Hare Force is a 1944 Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng.
Title[]
Although the title is a play on the Air Force, the cartoon's plot has nothing to do with the military.
Plot[]
On a cold and snowy night, Bugs wangles his way into the good graces, and more importantly, the house, belonging to an old lady. Sylvester, her dog, takes an instant dislike to the Bunny, and most of the cartoon is spent with the two tricking each other into going outside the house and getting locked out. Finally they get into a schtick where they are each throwing the other out the front door in turn, in quick succession. The old lady, fed up with all the bickering by now, intervenes and tells them both to get out, when suddenly she is thrown out, startled and indignant. Bugs and the dog have made peace, and are lazing by the fire. Bugs turns and says, "Gee, ain't I a stinker?"
Availability[]
Streaming[]
Censorship[]
- The version of this cartoon that aired on TBS cut the part where, as Sylvester the Dog is sobbing over melting the snowman likeness of Bugs, believing he killed him, Bugs says, "You're really in a jam now, Doc. It's the hot seat for you, sure."[2]
Notes[]
- This is the first cartoon (besides those directed by Bob Clampett) to use the definite design of Bugs, though Freleng made a slight modification while this cartoon was in production.
- "As Time Goes By" is sung in this short by Sylvester and Bugs at different points.
- Sylvester the Dog here is not to be confused for Sylvester the Cat, who would debut the following year in "Life with Feathers".
- Coincidentally, both characters were created by Friz Freleng.
- After Sylvester is tricked into going outside to fight, Bugs asks “How’s the weather out there, John L.?”, a reference to John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing in the late 19th century. He was commonly known as “John L.”
- The background music score used in the scene when Bugs and Sylvester throw each other out of the house is the exact same one in a scene from "Brother Brat" during the part where Baby Butch chases Porky Pig around the house with a meat cleaver.
- The plot of this cartoon was reworked four years later as "Kit for Cat" (1948).
Gallery[]
References[]
External Links[]
- Hare Force at SuperCartoons.net
- Hare Force at B99.TV
Preceded by What's Cookin' Doc? |
Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1944 |
Succeeded by Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears |