Film's Title (Year of Release)

Short synopsis (or is that "short's synopsis?")

Cast (click here to learn about our new ongoing project, The Mel Blanc List)

Vintage Review (where available)

Critique

Video Release of the Cartoon (Video Studio, Video's Year of Release)

An ad appearing in The Calgary Herald in Calgary, AB on July 9, 1945.

Hare Trigger (1945)

Yosemite Sam appears for the first time as a train robber who holds up the mailcar, where Bugs is waiting. "Is this the end of Bugs Bunny? Will our hero be dashed to bits on the jagged rocks below?"

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Narrator, Train Passengers

Vintage Review
"Once more Bugs Bunny scores decisively as a laugh-provoker" (Film Daily, April 9, 1945)

Critique
Look out, world, here comes Yosemite Sam! What could have otherwise been merely a fine western spoof is made all the more excellent with the introduction of this pint-sized, hilarious villain. Bugs uses every western cliché to his advantage, including staging a fake shootout between Sam and a "sheriff" (ending with Sam doing a beautifully animated death scene) and luring Sam into a (live action) fistfight in the train's bar car. The whole thing results in a five-second fight scene on top of the train that parodies every western duke-out in history. The ending "cliffhanger" narration has become rightly iconic on its own.

Bugs Bunny Classics (MGM, 1988)
Bugs Bunny Classics (MGM Laserdisc, 1990)
Bugs Bunny's Zaniest 'Toons (MGM, 1991)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes (MGM Laserdisc, 1991)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Volume 6: Friz Freleng (MGM, 1992)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes VHS boxed set (MGM, 1992)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Three (WHV DVD, 2005)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Six (WHV DVD, 2008)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Collector's Vault Volume 1 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)

An ad appearing in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, NY on July 18, 1947.

Along Came Daffy (1947)

Twin brothers (one of who appears to be none other than Yosemite Sam!) are starving in a snowbound cabin, where they get a visit from traveling cookbook salesman Daffy!

Mel Blanc: Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Sam's Brother, Mice, Duck Decoys

Vintage Review
"A very good cartoon with a great many laughs" (Film Daily, July 10, 1947)

Critique
Underrated, fun chase cartoon from Freleng. The mountain-men brothers are somewhat unique antagonists in that they pose an equal threat; there isn't any real "smart one/dumb one" dynamic as we've seen in similar two-against-one shorts like Wackiki Wabbit, A Gruesome Twosome, or Hop, Skip and a Chump. (In all fairness, it's doubtful that the red-mustached brother is really meant to be Yosemite Sam and it's more likely that Freleng was just using the same design as a yet-to-be-firmly-established continuing character.) The starvation gags are pretty effective (including the standard "sees the other person as food" trope), with perhaps the funniest being a mouse resorting to eating a picture of cheese placed inside a trap as bait (and then hiccuping confetti). If anything really stands out it's that Daffy isn't acting like his normal, screwy self—or even the more-sedated version we've started to see in these late '40s shorts. And yet he still turns in an entertaining performance, such as becoming mortified and disgusted by his cookbook's duck-based recipes (and only becoming aware of his peril upon repeating the direction of "lopping off its head and feet"). Apart from trying to interject a businesslike "my company has authorized me—" once or twice while being chased, the only time he really reverts back to the Daffy of old is during perhaps the film's most memorable moment: when he hides within a cluster of hopping, woo-hooing duck decoys. And of course, we get a fun moment of suspense as each one gets blasted away and we're left with a sweating, terrified Daffy still hopping. The conflict's resolution may seem a tad like a deus ex machina, but it's all redeemed by literally giving us a spoken-on-screen "here we go again" ending.

NOTE: All video releases of this short have contained the 1954 Blue Ribbon reissue print that attaches a new title sequence onto the film. The original 1947 version with the complete title sequence and credits has yet to be recovered.

Daffy Duck Cartoon Festival Featuring "Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur" (MGM, 1986)
Just Plain Daffy (MGM, 1988)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Volume 3 (MGM Laserdisc, 1992)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 1-4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

An ad appearing in The Altus Times-Democrat in Altus, OK on December 5, 1948.

Buccaneer Bunny (1948)

Yosemite Sam is back as a pirate (Seagoin' Sam) burying his treasure, but Bugs gets in his way. Sam chases Bugs over to his ship, where Bugs leads Sam into a series of cannons and throws matches into the ship's powder room.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Polly

Vintage Review
"Plenty of laughter when the animation gets into its studied screwball stride" (Film Daily, June 14, 1948)

Critique
The year's first of two masterful Bugs/Sam outings adds a new pirate element to the villain's identity, one that would be associated with the character almost as much as his traditional western outlaw guise. Sam's personality is not only solidified with this short but also perfected, as he is both fearsome and gullible. A number of gags would become synonymous with Bugs and Sam's relationship, including the climactic scene outside of Sam's gun powder room. Not nearly as iconic but equally hysterical is Bugs's confrontation with (and then imitation of) Sam's parrot.

Starring Bugs Bunny! (MGM, 1988)
Bugs Bunny Classics (MGM Laserdisc, 1990)
Bugs Bunny's Zaniest 'Toons (MGM, 1991)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Volume 4 (MGM Laserdisc, 1993)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Five (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 5 (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume One (WHV Blu-ray, 2011)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume One: Ultimate Collector's Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2011)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Showcase Volume One (WHV Blu-ray, 2012)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume One (WHV DVD, 2012)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Best of WB 100: Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection (SDS DVD, 2023)
The Spanish Main (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

An ad appearing in the Warsaw Daily Union in Warsaw, IN on July 20, 1948.

Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948)

It's Bugs vs. Yosemite Sam, Round III! Back in western outlaw gear, Sam enters a saloon and challenges anyone to come and tame him. Bugs aims to. Features a zany chase on horseback, the first appearance of the "Step over this line" gag, and the classic Bugs and Sam soft-shoe number.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Skunk, Cowboys

Vintage Reviews
"Tops" (Film Daily, July 14, 1948)
"Good" (Boxoffice, July 24, 1948)

Critique
The perfect Yosemite Sam cartoon, period. The specific gags regarding his size and intelligence—"I'm a-thinking, and my head hurts!"—are hilarious, the parodies of the cowboy movie genre are classic and hold up incredibly well over half a century later, and Friz Freleng's comic timing has never been sharper. Bugs is confident and rarely treats Sam as an actual threat, which is a wonderful match for a villain whose temper is meant to terrorize victims but instead just adds to his own buffoonish nature. Two sequences are triumphs: a dance number in which Bugs—ordered to "dance" via Sam's pistols—provides a few soft-shoe steps before turning it over to Sam himself, who gladly continues without missing a beat; and a daffy chase sequence that includes perhaps the most ingenious tunnel gag ever done in an animated cartoon (the expressions of Bugs's and Sam's respective horses are also priceless). One of Freleng's best.

NOTE: Two versions of this short exist. The reissue changes a line of Sam's dialogue to "And I ain't no namby pamby" in order to remove a reference to the recently assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. All home video releases so far have included the redubbed version of this cartoon.

*Not all copies of this video include this cartoon.

Bugs Bunny Classics (MGM, 1988)
Bugs Bunny Classics (MGM Laserdisc, 1990)
*Bugs Bunny's Zaniest 'Toons (MGM, 1991)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes (MGM Laserdisc, 1991)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes Volume 10: The Art of Bugs (MGM, 1992)
The Golden Age of Looney Tunes VHS boxed set (MGM, 1992)
Looney Tunes the Collector's Edition: All-Stars (WHV/Columbia House, 1999)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Two (WHV DVD, 2004)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 8 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican in Plattsburgh, NY on September 14, 1949.

High Diving Hare (1949)

Bugs is a vaudeville barker advertising stunt-diver Fearless Freep, who just happens to be Yosemite Sam's idol. When Freep cannot show up, Sam forces Bugs to dive instead. But who goes up isn't necessarily who goes down....

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Telegram Man

Vintage Review
"Bugs Bunny is always funny and is in this, though the single gag in it is a little overplayed" (Boxoffice, May 14, 1949)

Critique
One of the finest Yosemite Sam cartoons has absolutely nothing to do with casting him as an outlaw or otherwise historical villain, as would become the norm for the series. The humor comes almost entirely from his character; his stubbornness in insisting that Bugs do the high-dive mixed with his continued gullibility. Each one of Sam's falls provides something new and unique in terms of setup and punchline, while one where Sam is literally racing a bucket of water to the bottom is delightfully animated. Bugs is in complete control, allowing for nothing but great reactions from Sam each time he's been duped ("I hate you."). Easily the funniest scene is a single fixed shot on the middle of the high-dive ladder as Sam continually climbs it only to fall due to some unknown off-camera trickery from Bugs; the viewers' minds are left to wonder of the possibilities, making us Bugs's accomplices in the process.

A Salute to Friz Freleng (WHV, 1985)
Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
From Hare to Eternity (WHV, 1998)
Looney Tunes the Collector's Edition: A Looney Life (WHV/Columbia House, 1999)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Volume One) (WHV DVD, 2003)
Best of Bugs Bunny (WHV Japan DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes Collection: Star wa Taihen! (What's Up Doc?) (WHV Japan DVD, 2004)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 7 (WHV DVD, 2009)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Bugs Bunny and Friends (WHV DVD, 2014)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV Blu-ray, 2014)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Best of WB 100: Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection (SDS DVD, 2023)

An ad appearing in The Altus Times-Democrat in Altus, OK on April 27, 1950.

Mutiny on the Bunny (1950)

Shanghai (Yosemite) Sam needs a crew for his ship, so he tricks Bugs with the promise of a free cruise around the world. When Bugs is put to work, he decides to cause repeated repairs to the ship.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Escaped Crewman, Mouse

Vintage Review
"Fair" (Boxoffice, March 11, 1950)

Critique
The middle entry in the "Yosemite Sam at sea" trilogy, it's an entertaining short but nevertheless pales in comparison to Buccaneer Bunny and the later Captain Hareblower. The pacing is a bit sluggish in the beginning (save for the manic appearance of the escaping slave who screams, "I was a human being once!"), but it picks up once Bugs starts causing antics on Sam's ship. The repeated shots of Sam fixing the ship and then relaunching it each time are memorable, but the true highlight is him posing as an old lady in order to board a lifeboat first (a ruse that is then topped by Bugs's "baby" anchor).

Yosemite Sam: The Good, the Bad, and the Ornery (WHV, 1992)
Hare Beyond Compare (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes the Collector's Edition: The Vocal Genius (WHV/Columbia House, 1999)
Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire (WHV DVD, 2010)
Looney Tunes Super Stars 3-Pack (WHV DVD, 2013)
Family Multi-Feature: Looney Tunes Super Stars (WHV DVD, 2014)

An ad appearing in The Daily Illini in Champaign, IL on April 25, 1950.

Big House Bunny (1950)

Trying to escape hunters, Bugs finds himself inside Sing Song Prison, where prison guard (Yosemite) Sam Schultz believes him to be an escaped convict. The gag in which Bugs leads Sam into a guillotine is almost always cut from television.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Warden

Critique
It's Bugs Bunny behind bars! The concept of Bugs being incarcerated was almost never attempted, and Friz Freleng wisely chose to execute it with Bugs being wrongly detained as opposed to him being an actual criminal who was serving time and trying to escape; it's a less sympathetic situation if the character is knowingly trying to break the law. This also marks the first time Sam is put in a position of actual authority, an idea that would be explored in later films. Though he was originally created to be an outlaw or otherwise villainous character, making Sam an authority figure adds a new (completely ridiculous) dimension to his overall evolution. The character's personality is what defines him now, not his specific guise; his inherent temper and stubbornness only lead to occupational incompetence. The warden adds yet another new element because now Sam has to answer to a superior, no longer making Bugs the sole source of his humiliation. All of this makes for a wonderfully funny cartoon, with the standout scene being Bugs challenging Sam to a classic "you wouldn't be so tough without that uniform" prison yard fistfight (complete with Bugs striking an antiquated fisticuffs pose), only to switch clothes with him and cause Sam to be locked up as a result. The farce is furthered when Bugs reappears as a corrupt guard to offer "prisoner" Sam an escape route. Sam immediately falls into his role as a convict despite all logic, and that is the beauty of the Bugs and Sam relationship: Bugs is constantly setting the parameters of their interaction, and Sam's emotional response makes him go along with it before he has a chance to think twice.

Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
Bugs Bunny's Hare-Brained Hits (WHV, 1993)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Volume One) (WHV DVD, 2003)
Best of Bugs Bunny (WHV Japan DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes Collection: Kari no Kisetsu (Rabbit Seasoning) (WHV Japan DVD, 2004)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Bugs Bunny and Friends (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Caged (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2023) (Photoshopped titles and low-pitch audio)

An ad appearing in the Vernal Express in Vernal, UT on February 15, 1951.

Bunker Hill Bunny (1950)

During the Revolutionary War, Bugs and (Yosemite) Sam von Schamm the Hessian fight over control of Bagel Heights.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam

Vintage Review
"Good" (Boxoffice, October 14, 1950)

Critique
Very decent, enjoyable Friz Freleng effort that doesn't necessarily disappoint but nevertheless lacks the zip of previous Bugs and Sam cartoons. There's a certain energy missing from the gags, with the pacing being a little more leisurely than the setting calls for (considering that the cartoon is depicting a war battle and all). The short still has its moments, though, including a ridiculous sequence in which Bugs and Sam continually charge past each other in order to seize the other's fort. Freleng continues developing Yosemite Sam by now depicting him as a villainous figure throughout history, a concept that would help the series survive and thrive through the decade (eventually resulting in an Academy Award).

A Salute to Friz Freleng (WHV, 1985)
Yosemite Sam's Yeller Fever (WHV, 1993)
Hare Beyond Compare (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes the Collector's Edition: A Looney Life (WHV/Columbia House, 1999)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Volume One) (WHV DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes: The Premiere Collection (WHV DVD, 2003)
All Stars (WHV Japan DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes Collection: Daisenso (Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century) (WHV Japan DVD, 2004)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Center Stage Volume 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Volumes 1-3 (WHV DVD, 2018)
Bright Leaf (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025) (low-pitch audio)

An ad appearing in the Tri City Herald in Kennewick, WA on December 24, 1952.

Rabbit Every Monday (1951)

In a unique twist, Yosemite Sam is hunting for a rabbit, and he even threatens audience members to not warn Bugs. Bugs, meanwhile, is singing an ode to carrots, unaware that he will soon have to lure Sam into his own oven.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Audience Member

Vintage Review
"Good...this has some amusing moments" (Boxoffice, April 21, 1951)

Critique
Sam is cast almost a little too generically here (he's a hunter now?), but this is still a very funny, very underrated effort from Friz Freleng. Sam's introduction, forcing an audience member (modeled by Tedd Pierce) back into his seat at gunpoint, is hilarious and one of the character's defining moments. Bugs's own solo moment—in which he sings "Oh carrots are divine, you get a dozen for a dime, it's magic..."—is whimsical, touching, zany, and rightfully iconic. The middle of the short is a tad unfocused, but things get back up to speed once Sam takes Bugs back to his cabin. There is a real feeling of peril as Bugs is forced into an oven, which is immediately nullified the second he crawls out to start fetching items like a fan, ice, and folding chairs, suggesting a party going on inside. Bugs is in complete control and Sam always plays right into it, even when it makes absolutely no sense.

Yosemite Sam: The Good, the Bad, and the Ornery (WHV, 1992)
Hare Beyond Compare (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Telegraph-Herald in Dubuque, IA on October 20, 1952.

The Fair Haired Hare (1951)

Yosemite Sam has built his home over Bugs's hole, so Bugs takes him to court. The judge decides that Bugs and Sam must live together, and whoever dies first gives the house to the other.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Judge

Vintage Review
"Good gags" (Boxoffice, June 2, 1951)

Critique
On the surface it's the standard "bad guy wants to kill good guy to get inheritance/land/etc." comedy plot, but Friz Freleng makes it work by giving the antagonist a better motivation than just pure greed; Sam doesn't feel that he's in error and merely wants Bugs off his supposed property. Bugs is a tad too passive in the lead-up to the living arrangement (considering how aggressive he was to defend his home in, say, Homeless Hare), but he thankfully redeems himself in the second half once Sam starts plotting against him. Sam meanwhile is especially hilarious as he tries to be simultaneously inviting and conniving, as most evident when he secretly poisons Bugs's carrot juice and threatens him at gunpoint to drink it (only to politely add, "It's good for you!"). A very casual pace and modest background design give the short a nice "homey" feeling, though the climax needed a bigger and better punchline.

