Hare Conditioned (1945)

Sadly Over-hyped

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Directed by Chuck Jones, "Hare Conditioned" is a very entertaining Bugs Bunny cartoon. Bugs works in a department store, where the big, burly, sinisterly smiling floorwalker plans to have him stuffed. Stuffed?! Yep.My two favorite scenes from "Hare Conditioned" are greatly enhanced by the music score of Carl W. Stalling. First, in the opening scene, Bugs hops out of his hole, around in a circle, and back in the hole. And second, the floorwalker chases Bugs into different store departments, and they emerge wearing ridiculous clothing appropriate for each department."Hare Conditioned" is a terrific cartoon that can be found on Disc 1 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2. "Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh! Kind of outsmarted you, eh, little chum?"

This, along with "Hare Tonic," ranks as one of the best Bugs cartoons, indeed one of the best Bugs, ever. There are some comments about how Bugs in these cartoons is "basic," meaning, I guess, that he is as yet not fully developed. I actually prefer this "basic" version from the mid-40s (Chuck Jones' was the best version) who is actually more rabbit-sized and far more amusing than the eventual long-legged version who towered over Yosemite Sam and Daffy Duck. The latter-day Bugs came to be too suave and sophisticated for my liking. Also check out "Hair Raising Hare" (1946) and "Rabbit Punch" (1948) for great examples of classic Bugs and classic Chuck Jones.

This is an above-average pre-1948 Bugs Bunny cartoon, one of my earlier favorites.The story is better than the majority, plus it's completely new. Bugs is the innocent victim here. Often, he antagonizes the predator as well. But here he chooses evasive action.The animation is great, I like the way they drew the manager. Bugs Bunny is basic, he still has to evolve quite a bit. The store is done in great detail. Kudos to the team.The ending is great, and the jokes are good throughout: Bugs dresses not only as a woman, but both hunter and quarry run through different departments, wearing appropriate clothing when they reappear. That sequence was great.Bugs manages to outwit his foe, but there's a nice twist in the tail at the end, with great penultimate and closing jokes.The manager's character is huge, about fifteen times the size of Bugs, and the perfect foil. But he's not nearly as dim-witted as he seems. Bugs has reason to be genuinely insecure about his safety.Hare Conditioned (1945) is a great cartoon, and I certainly recommend it.

Is it a good idea to use live animals for department store window displays?No, and here's why....In "Hare Conditioned" the sale that Bugs is helping promote is over and the store manager (Nelson) is transferring him to a new department: taxidermy. Naturally, Bugs objects and the fun begins.using nearly every department in the store (children's wear, sports, shoes, costumes, women's nightgowns - don't ask.), Bugs comes out on top at every turn, even referring to the manager as "The Great GilderSNEEZE". Even when trapped in the confines of an elevator, Bugs makes the best of the situation.Director Jones is on top of his pictorial game as always, as are Blanc (as Bugs, natch) and Nelson (the manager - who DOES sound like radio mainstay Gildersleeves - go ask your grand-parents).And a sage word of advice: when confronted by a fuzzy-looking woman wanting to try on bathroom slippers, always check her ears.Ten stars for "Hare Conditioner", the best argument yet for animal labor laws.