The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Encyclopedia
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie is a 1981 Looney Tunes
film with a compilation of classic Warner Bros.
cartoon shorts and animated bridging sequences produced by Friz Freleng
, hosted by Bugs Bunny
. The new footage was one of the final productions done by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
(also known as Marvel Productions
beginning the 1980s).
before going into its opening credits. This is followed up by Bugs narrating how Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
immediately replaced baggy-pants comedy before introducing us to "a warm-hearted humble little intrevoit called Yosemite Sam
".
, but Bugs overhears his scheming and thwarts Sam under the guise of another suitor and later Granny herself. In the end, Sam dies after being crushed by a safe that Bugs drops on him and lands in Hell. Satan offers to give Sam another chance in life provided he sends someone in his place. Sam agrees to this and, as a Roman guard captain, a Saudi Arabian, and in his usual cowboy guise, attempts to kill Bugs. His attempts are unsuccessful, but when Satan offers him one more chance, Sam denies stating Satan should get the rabbit himself and decides to stay.
"), Bugs is captured
by Rocky
and his gang, who try to drown him. Bugs promptly escapes that and then infiltrates Rocky's birthday party that night, disguised as a showgirl. Rocky soon sees through Bugs' disguise and, accompanied by Mugsy
, chases him into a cereal factory, where Bugs traps the pair on the cereal manufacturing machine. Afterwards, he brings Rocky to court, but thanks to a loophole in the law, the mobster is free to go.
Bugs has problems finding Rocky's new hideout until word breaks out of farmer Porky Pig
's golden egg
, which was apparently laid by Daffy Duck
. Upon reading of this news, Rocky and his men capture Daffy and demand him to lay a golden egg. He eventually does after Rocky shoots him in the head, and is then ordered to lay more to fill up their collection of egg carton
s. Bugs and the police suddenly bust in and arrest Rocky's troop. But another law loophole sets Rocky free again.
Rocky then captures
Tweety Bird and holds him for ransom
, and Bugs appoints Sylvester
to find Tweety. Sure enough, the pussycat finds Tweety in Rocky's hideout. After several failed attempts by Sylvester to eat Tweety, the police show up and surround Rocky's hideout. Sylvester ends up being hailed as a hero for having seemingly rescued Tweety, and Bugs brings Rocky and Mugsy to justice, but is forced to go to jail with them because he lost the keys to his handcuffs.
, Sylvester & Tweety, and himself. During all this, Daffy Duck continually gripes about the fact that he's not being nominated. When Bugs wins the award, Daffy becomes furious and challenges Bugs to a talent showdown (aka Show Biz Bugs
). Bugs seems to have the audience's favor, but Daffy eventually wins their applause by blowing himself up. Bugs gives the now-ghostly Daffy the award, with the duck responding "It just goes to show you, you gotta kill yourself to win an Oswald in this town!"
Also, clips from Little Red Rodent Hood
, Speedy Gonzales
, and A Pizza Tweety Pie
can be seen in the introduction.
.
Special features included three bonus cartoons: Box-Office Bunny, From Hare to Eternity
and Pullet Surprise.
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
film with a compilation of classic Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
cartoon shorts and animated bridging sequences produced by Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
, hosted by Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
. The new footage was one of the final productions done by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
DePatie-Freleng Enterprises was a Hollywood-based animation production company, active from 1963 to 1981. They produced theatrical cartoons, animated series, commercials, title sequences and television specials. Notable among these is The Pink Panther film titles and cartoon shorts and the Dr....
(also known as Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions
Marvel Productions Ltd. , last called New World Animation, was a television and film studio subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment Group , based in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, then New World Entertainment and News Corporation/Fox...
beginning the 1980s).
Synopsis
The film starts with a showing of the 1958 award winning cartoon Knighty Knight BugsKnighty Knight Bugs
Knighty Knight Bugs is a 1958 Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons and released by Warner Bros....
before going into its opening credits. This is followed up by Bugs narrating how Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
immediately replaced baggy-pants comedy before introducing us to "a warm-hearted humble little intrevoit called Yosemite Sam
Yosemite Sam
Yosemite Sam is an American animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The name is somewhat alliterative and is inspired by Yosemite National Park...
".
Act 1: Satan's Waitin
Yosemite Sam courts Granny with evil intentions for the $50,000,000 she has inheritedHare Trimmed
Hare Trimmed is a 1953 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng and written by Warren Foster, which features Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam, voiced by Mel Blanc, and Granny voiced by uncredited Bea Benaderet.- Plot :...
, but Bugs overhears his scheming and thwarts Sam under the guise of another suitor and later Granny herself. In the end, Sam dies after being crushed by a safe that Bugs drops on him and lands in Hell. Satan offers to give Sam another chance in life provided he sends someone in his place. Sam agrees to this and, as a Roman guard captain, a Saudi Arabian, and in his usual cowboy guise, attempts to kill Bugs. His attempts are unsuccessful, but when Satan offers him one more chance, Sam denies stating Satan should get the rabbit himself and decides to stay.
Act 2: The Unmentionables
Immediately after becoming a police detective (with the codename "Elegant MessEliot Ness
Eliot Ness was an American Prohibition agent, famous for his efforts to enforce Prohibition in Chicago, Illinois, and the leader of a legendary team of law enforcement agents nicknamed The Untouchables.- Early life :...
"), Bugs is captured
The Unmentionables
The Unmentionables is a 1963 animated short film in the Merrie Melodies series produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. It features Bugs Bunny with Rocky and Mugsy , and spoofs The Untouchables, a popular television crime drama . The title is also a synonym for "underwear"...
by Rocky
Rocky and Mugsy
Rocky and Mugsy are animated cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. They were created by Friz Freleng.-Character Biography:...
and his gang, who try to drown him. Bugs promptly escapes that and then infiltrates Rocky's birthday party that night, disguised as a showgirl. Rocky soon sees through Bugs' disguise and, accompanied by Mugsy
Rocky and Mugsy
Rocky and Mugsy are animated cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. They were created by Friz Freleng.-Character Biography:...
, chases him into a cereal factory, where Bugs traps the pair on the cereal manufacturing machine. Afterwards, he brings Rocky to court, but thanks to a loophole in the law, the mobster is free to go.
Bugs has problems finding Rocky's new hideout until word breaks out of farmer Porky Pig
Porky Pig
Porky Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators created many critically acclaimed shorts using the fat little pig...
's golden egg
Golden Yeggs
Golden Yeggs is a 1950 Merrie Melodies short animated film, released on August 5, 1950 by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. and directed by Friz Freleng...
, which was apparently laid by Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, often running the gamut between being the best friend and sometimes arch-rival of Bugs Bunny...
. Upon reading of this news, Rocky and his men capture Daffy and demand him to lay a golden egg. He eventually does after Rocky shoots him in the head, and is then ordered to lay more to fill up their collection of egg carton
Egg carton
An egg carton is a carton designed for carrying and transporting whole eggs. These cartons have a dimpled form in which each dimple accommodates an individual egg and isolates that egg from eggs in adjacent dimples...
s. Bugs and the police suddenly bust in and arrest Rocky's troop. But another law loophole sets Rocky free again.
Rocky then captures
Catty Cornered
Catty Cornered is a 1953 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng,written by Warren Foster, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It features Sylvester and Tweety in a forerunner of the Rocky and Mugsy cartoons, with Rocky having present-day form and manners and Mugsy replaced by a...
Tweety Bird and holds him for ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
, and Bugs appoints Sylvester
Sylvester (Looney Tunes)
Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr., Sylvester the Cat or simply Sylvester, is a fictional character, a three-time Academy Award-winning anthropomorphic Tuxedo cat in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies repertory, often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hopper...
to find Tweety. Sure enough, the pussycat finds Tweety in Rocky's hideout. After several failed attempts by Sylvester to eat Tweety, the police show up and surround Rocky's hideout. Sylvester ends up being hailed as a hero for having seemingly rescued Tweety, and Bugs brings Rocky and Mugsy to justice, but is forced to go to jail with them because he lost the keys to his handcuffs.
Act 3: The Oswalds
Bugs introduces us to the Oswald Awards, an award ceremony created by Friz for cartoon characters. He then hosts the ceremony himself, announcing the nominees - the Wolf from Three Little BopsThree Little Bops
Three Little Bops is a 1957 Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, with voices by Stan Freberg and music by jazz composer/trumpeter Shorty Rogers...
, Sylvester & Tweety, and himself. During all this, Daffy Duck continually gripes about the fact that he's not being nominated. When Bugs wins the award, Daffy becomes furious and challenges Bugs to a talent showdown (aka Show Biz Bugs
Show Biz Bugs
Show Biz Bugs is a Warner Bros. animated short originally released to theaters on November 2, 1957. It is billed as a Looney Tunes cartoon and stars Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as its main characters...
). Bugs seems to have the audience's favor, but Daffy eventually wins their applause by blowing himself up. Bugs gives the now-ghostly Daffy the award, with the duck responding "It just goes to show you, you gotta kill yourself to win an Oswald in this town!"
Featured cartoons
The cartoons used to make the film include:- Hare TrimmedHare TrimmedHare Trimmed is a 1953 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng and written by Warren Foster, which features Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam, voiced by Mel Blanc, and Granny voiced by uncredited Bea Benaderet.- Plot :...
