phantom_tollbooth Review of Falling Hare

Falling Hare (1943)

Bugs as victim makes for a classic and unforgettable cartoon

[10/10 · 4 November 2008]

Bob Clampett's 'Falling Hare' is one of the greatest Bugs Bunny cartoons ever made. Part of the fascinating sub-genre of "Bugs as loser" cartoons, 'Falling Hare' sees Bugs being terrorised by a little gremlin for seven minutes. Far from a gentle needling, the gremlin puts Bugs in genuine fear of his life as he is imprisoned on a plummeting aircraft. Deceptively cute, the gremlin's nonchalance makes his psychopathic intentions all the more disturbing. He chuckles to the tune of 'Yankee Doodle' as he sets about destroying a plane in mid-flight and attempting to dispense of Bugs by having him plummet to his death. Though the gremlin is a fascinating character, 'Falling Hare' is really Bugs's show as he is driven to complete hysteria as he battles for his life. He goes through fits of screaming desperation, Technicolor nausea and complete collapse. It's one of the great cartoon breakdowns of all time (for another great animated mental collapse, see Friz Freleng's 'Canned Feud') and the fact that it is the usually cocky and self-assured Bugs going through it makes 'Falling Hare' even more remarkable. The sight of Bugs screaming at the window of a plane as it goes down has stuck with me ever since the first time I saw 'Falling Hare'. For anyone who makes the claim that Bugs must always be the winner, 'Falling Hare' is a must-see. In fact, it's a must see for absolutely everyone.