8/10
Looney Tunes' renaissance
14 November 2008
Warner Bros. had retired the Looney Tunes characters throughout the '60s and stopped producing cartoons at the end of the decade (although the cartoons kept rerunning on TV). The release of "Bugs Bunny Superstar" in 1975 renewed interest in the series - sort of like how "American Graffiti" and "Happy Days" renewed interest in 1950s culture - so it was no accident that they brought the characters back for original productions.

I should say that the animation in "A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur's Court" looks really rough, and Sir Elmer of Fudde (Elmer Fudd) doesn't sound quite right with Mel Blanc doing his voice (his original voice artist Arthur Q. Bryan died in 1959), but you just gotta love some of the tricks in this movie. Whether it's Merlin's (Yosemite Sam) rants, Connecticut Rabbit's (Bugs Bunny) excessively long lance, or just the idea that advice from Ray Bradbury crossed with the missed left turn at Albuquerque could result in all this, there's some really funny stuff here. Chuck Jones had not run out of steam. Really great.

BTW, did you notice that the shield displaying the title said "Whatsupius Doctorus"? That could easily be one of the bogus scientific names in a Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote cartoon.

PS: this was the first time that Chuck Jones had directed Yosemite Sam, who had previously been a Friz Freleng character.
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed