decides to have Bugs stuffed and put on display. This leads to a mano a mano (mano a rabbito) chase where each gets in his licks. This is very clever and its non stop action nevers rests.

Not being familiar with the subject of this parody - "The Great Gildersleeve," from the hit radio program "Fibber McGee and Molly," I guess I couldn't appreciate the humor in here. This guy - the store manager - wasn't funny to me.

Bugs is working in a department store and things are going fine until he's transferred to the taxidermy room where he's going to be the next animal stuffed. To no surprise, Bugs is not thrilled with that prospect and does what he can to outwit "Gildersleeve."

When the two start chasing each other all around the huge department store is when this cartoon gets funny....and very clever with the changing-clothes bits. That made up for slow first half.

This, along with "Hare Tonic," ranks as one of the best Bugs cartoons, indeed one of the best Bugs, ever. There are some comments about how Bugs in these cartoons is "basic," meaning, I guess, that he is as yet not fully developed. I actually prefer this "basic" version from the mid-40s (Chuck Jones' was the best version) who is actually more rabbit-sized and far more amusing than the eventual long-legged version who towered over Yosemite Sam and Daffy Duck. The latter-day Bugs came to be too suave and sophisticated for my liking. Also check out "Hair Raising Hare" (1946) and "Rabbit Punch" (1948) for great examples of classic Bugs and classic Chuck Jones.

Is it a good idea to use live animals for department store window displays?

No, and here's why....

In "Hare Conditioned" the sale that Bugs is helping promote is over and the store manager (Nelson) is transferring him to a new department: taxidermy. Naturally, Bugs objects and the fun begins.

using nearly every department in the store (children's wear, sports, shoes, costumes, women's nightgowns - don't ask.), Bugs comes out on top at every turn, even referring to the manager as "The Great GilderSNEEZE". Even when trapped in the confines of an elevator, Bugs makes the best of the situation.

Director Jones is on top of his pictorial game as always, as are Blanc (as Bugs, natch) and Nelson (the manager - who DOES sound like radio mainstay Gildersleeves - go ask your grand-parents).

And a sage word of advice: when confronted by a fuzzy-looking woman wanting to try on bathroom slippers, always check her ears.

Ten stars for "Hare Conditioner", the best argument yet for animal labor laws.