Bugs Bunny: Truth or Hare (WHV, 1992)
Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Winona Republican-Herald in Winona, MN on July 16, 1953.

Ballot Box Bunny (1951)

Honest (Yosemite) Sam is running for mayor, and he promises to rid the country of every last rabbit. Outraged, Bugs decides to run against him. Features what is believed to be the first appearance of the "Those Endearing Young Charms" gag in a theatrical short.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Mother, Cigar Smoker, Ant
Bea Benaderet: Mothers

Vintage Review
"Very good" (Boxoffice, November 24, 1951)

Critique
The idea of Yosemite Sam running for political office (and on a heinous platform, yet!) is just too good to pass up, and Friz Freleng delivers with what is easily one of the most entertaining entries in the series. Sam is a scream to watch as he shifts back and forth between villainy and phoniness, bashing Bugs on the head with a club before announcing "And besides, I love babies!" The gags all work, and Bugs takes a very active role in humiliating and outwitting Sam as opposed to simply letting his anger get the best of him. The final scene—almost always edited for television—is dark, goofy, and surprisingly unique. Outstanding Bugs and Sam cartoon.

A Salute to Mel Blanc (WHV, 1985)
Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
From Hare to Eternity (WHV, 1998)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Volume One) (WHV DVD, 2003)
Best of Bugs Bunny (WHV Japan DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes Collection: Itazura Daisakusen (Wabbit Twouble) (WHV Japan DVD, 2004)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Bugs Bunny and Friends (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)

An ad appearing in the Rome News-Tribune in Rome, GA on March 30, 1952.

14 Carrot Rabbit (1952)

Chilacoot (Yosemite) Sam is a gold prospector who finds out that Bugs easily finds gold whenever he gets a "funny feeling." Sam offers a "partnership" with Bugs, who then leads Sam on a wild goose chase across the country.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Louie, Pierre, Military Police Guard

Vintage Review
"Good...amusing" (Boxoffice, June 21, 1952)

Critique
Decent, but slightly generic, Yosemite Sam effort, with Sam providing some fun reactions and one-liners ("I must've dug straight to Chi-nee!"). The animation of Bugs getting his "funny feeling" is a delight to watch, as it is such a burst of energy from the normally reserved Freleng crew. Bugs himself is in fine form with his ruses for Sam, letting us know very early on that he's onto Sam with a nod that could have been detrimental to the cartoon under another director. The short could have played out just fine on its own if Bugs had been seemingly oblivious to Sam's intentions—a la Tex Avery's Droopy cartoons where he squares off against Spike—but that one little extra acknowledgment is key because Sam is so over-the-top with his phoniness. Bugs is not only saying right then and there that he's nobody's fool, but he's also inviting us to play along with him in a "Get this guy" kind of way. The cross-country chase is a fun sequence, while the final gag is randomly goofy but seems almost a little out of place for this cartoon.

Looney Tunes Video Show #2 (WHV, 1982)
Hare Beyond Compare (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Five (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 5 (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Winona Republican-Herald in Winona, MN on July 25, 1953.

Hare Lift (1952)

Bank robber Yosemite Sam sneaks into an airplane, where visitor Bugs is looking around. Assuming Bugs is the pilot, Sam forces him to take off. He soon regrets it.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam

Vintage Review
"Amusing cartoon" (Boxoffice, February 14, 1953)

Critique
A sort of inverse of Falling Hare, only this time Bugs is tormenting someone else on a plane—and, key to the humor, the victim this time is asking for it. A couple of the plane gags are retreads from the earlier film (which isn't too surprising, since both shorts were written by Warren Foster), while the new material holds its own very well, including a sequence involving an automatic-pilot robot that bails out. The real delight in the short is watching Yosemite Sam's nerves unravel, from his stubborn refusal to offer Bugs a heartfelt apology as they're crashing to the ground to his ludicrous attempt to force Bugs to learn to fly at gunpoint ("Read faster or I'll blast your head off!"). The pacing is a tad casual and the final gag is a bit lame, but the end result is another fun battle between Bugs and Sam.

Yosemite Sam's Yeller Fever (WHV, 1993)
Hare Beyond Compare (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Winona Republican-Herald in Winona, MN on May 18, 1955.

Southern Fried Rabbit (1953)

On his way to Alabama, Bugs finds a Southern soldier (Yosemite Sam) guarding the Mason-Dixon line. A sequence in which Bugs dresses up as both a slave and Abraham Lincoln is almost always cut for television broadcasts.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam

Vintage Review
"Good. Another amusing Bugs Bunny cartoon" (Boxoffice, July 4, 1953)

Critique
Thoroughly entertaining cartoon in the most absurd way. Sam's presence as a middle-aged Civil War commander in present day defies logic (and when challenged on it, Sam's wonderful answer is "I'm no clockwatcher!"), but it works wonderfully. It fits his character to be historically and chronologically inept, to be put in a misguided position of armed authority, and to again be fighting for the losing side of a historic war. A later moment provides an additional twist of humor as Sam puts on a sincere "gentle" voice in order to sound like a Southern gentleman to Bugs's plantation belle disguise. Bugs himself is in fine form throughout, even offering what would become a Looney Tunes mini-staple with "I wonder why they put the South so far south." Bugs showing up (almost immediately) as a slave is rather cheap and gratuitous, but thankfully it's quickly followed by his inspired Lincoln portrayal. All of this is played against some beautifully rendered backgrounds, including a great image of the Mason-Dixon line that literally divides the sky between the drab gray of the North and the lush blue of the South.

Yosemite Sam's Yeller Fever (WHV, 1993)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Four (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)

An ad appearing in the Sarasota Journal in Sarasota, FL on July 16, 1953.

Hare Trimmed (1953)

Yosemite Sam reads that a local widow (Granny!) has inherited fifty million dollars, so he goes a-courting. Bugs hears about this and, not trusting Sam, decides to help Granny by posing as another suitor.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Minister
Bea Benaderet: Granny

Vintage Review
"Very good" (Boxoffice, June 27, 1953)

Critique
Underrated gem from Friz Freleng with hysterical moments from the opening establishing shot (with the score's delightfully podunk version of "The Arkansas Traveler") to Bugs's final punchline. Yosemite Sam truly shines here as he shifts back and forth between being a conniving schemer and a phony romantic. The cartoon is full of some great one-liners, including two from Sam as he's plotting his post-marriage financial plans (the classic "When I get my hands on that money, I'll buy the old ladies' home and kick the old ladies out.") and later when he's in a punch-drunk daze after being run over by a bus ("Ooo, what a night!")—to say nothing of Granny's own utterances such as the absurd "Nothing like this has happened to me since the boys got back from Gettysburg!" Bugs's actions against Sam are classic moments, the animation is downright masterful (dominated by some Virgil Ross artwork that would miraculously survive to become essential study references for students of character animation), and the story and gags progress naturally without a single misstep.

Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
Yosemite Sam's Yeller Fever (WHV, 1993)
Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire (WHV DVD, 2010)
Looney Tunes Super Stars 3-Pack (WHV DVD, 2013)
Family Multi-Feature: Looney Tunes Super Stars (WHV DVD, 2014)
Looney Tunes Collector's Vault Volume 1 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)
The Beggar's Opera (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)

An ad appearing in The Alfred Sun in Alfred, NY on June 3, 1954.

Captain Hareblower (1954)

It's Bugs vs. Pirate (Yosemite) Sam on the high seas. Amused by the fact that he's up against a rabbit, Sam's victory is halted by cannons and another mad dash to the powder room to pick up a lit match.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Captain, Lookout, Crewmen

Vintage Review
"Good" (Boxoffice, February 20, 1954)

Critique
Fantastic final entry in the "Yosemite Sam at sea" trilogy. Everything works here: Bugs is entertaining being more aggressive than smart-alecky, Sam is at his ineptly devious best, and Friz Freleng's gag timing is pitch-perfect—all making for a great, funny, action-packed cartoon. Obviously there are traces of Buccaneer Bunny on display, but the concept is more refined than remade. Even the powder-room scene isn't just a beat-for-beat replay (Sam's "waiting it out" faces are actually funnier here), and this one has the added bonus of Sam trying the same trick on Bugs. Naturally he fails, but Freleng nevertheless provides a memorable surprise ending.

Winner by a Hare (WHV Laserdisc, 1993)
Bugs Bunny's Hare-Brained Hits (WHV, 1993)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (WHV DVD, 2007)
Literary Classics Collection boxed set (WHV DVD, 2007)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)
The Spanish Main (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

An ad appearing in the Elmira Star-Gazette in Elmira, NY on May 20, 1955.

Sahara Hare (1955)

Bugs is lost on vacation again, this time ending up in the Sahara Desert. Meanwhile, Riff Raff (Yosemite) Sam finds footprints all over his desert, so he chases Bugs to a desert stronghold. Daffy makes a cameo appearance at the end.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck

Vintage Review
"Fair" (Boxoffice, April 30, 1955)

Critique
Very funny slapstick-filled cartoon from Freleng. The idea of Yosemite Sam as a sheik is absurdly inspired, but the short also unknowingly marks a bit of a turning point in the Bugs/Sam series. With this entry, a number of cartoons will take on a formulaic quality, foregoing the humor of Sam's personality and temper by merely putting him in a costume and having him try to enter a location Bugs has secured in a series of blackout gags. A fun concept on the surface, but really no different than Sylvester trying to get into Tweety's cage on a larger scale. This cartoon's concept will essentially be repeated soon after in Knighty Knight Bugs, Horse Hare, and Prince Violent. Also introduced is another recurring element for Sam cartoons, giving him a mount or vehicle that doesn't start or stop when he needs it to; this time it's a camel, who at least provides a memorable hump gag after Sam knocks him out.

Yosemite Sam: The Good, the Bad, and the Ornery (WHV, 1992)
Longitude and Looneytude (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Four (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 4 (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
I Died a Thousand Times (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)

An ad appearing in The Rusk Cherokeean in Rusk, TX on June 21, 1955.

This Is a Life? (1955)

Elmer is the host of a biography program that will take a look at a celebrity in the studio audience. Daffy (who sits next to Granny throughout the cartoon) thinks it will be about him, but alas it's Bugs's life that Elmer will be looking at, via scenes from Bugs's past films. A certain "varmint" also shows up as a voice from the past, making it his first pairing with Elmer.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Show Announcer
Arthur Q. Bryan: Elmer Fudd
June Foray: Granny

Critique
"Cheater" cartoons aren't supposed to be this good! Bugs is great in this, Elmer is even better, Daffy is in top narcissistic mode, and we're treated to Elmer and Yosemite Sam teaming up for the first time to scheme against Bugs. The older clips (from A Hare Grows in Manhattan, Hare Do, and Buccaneer Bunny) are used quicker and better than those in Freleng's previous clip show, His Hare-Raising Tale. Bugs's humble reactions to all the attention on him is charming without coming off as cocky, and his monologue about the origin of life is a highlight. Granny's appearance in the audience is a nice surprise, while her responses to Daffy's complaints and sarcastic remarks are a scream—it's a shame this character dynamic wasn't explored again in the classic era. Arthur Davis is at his peak as a Freleng animator, giving the characters a sharp fluidity and dimension as the rest of the studio's look was getting flatter and more streamlined. And of course, the climax of Daffy getting in the way of Elmer and Sam's attempt to get Bugs is the perfect capper to a fun cartoon.

Yosemite Sam's Yeller Fever (WHV, 1993)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Star (Port St. Joe) in Port St. Joe, FL on May 30, 1957.

Roman Legion-Hare (1955)

Nero (looking very much like Charles Laughton) wants a victim to feed to the lions, so he sends out his Captain of the Guards (Yosemite Sam) to find one. The Captain soon comes across an inquisitive Bugs, but then has to escape from the lions at every turn.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Coliseum Announcer, Emperor Nero, Roman Guard

Vintage Review
"Good" (Boxoffice, January 28, 1956)

Critique
One of the more inventive "costumed Yosemite Sam" cartoons of the decade, as soon as one accepts the insanely goofy idea of a bandit-masked Texan employed as a Nero-era Roman guard. Sam's cluster of guards are a nice if underused touch, slightly reminiscent of the mass of hunting dogs from Foxy by Proxy. The lions pose a great comic threat as they're simultaneously drawn funny and menacingly, and there is some wonderful animation of them as they continually attack Sam (including one moment where he's trying to literally stuff them down a manhole). Bugs has a good line or two and generally moves the plot along, but most of the gags are centered around Sam at the mercy of his own temper and incompetence.

Bugs Bunny's Wacky Adventures (WHV, 1985)
Longitude and Looneytude (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Four (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 4 (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Daily Illini in Champaign, IL on April 28, 1956.

Rabbitson Crusoe (1956)

Shipwrecked on an island, Yosemite Sam's time is divided between escaping a shark named Dopey Dick and growing sick of coconuts. Bugs soon drifts toward the island, and Sam has dinner plans in mind for his guest.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Dopey Dick

Critique
Despite a unique opening and some literary allusions, what results is a pretty routine Yosemite Sam cartoon. Most of the gags surrounding Sam come from Dopey Dick chasing and trying to eat him as opposed to Sam letting his temper get the best of him, though Sam does have a funny little meltdown early on over his hatred of coconuts. Bugs has little to offer here, mostly letting Dick do the heavy lifting against Sam. There is the occasional good line ("Shuddap and start simmering!"), but a general tedium throughout and a weak ending drag the whole thing down.

Bugs Bunny's Hare-Raising Tales (WHV, 1988)
Wince Upon a Time (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Tuscaloosa News in Tuscaloosa, AL on May 16, 1957.

A Star Is Bored (1956)

Disgusted with being a janitor while Bugs is a star, Daffy auditions to be an actor. However, he is hired just to be Bugs's stunt double. Another rare combination of Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, and Yosemite Sam—in fact, the final time all four would appear in the same theatrical cartoon during the studio's classic era.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Casting Director, Director, Production Assistant
Arthur Q. Bryan: Elmer Fudd
June Foray: Loly

Critique
Hilarious cartoon that serves as a prime showcase for the 1950s Daffy. As much as some fans like to criticize Chuck Jones for more or less introducing the "mean" version of Daffy, Friz Freleng really perfected the trait of him being a jealous show-biz personality. Freleng is able to find comedy in the superficial world of the entertainment industry without turning it into an inside Hollywood joke, making this a good companion piece to the director's This Is a Life? and even his earlier You Ought to Be in Pictures. If not for Daffy's unchecked ego throughout, his repeated humiliation as Bugs's double (and the hits involved) would come off more sadistic than funny—thankfully, one never feels sorry for Daffy only because of his inflated sense of talent and importance (even making fun of Bugs's acting as the two switch places). Moments of Daffy interfering in the filming of Bugs and Elmer's scenes are inspired, as he's so caught up in his obsession over Bugs that he thinks by "entering" the picture being filmed he'll somehow be able to exact some long-lasting harm on the wabbit. The film-production gags are wonderfully absurd, particularly a scene where Bugs's tailspinning airplane pauses in mid-air to allow Daffy to take Bugs's place for the crash. The final gag has a slight echo of Duck Amuck but is funny enough to stand on its own.

A Night at the Movies 1956: The Wrong Man (WHV, 1982)
Daffy Duck's Madcap Mania (WHV, 1988)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Five (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 5 (WHV DVD, 2007)
A Star Is Born: Deluxe Edition (WHV DVD, 2010)
A Star Is Born (WHV Blu-ray, 2010) (SD)
The Essential Daffy Duck (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Marion Star in Marion, OH on January 8, 1959.

Piker's Peak (1957)

In the Alps, Bugs and Yosemite Sam race each other to the top of the Schmatterhorn for a prize of fifty-thousand cronkites.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Mayor, St. Bernard

Critique
Middling Friz Freleng entry that again finds Yosemite Sam in a foreign locale. It's not a bad cartoon, just nothing we haven't seen before or better, as the overall tone is a weird cross between 14 Carrot Rabbit and Mutiny on the Bunny. The setting provides little more than some quick fractured-German dialogue and a fun running gag with a town band. There are some clever moments, though, such as Sam fiddling with a Swiss Army knife, a chase sequence with a runaway boulder, and a key scene of a St. Bernard mixing a martini for himself instead of saving Sam from an avalanche. But unfortunately there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm throughout—even the climax amounts to Sam merely chasing Bugs through a dense fog. Probably the weakest Bugs/Sam cartoon so far.

Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Daily Illini in Champaign, IL on March 6, 1959.

Knighty Knight Bugs (1958)

"Only a fool would go after the Singing Sword," says Bugs the Round Table jester, so King Arthur sends his fool out to do so. But Bugs has to get past the Black Knight (Yosemite Sam) and his sneezing "idjit dragon." This Friz Freleng short is the only Bugs cartoon to win an Academy Award.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, King Arthur, Sir Osis of Liver, Sir Loin of Beef, Gerry the Idjit Dragon

Critique
Classic later entry in the Bugs/Sam series, with expert direction from Friz Freleng and beautiful design by Hawley Pratt. Ridiculous premise aside, Bugs is at his comic-adventure-hero best here, while Sam makes an appropriately cast villain. The sneezing dragon (momentarily christened "Gerry" when Warner Bros. was attempting to market him for a toyline in the late '90s, based on an animation drawing signed by Gerry Chiniquy) is a nice change of pace from the usual steeds Sam gets flustered by, allowing for a couple of silly moments and giving Mel Blanc an opportunity to comically complain about dragons with Sam's angry cowboy slang. The lone drawback is that though it's a handsome cartoon and Freleng and his crew are at the top of their game, it's more charming than funny. Many of the gags are blackout fare typical of the "historical version of Yosemite Sam trying to get into a building" cycle of the late '50s, with two specific gags repurposed from Sahara Hare. It's fantastic that a Bugs Bunny cartoon finally won an Oscar after almost two decades, but such an honor should have come sooner for any of the better pictures that preceded this one.

A Salute to Friz Freleng (WHV, 1985)
Wince Upon a Time (WHV Laserdisc, 1994)
Academy Award-Winning Classic Cartoons (WHV/Turner Classic Movies DVD, 2005)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Four (WHV DVD, 2006)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 4 (WHV DVD, 2006)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection: 15 Winners (WHV DVD, 2008)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection: 15 Winners/26 Nominees (WHV DVD, 2008)
The Essential Bugs Bunny (WHV DVD, 2010)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
The Best of Bugs Bunny (WHV DVD, 2012)
Best of Warner Bros.: 50 Cartoon Collection - Looney Tunes (WHV DVD, 2013)
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection Double Feature Vol. 2 (WHV DVD, 2014)
The Hobbit: Remastered Deluxe Edition (WHV DVD, 2014)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV Blu-ray, 2014)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV DVD, 2014)
4 Kid Favorites: Looney Tunes Collection (WHV DVD, 2015)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)
Best of WB 100: Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection (SDS DVD, 2023)

An ad appearing in the Traverse City Record-Eagle in Traverse City, MI on June 4, 1960.

Hare-Abian Nights (1959)

Bugs burrows his way into a sultan's palace, where he is forced to tell entertaining stories of his travels. The stories start to resemble clips from Bully for Bugs, Water, Water Every Hare, and Sahara Hare. Chuck Jones animator Ken Harris directs, the first time in a decade that someone other than Jones, Friz Freleng, or Robert McKimson was completely at the helm of a Warner Bros. cartoon.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Vizier, Sultan Guard, El-Vez Prezley

Critique
The Chuck Jones unit tries its hand at a budget-minded "cheater" cartoon, with animator Ken Harris taking the reins from an overworked Jones, who was busy producing the "Gateways to the Mind" episode of The Bell Laboratory Science Series. The framing isn't any more imaginative than Bugs narrating clips, not nearly as enjoyable as the cheaters done by Freleng at the time or even the odd one or two McKimson would attempt. The opening sequence with the Sultan rejecting a couple of acts has a nice moment or two, but it's a long way to go just to get to some hastily edited clips from three infinitely better cartoons, while the film's excessive talkiness doesn't play to Harris's strengths as the unit's go-to action animator. More disappointingly, one of the studio's all-time top animators doesn't show any particular directing style of his own, with visuals and timing coming off merely like a lukewarm Jones effort—the difference between this short and what unit colleague Abe Levitow would do the same year are like night and day; but in all fairness, Harris is given absolutely nothing to work with here. Sam showing up at the end is a fun surprise but he is ultimately wasted, and the use of the tiring "uncooperative animal/door/mechanism" gag as the film's climax is questionable. Cheaters don't have to be this lame.

Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in the Bradford County Telegraph in Starke, FL on May 19, 1960.

Wild and Woolly Hare (1959)

Yosemite Sam storms into the Fat Chance Saloon to challenge anyone to "slap leather," but is immediately stifled by a cool, lounging Bugs. After a humiliating gunfight, Sam has to leave to rob a train, but Bugs also rides off to save it.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Cowboy, Scared Cowboy, Poker Player, Injun Joe, Old Timer, Beer Moocher

Critique
Arguably Friz Freleng's last bonafide classic for Warner Bros. Yosemite Sam is back to basics here; no international locale, no historical setting, just a loud gunslinger whose ego and temper keep getting the best of him. The lead-up to his introduction is well executed, from the various cowpokes swapping stories to his shadowy walk up to the saloon door (and of course, topped by a perfect comic reaction to an off-camera murder). Bugs has a cool, laid-back, western hero look throughout, and his gags aimed at Sam both verbal ("You've been eatin' onions!") and physical are wonderfully in character. The genius in Freleng's direction of the slapstick is the sheer anti-violence of it—Sam gets repeatedly shot in the face but he's not blackened or full of holes, just frazzled and humiliated. The climactic game of train-chicken is nicely staged, with Freleng building comic tension as the locomotives gain speed—not to mention Sam's petrified look as he defiantly blows his engine's whistle. One of the quintessential Bugs and Sam cartoons.

Yosemite Sam: The Good, the Bad, and the Ornery (WHV, 1992)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in the Bradford County Telegraph in Starke, FL on June 29, 1961.

Horse Hare (1960)

Bugs is left alone to defend the cavalry's fort from an Indian invasion, which just happens to be led by Renegade (Yosemite) Sam.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Fort Lariat Captain, Geronimo, Indian Chief, Sam's Mule

Critique
Well-paced but extremely derivative short that mixes the "historical Yosemite Sam getting into a stronghold" trope with a rehash of Freleng's earlier Tom Tom Tomcat (but without that film's joyful lunacy). Despite having Mike Maltese on board as writer, it just feels like an afterthought to the "Indian attack" genre of cartoons that were all the rage two decades ago with the likes of The Hardship of Miles Standish and Scalp Trouble/Slightly Daffy (surprised we weren't treated to the "Yanks beat Indians" gag). So little originality is present that there's even a reuse of the misplaced-cause-and-effect bullet scene from His Bitter Half. Mel Blanc still turns in a solid performance (particularly as Sam) and Bugs's closing "I love everybody" line is a charming throwaway, but it's not enough to save this ordeal.

An ad appearing in The Cherokeean in Rusk, TX on February 23, 1961.

From Hare to Heir (1960)

Sam, Duke of Yosemite (guess who), is broke. Bugs shows up to declare that Sam will receive one million pounds in legal tender, but only if he can keep his temper. Bugs decides to test him.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Bookkeeper

Critique
A sort of rethinking of The Wabbit Who Came to Supper, where a monetary threat hangs over an antagonist's impulses like an albatross. Bugs's role here is less menacing than it was in the older film; he seems to be testing Sam but is unaware of how malicious it's coming across—which makes his astonished "Well!" reactions to Sam's outbursts such fun little moments. Sam's angry responses to everything has never been more hysterical, with Friz Freleng parodying the idea of a rageaholic even before the condition became widely known. His Tourette-like reactions as he falls victim to his own traps are priceless, offering every faux-profanity under the sun to the point where they almost serve as a musical accompaniment to the visual gags. But ironically (or maybe fittingly), Mel Blanc is funnier as Sam as he tries to put on a phony "pleasant" voice, shifting back and forth from gruff anger to almost smarmy smoothness. It's also a true testament to his skills as an actor; whereas it would have been quite easy for someone else to just use a stock "nice" voice for Sam in a Jekyll and Hyde sort of way, Blanc concocts a sedated version with all these mild inflections that's still authentic to the character—you're convinced that's exactly how Sam would sound if he wasn't a loud villain. The final scene with a "reformed" Sam offers some well-choreographed Freleng slapstick as the duke subjects himself to a parade of abuse from his staff—punctuated with the only logical conclusion to the situation, leading one to wonder if Bugs knew what he was doing all along.

Bugs & Friends (WHV Japan Laserdisc, 1998)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Terre Haute Tribune in Terre Haute, IN on March 19, 1961.

Lighter Than Hare (1960)

Earth is being invaded by Yosemite Sam of Outer Space, who uses his squad of robots to find an earth creature to kidnap. Bugs's line about the Amos and Andy radio show is sometimes cut from television.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, ZX29B, Robot Ferret, High and Mighty Potentate

Critique
Underrated gem that by all rights shouldn't work but does. The genius behind it is Friz Freleng's commitment to the premise—no winks, no nods, no inside jokes about acting jobs on this screwball picture—just accept that a white guy from Texas is an alien leading robots to invade the planet (the only fault is they didn't have the temerity to also include Sam's bandit mask). The comic timing of the gags cover familiar ground and don't try to reinvent the wheel—you have the explosion going off as a final bolt is being loosened, a character defying another's suggestion and then regretting it, etc.—but they still pack their respective punches. Milt Franklyn provides an eerie sci-fi score that's a refreshing change of pace for a Freleng cartoon, showing that the composer was still full of surprises right to the end. Sam is a delight as an over-the-top alien warrior, with the self-identifying scream of his own name before blasting off being a particular highlight. It would have been really easy (and lazy) to play Bugs off as oblivious to the invasion around him, but Freleng instead wisely makes him aware of the threat and has him fight back, with wits going against alien technology. The wabbit still had some action left in him despite the budgets getting smaller and smaller.

Bugs & Friends (WHV Japan Laserdisc, 1998)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 1-4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

An ad appearing in The Maryville Daily Forum in Maryville, MO on March 24, 1962.

Prince Violent (1961)

The ruthless viking (Yosemite) Sam the Terrible and his elephant try to storm a castle, but Bugs keeps them at bay. Referred to as Prince Varmint in The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour's uniformed titles in 1978. Warner Bros. went a step further in 1992 and created a brand new, complete opening sequence with the new title.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Villagers, Castle Guard, Elephant

Critique
Weak attempt to replicate the style of the far superior Knighty Knight Bugs but without the substance. Sam has an interestingly manic introduction as he growls and stabs his way toward the castle, but the cartoon soon falls back on the "Sam trying to get into a building/stronghold/fortress" formula that's been done to death; thankfully this is the final cartoon using that premise. Bugs has little to do but watch the action from the castle, in most cases letting the villain do all the work. The gags are pretty basic for a Freleng cartoon at this point—you have the "bricks sticking out from an impact" bit, the "character struggling to breathe underwater" bit, etc. Another case of the history of the short being more interesting than the cartoon itself.

Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Maryville Daily Forum in Maryville, MO on June 14, 1963.

Honey's Money (1962)

In a remake of the Daffy Duck cartoon His Bitter Half, Yosemite Sam marries a widow who recently inherited five million dollars. He's already up to his elbows in housework when his intimidating new wife introduces him to his new stepson, the hulking Wentworth. The only Yosemite Sam solo cartoon of the classic era.

Mel Blanc: Yosemite Sam
June Foray: Mrs. Yosemite Sam
Billy Booth: Wentworth

Critique
Funny cartoon, an impressive attempt at giving Sam a solo spotlight, and a rare remake that works on its own, but on the downside also one that reeks of familiarity. It's not enough that the central plot from His Bitter Half is lifted; the initial scenes also borrow from the earlier Bugs/Sam film Hare Trimmed (we even get a repeat of the classic "I'll buy the old ladies' home and kick the old ladies out" line) and one of the later sequences is a refit of a bit from the only middling Sylvester outing Pappy's Puppy. Even the one decidedly original scene, with Sam filling a swimming pool with alligators, just seems like something Freleng had already done (although the notion of such a thing as an "alligator truck" existing and driving around town is a nice touch)—after a while it all starts feeling like a Friz Freleng greatest hits reel. Having said that, the reused gags and premise all work only because Freleng uses them to turn in a pitch-perfect characterization of Yosemite Sam. Not merely being a carbon copy of Daffy from the earlier film or the likes of Show Biz Bugs and A Star Is Bored, Sam is alternately greedy, sadistic, and dominated (with easily the best comedic example of the first trait being where he literally licks around the edges of the wife's bank book). In the Pappy's Puppy redo, Sam has no qualms about tricking a child to play in traffic, but as soon as the wife turns the tables on him, he cowers (complete with a funny little leap back on the sidewalk as the wife approaches, increasing the tension). Mel Blanc also gives the villain a solid performance, never making him sound as smarmy as he did back in From Hare to Heir but instead providing some great comic reactions such as his stammering "Duh-duh-daddy??" (And speaking of voices, Dennis the Menace regular Billy Booth offers a charming performance as Wentworth, whose childlike giggles are matched with a funny vacant stare.) Perhaps the short's greatest difference from His Bitter Half is with the ending, where the former sets it up with an ultimatum and ends with a visual gag. Here it's Sam making a moral decision on his own, which on one hand might suggest that the studio's dwindling budgets necessitated a more-dialogue-heavy resolution but the other hand offers a neat little glimpse into Sam's psyche—again, this cartoon is a great showcase for his characterization. We even get a genuinely charming final gag that doesn't betray anything we hadn't seen already. Unfortunately, this will serve as something of a last hurrah for Friz Freleng and Yosemite Sam, as the next couple of shorts will take a drastic dip in quality before the studio shuts down altogether.

Yosemite Sam: The Good, the Bad, and the Ornery (WHV, 1992)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV Blu-ray, 2014)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume Three (WHV DVD, 2014)
Best of WB 100: Looney Tunes Complete Platinum Collection (SDS DVD, 2023)

An ad appearing in The Escanaba Daily Press in Escanaba, MI on February 12, 1964.

Shishkabugs (1962)

Yosemite Sam is the royal cook for the King (another Charles Laughton-like ruler), who is sick of the various foods Sam prepares and instead wants hasenpfeffer. Sam is still looking up exactly what hasenpfeffer is when Bugs knocks on the door to ask for a cup of diced carrots.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, King

Critique
Sort of a rethinking of Freleng's own Slick Hare without any of the spirit, action, or comedy. The rehashed idea could have still made for an innocuous romp, but the whole thing gets bogged down by an incredibly boring set-up, mostly consisting of Sam complaining about cooking for the king. By the time Bugs starts actually pranking Sam and the king, the cartoon is already two-thirds over. The whole short just suffers from listless pacing and unremarkable dialogue (including a painfully bad final pun), although there are some cute moments where Sam mispronounces the names of such culinary items as au jus and Worcestershire sauce. Mel Blanc recorded his dialogue while still in a body cast following his near-fatal January 1961 car crash. Despite his best efforts, this unfortunately results in the characters' voices coming off as stuffy and unenergetic, soundtrack qualities that are not helped at all by new musical director Bill Lava's harsh, random orchestra stings. Disappointing cartoon to sit through.

Bugs & Friends (WHV Japan Laserdisc, 1998)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)

An ad appearing in The Canberra Times in Canberra, ACT on July 24, 1968.

Devil's Feud Cake (1963)

In redubbed footage from Hare Lift, bankrobber Yosemite Sam hijacks a plane with inexperienced "pilot" Bugs inside. When Sam bails out and realizes that he doesn't have a parachute, he falls and dies. The devil makes a deal with Sam, promising to send him back to Earth if he can bring Bugs back in exchange. Sam's attempts are taken from Roman Legion-Hare and Sahara Hare. Spliced from an episode of The Bugs Bunny Show.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, The Devil

Critique
Great premise for a cheater, but horrid execution. This is actually a cheater of a cheater, as most of the "new" footage was taken from the "Satan's Waitin'" episode of The Bugs Bunny Show, with the only brand new bits of animation more or less being those blending Hare Lift into the story (in the original TV episode, the initial cartoon was Hare Trimmed). The editing of the older material is haphazard at best: Hare Lift is cut to ribbons, while the clips from Roman Legion-Hare and Sahara Hare aren't exactly the most memorable scenes from those two films. Mel Blanc adds some oily slyness to his performance as Satan, but it's lost in the sea of weakly redubbed dialogue that surrounds it—while Bill Lava's intrusive music (especially during the Hare Lift montage) is more depressing and sinister than anything the Prince of Darkness could concoct. Warren Foster's writing credit seems highly suspect and is likely more honorary (or contractual) to acknowledge his work on the original cartoons featured. The final, classic punchline unfortunately cannot save this erratically paced trainwreck. (Ironically, when Freleng would attempt this exact same idea a third time for The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie he would go to the other extreme and pad out the story to the point where the sequence runs longer than the original Bugs Bunny Show episode.)

Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 1-4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

An ad appearing in the Western Herald in Bourke, NSW on September 12, 1969.

Dumb Patrol (1964)

Somewhere in France during World War I, biplane pilot Bugs challenges the Baron (Yosemite) Sam von Schpam to come after him. Porky Pig makes a cameo appearance. The only Bugs cartoon directed by Friz Freleng animator Gerry Chiniquy.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig, French General, German General

Critique
Bugs is essentially a guest star in his own cartoon. He doesn't really partake in any action as he does just serve as a gliding, otherwise motionless target; Tweety in The Jet Cage. Everything involving Sam is just so derivative of bits done much better in other shorts. This time it's not an animal but his plane that won't move when he wants, prompting him to order it to contact and whoa like a horse—it's senseless and thoroughly unfunny. Gerry Chiniquy has the unenviable task of taking over direction for the Friz Freleng unit following his leader's departure to found DePatie-Freleng. He tries to emulate Freleng's style of timing and execution, but the flair is clearly missing and gags land with painful thuds. (Chiniquy's other cartoon, Hawaiian Aye Aye with Tweety, is only marginally better.) Porky's opening appearance as Captain Smedley is weird and random, especially since he hadn't been in a theatrical cartoon with Bugs in twenty-one years. There was a rash of these eerie, silent cameos of recognizable characters during this last year or so (such as Witch Hazel in Transylvania 6-5000 and, more unsettlingly, the zombie-like Elmer in Crows' Feat). If anything, it just presents a missed opportunity, as an actual cartoon where Bugs and Porky are fighting on the front line together would have been hundreds of times more inspired and entertaining than what we're given here. There's no other way to describe this one: dumb!

Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 3 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 1-4 (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

A TV listings blurb appearing in the Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee, FL on December 7, 1980, specifically highlighting this short from the Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales special.

Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979)

In the first of two Bugs cartoons produced for the TV special Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales, Bugs and the gang reenact A Christmas Carol, with Yosemite Sam as Scrooge and Porky Pig as Bob Crachit. Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Pepe le Pew, Foghorn Leghorn, Petunia Pig, and Tweety make cameo appearances.

Mel Blanc: Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Pepe le Pew, Tweety, Sylvester, Light Company Man

Critique
Four years before Disney made the much more beloved and faithful Mickey's Christmas Carol, Bugs and the gang beat them to the punch with an abridged version that ironically comes off as preemptively derivative. Friz Freleng hadn't directed any new animation in a decade and it shows, helped in no part by being hampered by a television budget. Character movements are clunky, the animation at times looks smudgy and unrefined, and awkward close-ups are used to glibly convey emotion. Bugs doesn't so much teach Sam the error of his ways as he just pulls pranks on him and scares the crap out of him. It kinda misses the point of the original Charles Dickens story, which is odd considering how often it has been successfully adapted to countless other mediums and pop culture franchises. The use of many characters teeters delicately between cute and gratuitous, and the absence of Daffy is painfully obvious a result of corporate meddling (due to his Saturday morning show being on NBC rather than CBS). Doug Goodwin provides an engaging, dramatic score, but much of it is undercut by a rather generic production design; a non-specific "old-timey town" look that's more cluttered than Dickensian—oh, how an actual DePatie-Freleng-styled cartoon with minimalistic backgrounds would have been a visual treat to watch! Perhaps the funniest moment is the "light company" coming into Porky's house to cut the power by removing a candle from his dining room table, while Bugs's line "Ain't I a little Dickens, though?" is almost too clever for this cartoon. A cute, very in-character ending wraps things up nicely, but it's almost too little too late. Ultimately, it's all harmless, but very charmless.

NOTE: This made-for-TV short did not originally feature a title sequence, but one was created in 1992. The videos listed below include the cartoon as it was originally seen, without a title.

Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (WHV, 1990)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Five (WHV DVD, 2007)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)

(blooper) Bunny! (1991)

A behind-the-scenes look at the (fictional) commemorative short Bugs Bunny's 51rst 1/2 Anniversary Spectacular starring Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, and Yosemite Sam, outtakes and all. Directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon. Remained unreleased until 1997's "June Bugs" marathon on Cartoon Network.

Jeff Bergman: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Announcer, Teamsters
Gordon Hunt: Director

Critique
Inventive show-biz cartoon that proves to be a worthy successor to the likes of A Star Is Bored and Show Biz Bugs. There are a couple of punchlines that are a little racier than what was done back during the Golden Age (a toilet flush sound effect is heard, and Daffy calls Bugs a "smug son of a—"), but the stage-mishap gags for the most part work, and the various reactions are very much in-character—and thankfully it's all relatively free of that bland hacky feel that faux-blooper comedy bits usually have. The blooper gags are almost upstaged early on by a single, continuous, three-dimensional shot showing various backstage goings-on, offering everything from Elmer trying to grow hair with minoxidil to a blink-and-you-miss-it reference to none other than Bosko! The film's overall theme amounts to a pretty biting satire of how Warner Bros. treated the Looney Tunes property at the time, especially during Bugs's birthday year—sadly, those very (funny) digs at the studio would ultimately cost the cartoon from seeing any kind of timely release. Easily the most entertaining of the studio's '90s shorts; it's a shame it didn't get the proper exposure when it was made.

Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Volume One) (WHV DVD, 2003)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 boxed set (WHV DVD, 2011)
Bugs Bunny Golden Carrot Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection - Limited Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2020)
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)

Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers (1992)

Strange alien carrot pods have created limited-animation duplicates of Elmer, Yosemite Sam, and Daffy, and it's up to Bugs to set things right. Directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon. Features animation parodies of Clutch Cargo and Terry Gilliam, among others. Porky Pig makes a cameo appearance.

Jeff Bergman: Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Black Hole

Critique
For as long as it is (clocking in at over eleven minutes!) and as much story is packed into it, the cartoon is weakly written at best, while the continued running of Bugs through his three environments gets wearying after a while. Once Bugs uncovers the Nudnik conspiracy behind the whole thing, we're left with more questions than answers: Who exactly are the aliens? What did they do with the real Elmer, Sam, and Daffy? Why would they suddenly return once Bugs gets rid of the phonies? Considering writers/directors Greg Ford and Terry Lennon previously excelled with such horror-themed cartoons as The Duxorcist and the compilation movie Daffy Duck's Quackbusters, their mishandling of such a classic horror trope is disappointing (although the scene of Bugs's duplicate emerging from the carrot ooze is eerily effective). The main problem is Ford and Lennon's penchant for recreating past, classic Bugs Bunny bits; they're wedged into the story without context and are almost hastily presented. It's like hearing a cover band do a bad medley of a group's greatest hits; they may know all the notes, but there's no soul in it. The repeated material tries to play to Jeff Bergman's skills as an impressionist, but his performances ultimately come off as artificial carbon copies. Surely, when Bergman is given original lines to say then his voices sound closer to the mark than when he's forced to repeat old dialogue. The various parodies of limited animation are inventive if maybe a little unfocused as to what the specific targets are (save for Daffy's hilarious Clutch Cargo lips and the surprise post-credits bit), and there seems to be an attempt to make some comment on how studios regard classic animated characters, but it's not nearly as clear or clever as the gags in Blooper Bunny! that ground the same axe. Years later, that same anti-Hollywood snarkiness would become one of the bigger script problems with the feature Looney Tunes: Back in Action; when everything is a vague dig at corporations or movie studios or producers then it starts coming off like an episode of Animaniacs—jokes not necessarily for the audience to laugh at but for animation writers to sit back and smirk about. Bugs deserves better for such an epically long cartoon.

