Porky's Hare Hunt (1938)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

By the late 30's, the Schlesinger studio had crystallized their in-house style, which echoed the spirit of the live action Warner Bros. features.Tex Avery's unit had created Daffy Duck the previous year who stole the show in Porky's Duck Hunt, which caught audiences by surprise. He started to appear in a handful of shorts in 1938. Ben Hardaway, inspired by Avery, directed a similar titled short featuring what he called "that crazy duck in a rabbit suit". This also got the attention of audiences. As most fans know, this rabbit became Bugs Bunny within the next two years, molded by several directors and artists. It's also interesting to note Porky's development during this time-frame. He went from a very round character to a slimmer refined design. Although there were still different Porky designs depending on the director. Clampett's Porky around this time closely resembles the Porky we know today. Hardaway used a very similar design for Porky that Tashlin was using at this time, which was wide-eyed and boyish. To the casual observer, the rabbit would not register as Bugs Bunny as there's virtually no physical or personality resemblance. This is one of the more memorable and enjoyable B/W Looney Tunes from the period.

. . . -Y and getting away with it, which gives them the confidence to become President of the United States. Mel Blanc, on the other hand, said during broadcast interviews that he devoted his time in junior high to perfecting his "Ha Ha Ha HAA Ha!" Heckle-and-Jeckle cackling laugh, which he tries out here first on D. Bugs Bunny (the "D" standing for Daffy). The "hare" in PORKY'S HARE HUNT is meaner than Yosemite Sam, nastier than Nasty Canasta, and more Satanic than the Tasmanian Devil. By the end of Porky's ill-fated rabbit quest, Prototype Bugs has put the porker into a hospital bed, with his broken leg winched toward the ceiling in traction. Beta Bugs stops by to visit Porky, bearing a bouquet of buds. However, when Big Pig informs Funny Bunny that he's "okay," expecting to be discharged in a week, the nightmare hare chortles "That's what you think!" proceeding to inflict MORE fractures upon Porky's limbs and loins. This all goes to prove that IF Mr. Blanc had NOT frittered away his middle school years in idle pursuits, but instead done something worthwhile such as groping girls (mastering The Art of the Feel), he too could have been a POTUS contender.

On the Cartoon Brew site, Jerry Beck linked from YouTube a video by one Martha Sigall called The Story of Bugs Bunny. Who is this woman who's now in her 90's? She was in the Ink and Paint department at "Termite Terrace" during the various formations of what would become "that wascally wabbit". It's quite a fascinating tale with Ms. Sigall using a framed demonstration of the various character poses and different drawings of the wabbit to the one we know of him today. That YouTube segment led me to watch the original cartoon that featured what was the first version of what became Bugs Bunny (named after the director who made this cartoon, Ben "Bugs" Hardaway) on the same site. It's sort of the same short as Porky's Duck Hunt made by Tex Avery except Porky's hunting rabbits. "Bugs" here is actually all white and has the voice and laugh of Woody Woodpecker which is not surprising since this rabbit's voice originator, Mel Blanc, would create that same voice and laugh for that character at Walter Lantz a couple of years later. Anyway, there were some creative gags I liked such as when a toy decoy rabbit kicks Porky's dog Zero in the face or when the rabbit uses his ears as propellers in escaping from Porky and his dog. And how about the first time he quotes Groucho Marx's line from Duck Soup, "Of course you know, this means war!" Quite enjoyable this early short but since Daffy Duck was already the resident "crazy", it was decided to make Bugs more of the wiseguy type by the time Avery recreated him in the form we know him as today in A Wild Hare. Good move, Tex! So on that note, I recommend Porky's Hare Hunt. P.S. Ms. Sigall has a book about her experience at Leon Schlesinger Productions/Warner Bros. Cartoons called "Living Life Inside the Lines" out now.

Some people disagree on whether this episode is Bugs Bunny's first appearance. The rabbit/ hare here is incredibly different from the Bugs we know today. However, I like to think that this is Bugs Bunny and in ways I prefer him to the later Bugs. I just slightly prefer what he looks like in this to his nowadays state (and his size). Bugs Bunny's original name was Happy Rabbit, which I think suits him here.I like this episode because of the personality of the old Bugs Bunny, the gags (which are a little like Disney gags) and Zero (Porky's dog) is sweet. It may have little plot, but this is hardly a flaw. Indeed, it could have been better with a plot, but it was not necessary.What happens, is that (like in Porky's Duck Hunt) Porky is hunting, but this time for rabbits. With his dog Zero Porky Pig tries to catch the wild and Houdini-like Bugs Bunny, but is not seeming to be managing...Recommended for people who enjoy old Looney Tunes and who would like to see the most charming Bugs Bunny ever! Enjoy "Porky's Hare Hunt"! :-)