Robert McKimson's 'Hillbilly Hare' is probably the director's best loved short and I'd have to concur with the majority. 'Hillbilly Hare' is an absolutely fantastic piece of work and one of the few Robert McKimson cartoons which really stands up alongside the best work of his contemporaries. Pitting Bugs against a couple of stereotype hillbillies, 'Hillbilly Hare's' first half features some decent heckling but the halfway mark is the turning point as Bugs drags up and uses his sex appeal to tempt the two hillbillies into a square-dancing rehearsal. This leads to an extended climactic square-dance sequence which is one of my favourite routines in cartoon history. The success of this sequence is down to several contributors. Writer Tedd Pierce has written a fantastically funny set of lyrics which are delivered with astonishing comedic brilliance by Mel Blanc in one of the highlights of his long and distinguished voice-over career. McKimson creates the perfect visual accompaniment for this astonishing sequence. While 'Hillbilly Hare' might take a few minutes to really get going, its extended musical climax is one of the greatest moments in cartoon history. It never fails to have me roaring with laughter and it elevates the cartoon to the status of a true classic.
Review of Hillbilly Hare
Hillbilly Hare
(1950)
The square dance alone is one of the greatest animated comedy routines of all time
3 November 2008