(act 1) - Devil's Feud CakeDevil's Feud CakeDevil's Feud Cake is a 1962 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies animated short featuring Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. This one of the few Bugs Bunny cartoons to use footage from previous episodes, and the first to do so since 1959's Hare-Abian Nights....
(act 1; note: Uses the same premise of that short, but features a different Satan design/voice and new animation and dialog) - Roman Legion-Hare (act 1)
- Sahara HareSahara HareSahara Hare is a 1954 Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released in 1955 and directed by Friz Freleng.-Plot:This is another classic battle between Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam . Bugs pops up out from underground, thinking he has reached Miami Beach, when in reality he is in the Sahara Desert,...
(act 1) - Wild and Woolly HareWild and Woolly HareWild and Woolly Hare is a 1959 animated short starring Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. It features Bugs in a Western setting, again saving a town from Yosemite Sam.-Plot:...
(act 1) - The UnmentionablesThe UnmentionablesThe Unmentionables is a 1963 animated short film in the Merrie Melodies series produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. It features Bugs Bunny with Rocky and Mugsy , and spoofs The Untouchables, a popular television crime drama . The title is also a synonym for "underwear"...
(act 2) - Golden YeggsGolden YeggsGolden Yeggs is a 1950 Merrie Melodies short animated film, released on August 5, 1950 by Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. and directed by Friz Freleng...
(act 2) - Catty CorneredCatty CorneredCatty Cornered is a 1953 Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng,written by Warren Foster, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It features Sylvester and Tweety in a forerunner of the Rocky and Mugsy cartoons, with Rocky having present-day form and manners and Mugsy replaced by a...
(act 2) - Three Little BopsThree Little BopsThree Little Bops is a 1957 Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, with voices by Stan Freberg and music by jazz composer/trumpeter Shorty Rogers...
(act 3) - Birds AnonymousBirds AnonymousBirds Anonymous is a 1957 Merrie Melodies animated short, directed by Friz Freleng and written by Warren Foster, starring Tweety Bird, Sylvester and Sam...
(act 3) - High Diving HareHigh Diving HareHigh Diving Hare is a 1948-produced Warner Brothers Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short starring Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. Released to theaters on April 30, 1949, the short is an expansion of a gag from Stage Door Cartoon, which was also directed by Friz Freleng...
(act 3) - Show Biz BugsShow Biz BugsShow Biz Bugs is a Warner Bros. animated short originally released to theaters on November 2, 1957. It is billed as a Looney Tunes cartoon and stars Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as its main characters...
(act 3)
Also, clips from Little Red Rodent Hood
Little Red Rodent Hood
Little Red Rodent Hood is a 1952 animated short featuring Sylvester in parody of Little Red Riding Hood.-Plot:A grandmother mouse is telling her granddaughter a bedtime story, and so tells of Little Red Riding Hood , and her visit to Grandma's House, unaware that the wolf is watching her...
, Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales is an animated caricature of a mouse in the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He is portrayed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico" with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fast and speaking with an exaggerated Mexican accent...
, and A Pizza Tweety Pie
A Pizza Tweety Pie
A Pizza Tweety-Pie is a Warner Brothers “Looney Tunes” animated cartoon first shown in 1958. Written by Warren Foster and directed by Friz Freleng, it features Tweety, Sylvester and Granny, with Mel Blanc providing the voices of Sylvester and Tweety, and June Foray providing Granny's voice.-...
can be seen in the introduction.
Cast
- Mel BlancMel BlancMelvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
- Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew, Speedy Gonzales, Sylvester, Tweety, Rocky, Mugsy, King Arthur, Sir Osis of Liver, Sir Loin of Beef, Yosemite Sam, Gerry the Idgit Dragon, Satan, Treasury Director, Judge, Clancy, O'Hara, Cops, Clarence (B.A. Bird) - June ForayJune ForayJune Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
- Granny - Stan FrebergStan FrebergStanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
- Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Pigs - Ralph JamesRalph JamesRalph Torrez James was an American voice and character actor. Although he did a few voices for the Looney Tunes, James might be remembered best for performing the voice of Mr. Turtle in the classic commercials for Tootsie Pops which ran throughout the 1970s...
- Narrator - Frank Nelson -
- Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
- Reporter Dog, Lawyer
Censorship
- See Show Biz Bugs, Golden Yeggs and Wild and Woolly Hare for information on cut/altered scenes.
DVD release
The film was released on DVD in the USA on April 28, 2009 from Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
.
Special features included three bonus cartoons: Box-Office Bunny, From Hare to Eternity
From Hare To Eternity
From Hare to Eternity is a 1996 Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam cartoon in the Looney Tunes series, directed by Chuck Jones. Since this cartoon was produced after the death of legendary Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs is supplied by Greg Burson and the voice of Yosemite Sam is...
and Pullet Surprise.