The Essential Bugs Bunny (WHV DVD, 2010)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2025)

An ad appearing in the Standard-Speaker in Hazleton, PA on August 25, 1995.

Carrotblanca (1995)

In this parody of Casablanca, Bugs is a juice-joint owner who meets up with a long-lost love, Kitty (Penelope, in her first speaking role). Meanwhile, Kitty's husband (Sylvester) has been taken prisoner by evil German policeman General Pandemonium (Yosemite Sam). Directed by Douglas McCarthy. Features the most appearances of Warner Bros. characters than any other short.

Greg Burson: Bugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn
Joe Alaskey: Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Train Announcer
Bob Bergen: Tweety, The Crusher
Tress MacNeille: Penelope
Maurice LaMarche: Yosemite Sam, Pepe le Pew

Critique
Generally entertaining cartoon, though maybe a bit too Animaniacs-ian at times—and thankfully not as soul-crushingly depressing as the later direct-to-video movies with Tom and Jerry figuring into classic Warner-owned movies. The specific jokes that spoof Casablanca are decent while staying respectful (whether by design or from studio pressure); not all of the film's iconic scenes and lines are here, but enough of the more-universally known bits are represented for casual movie buffs to get. The various cameos from the Looney Tunes characters are fun to look for without being distracting, although one can't help but suspect that maybe the reason for them was to sell the production cels through the Warner Bros. Studio Stores. Of the main cast, Tweety is a scream as Peter Lorre's Ugarte, and it's refreshing to see Daffy being funny without him acting as an adversary to Bugs. Having already voiced Bugs a few times before on Tiny Toon Adventures and other quick TV appearances, this marks Greg Burson's first major performance as the wabbit. The whole cast really stands out (Burson and Joe Alaskey especially), turning in some excellent takes on the characters without making them sound like hastily done impressions of Mel Blanc. Fresh off doing a few episodes of Taz-Mania and storyboarding a wealth of other series for various studios, director Douglas McCarthy juggles all the characters nicely and keeps the story moving. If there is to be any major criticism, then it's simply a longing to see what McCarthy could have done with the characters without a specific, famous plot to use as a crutch.

Carrotblanca: Looney Tunes Go to the Movies (WHV, 1996)
Casablanca: Two-Disc Special Edition (WHV DVD, 2003)
The Bogart Collection boxed set (WHV DVD, 2003)
Best Picture Oscar Collection set (WHV DVD, 2005)
Best Picture Oscar Collection: Drama boxed set (WHV DVD, 2005)
Humphrey Bogart: The Signature Collection Volume I boxed set (WHV DVD, 2006)
Casablanca (WHV HD DVD, 2006) (SD)
Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition (WHV DVD, 2008)
Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2008) (SD)
Casablanca (WHV Blu-ray, 2009) (SD)
Casablanca (WHV Blu-ray, 2010) (SD)
The Essential Bugs Bunny (WHV DVD, 2010)
Casablanca: 70th Anniversary Edition boxed set (WHV Blu-ray, 2012) (SD)
Casablanca (WHV Blu-ray, 2012) (SD)
Casablanca/The African Queen (WHV Blu-ray, 2013) (SD)
The Best of Bogart Collection boxed set (WHV Blu-ray, 2014) (SD)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Casablanca (SDS UHD/Blu-ray, 2022) (SD)

From Hare to Eternity (1996)^CJ

In a parody of The H.M.S. Pinafore, H.M.S. Friz Freleng captain Buccaneer (Yosemite) Sam is digging up buried treasure and comes across Bugs along the way. Directed by Chuck Jones, who dedicated the film to Freleng. Michigan J. Frog makes an off-camera cameo appearance. Jones's final animated Bugs work.

Greg Burson: Bugs Bunny
Frank Gorshin: Yosemite Sam
Jeff McCarthy: Michigan J. Frog

Critique
Ugh, what an ordeal! As noble as it is to see Chuck Jones honor his longtime colleague, Friz Freleng deserved a better tribute. Jones has no handle on Yosemite Sam and just turns him into every other overly talky pun-making character he's directed for the last three decades. Even the animation itself is hard to watch—Bugs has a wildly inconsistent design throughout (at times looking downright ugly), while Sam becomes this bouncy, spastic thing, less gruff villain and more amateur ballet dancer; just another instance of Jones not understanding the character. Then there's Frank Gorshin—oh, how then there's Frank Gorshin! Gorshin is a legendary actor with an unquestionable gift for impressions, but his Sam is simply painful to listen to—it's all low growling with none of the Texas twang or loud mood swings. Even Greg Burson's usually on-point Bugs comes off as unenthusiastic and nasally. The gags don't work, Jones is too concerned with his usual little annoying touches (odd sound effects spelled out on screen, throwaway lines become extended puns, etc.), and there's none of the chemistry between Bugs and Sam that was a hallmark of Freleng's shorts. Sad, lame farewell to Freleng, and to Jones as a director for that matter.

From Hare to Eternity (WHV, 1998)
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (WHV DVD, 2009)
Looney Tunes 3-Pack Fun (WHV DVD, 2011)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume One (WHV Blu-ray, 2011) (SD)
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection Volume One: Ultimate Collector's Edition (WHV Blu-ray, 2011) (SD)
Looney Tunes Triple Feature: Looney Tunes 3-DVD Collection (WHV DVD, 2016)
Looney Tunes Double Feature (WHV DVD, 2017)
Looney Tunes Center Stage (WHV DVD, 2019)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)
Joe's Apartment (WHV/Warner Archive Blu-ray, 2024)

Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas (2004)

Bonaparte (Yosemite) Sam builds his casino on top of Bugs's hole. When Bugs protests, Sam throws him out, saying he can only stay inside if he gambles. Bugs takes him up on the offer, outwitting Sam on slot machines, at blackjack, and on the roulette wheel. When Sam discovers why Bugs has been so lucky (rabbit's feet), he chases Bugs all the way to the Hoover Dam. Directed by Bill Kopp and Peter Shin and produced by Larry Doyle. Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote make a cameo appearance on Bugs's TV in the high rollers' suite. Remained unreleased in the United States until 2010.

Joe Alaskey: Bugs Bunny
Jeff Bennett: Yosemite Sam
Tress MacNeille: Roulette Dealer, Cage Cashier
Maurice LaMarche: Gamblers
Billy West: Porky Pig
Paul Julian: Road Runner

Critique
Competently executed film, but just tragically generic. There's no sense of style, either in the writing or direction. It feels like an episode from some oddball Looney Tunes television series that never existed. Casino humor stopped being original or funny about a half-century ago—there are only so many variations of the "blackjack/hit me" bit or gags about a malfunctioning slot machine; it's actually surprising there's wasn't a "cut the cards" joke. The rest of the cartoon is padded out with hacky jokes about rabbits' feet (get it? Because it's Bugs Bunny) and the all-time king of easy targets: the French (a cannonball hits the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas and it immediately runs up the white flag to "surrender"). Joe Alaskey and Jeff Bennett do their usual excellent jobs as the leads but there's little guidance in their performances and it more often than not sounds like they're reading lines as opposed to actually acting, with Alaskey's voice even occasionally sped up with awkward results—the directors don't trust their cast to perform the characters correctly. There's no way a series of new theatrical shorts would have lasted with this level of blandness.

The Essential Bugs Bunny (WHV DVD, 2010)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (WHV Blu-ray, 2014)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection (WHV DVD, 2020)