Hair-Raising Hare (1946)

A sneaker-wearing, hairy monster chases Bugs through a castle belonging to an evil scientist.

Director:

Chuck Jones

Writer:

Tedd Pierce (story)

Stars:

Mel Blanc

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mel Blanc	...	Bugs Bunny / Peter Lorre Scientist / Gossamer / Doctor (voice)

Storyline

A wind-up toy in the shapely shape of a female rabbit lures Bugs Bunny out of his rabbit hole and into the castle of an evil scientist who looks exactly like Peter Lorre. The scientist wants to feed the rabbit to his huge, sneaker-wearing monster. The beast, completely covered in orange hair, is frightening enough to leave our hero temporarily speechless - forcing him to hold up a sign that says, "Yipe!" But Bugs Bunny is not easily cowed, and soon the wily rabbit is disguising himself in turns as a lamp, a chatty manicurist, a figure in a framed portrait and a knight on a charging horse, tricking and frustrating his nightmarish opponent at every turn.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | rabbit | mad scientist | castle | monster | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jänistävää jännitystä

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The orange monster has no name in this cartoon. He is known as Ruda in Water, Water Every Hare, then as Gossamer in Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century. The latter name is the one most familiar to cartoon fans.

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Goofs

When Bugs announces that he is going to "...exit, stage right.", he is actually moving stage left; "stage right" and "stage left" are opposite the directions as seen by the audience. Bugs should have said either "stage left" or "house right".

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Quotes

Bugs Bunny: [Bugs first sees Gossamer, turns around, makes funny faces and holds up a signs that says "yipe!" in small lettering, and then turns the sign around which says "YIPE!" in large lettering]

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Connections

Featured in Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go Hollywood (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Oh, You Beautiful Doll"
(uncredited)
Music by Nat Ayer
Played during the mechanical rabbit scenes

User Reviews

A blast and a great cartoon to watch back to back with its sequel

Chuck Jones's 'Hair-Raising Hare' pits Bugs Bunny against a genuinely disturbing Peter Lorre scientist caricature and his huge orange monster. The monster (later named Gossamer and also featured in Jones' luscious sequel to this short, 'Water, Water Every Hare' under the name Rudolph) is an extremely memorable villain who, despite his size, never poses much real threat to Bugs once he turns on his heckling. Although it is not as visually luscious as 'Water, Water Every Hare', Tedd Pierce has turned in a great script which includes some viciously amusing eye-poking, a priceless scene involving a suit of armour and the best "What's up, Doc" joke you'll ever hear. Bugs' wisecracks are top drawer ("Don't go up there, it's dark") and the high energy level is kept up throughout. It's also the only cartoon in which you'll get to hear Gossamer speak. All in all, then, 'Hair-Raising Hare' is a blast and makes a cracking double bill with its less gag-driven sequel.