Rabbit Romeo (1957)

How sad is this?

Did you people see the same film I saw?

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

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

. . . in Warner Bros.' animated short, RABBIT ROMEO. Warner's Looney Tunes Futurists had a single night in mind as they labored over ROMEO. Strangely enough, it turned out to be the evening I watched this piece for the first time: May 3, 2016. That's the night Donald Trump--played by Elmer Fudd here--became the presumptive U.S. President-Elect. ROMEO begins with Elmer\Trump nuzzling up to a Frankenrabbit, Millicent (a.k.a., Trump's Long-Time Partner in Bromance, Vladimir "Mad Dog" Putin), despite the temperamental Slavic Goon's tendency to destroy everything and terrorize everyone within reach, whether in this cartoon (Millicent) or Real Life (Putin). Elmer forces Bugs Bunny to court Millicent at gunpoint, just as Trump's thugs have used their fists to force much of America to dance with Putin's Devil, Trump. But Bugs turns the tables on Fudd, forcing him to run for his life as Millicent chases him down. Obviously, Warner is reminding us that Hitler and Stalin were bosom buddies at the beginning of World War Two, before fighting to the Death, destroying most of Germany and Russia in the break-up. Warner is pleading here for America to annul Trump's attempt at a shotgun wedding with Putin.

A good goofy romance is the subject of "Rabbit Romeo", starring the voices of Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny and Arthur Q. Bryan as Elmer Fudd. But the voice artist who really steals the show in this picture is June Foray with her rich, oily portrayal of Millicent, an overstuffed Slobovian rabbit who only wishes for a mate.My favorite moments from "Rabbit Romeo": After Elmer catches Bugs in a net, Bugs slyly asks Elmer for some salt for his carrot, and then a napkin. When Millicent kisses a goldfish, the fish shoots himself in the head. And Millicent's little Russian kick dance is hilarious.Catch "Rabbit Romeo", or shall I say "Wabbit Womeo", on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 4 Disc 1.

June Foray's voice work with "Millicent" in this cartoon is flat-out hilarious. You have to hear this, to believe it. Working with regulars Mel Blanc (Bugs) and Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd) makes this a terrific trio of voices. All three of these people are legends in this business. Look at Foray's resume and biography here at IMDb. It is extensive, to say the least.Foray makes this one of the best Bugs Bunny cartoons I have ever watched, and I've seen a lot of them.This story all starts when Elmer receives a huge crate from "Slobovia.""Slobovia? Who do I know from there," he wonders. Then he reads the attached note: "Dear Nephew, Take care of this rare and valuable Slobovian Rabbit until I arrive. Signed, Uncle Judd Fudd. P.S. I will pay you $500 for your trouble."The rabbit is not Bugs - it's "Millicent," and she's big and not very attractive. "Well," Elmer tells us, "Looks aren't everything, you know."Well, it isn't looks that make Millicent unattractive; it's her attitude (although she is pretty funny with that Russian accent and the expressions she uses.) Who becomes the victim of this nightmarish female hare? Yup, poor Bugs Bunny, and this gal has Bugs literally shaking in fear.How that came to be, and what happens, I'll leave it up to you to catch it, if you can get hold of one of fourth volume of Golden or Spotlight Looney Tunes Collection DVDs. All of them have plenty of offer.....like "Millicent."One note: the comedy bit with the goldfish is hilarious, an excellent of dark humor.

This short has a few laughs, though it really drags in spots, which, when you consider that the short is about seven minutes long, is a dubious accomplishment. Because I want to discuss some of the details, this is a spoiler warning: Elmer Fudd receives a crate (from his uncle (Judd Fudd) containing a female rabbit named Millicent, from Slobovia. Elmer's first words on catching a good look at Millicent in strong sunlight are, "Wooks aren't evewything, you know!", because Uncle Judd has promised in an accompanying note that he will pay Elmer $500.00 for looking after Millicent until he gets back to the US. For $500.00, Elmer is willing to overlook the fact that Millicent looks like she could have played linebacker for the Chicago Bears! Her manners and her attitude are a matched set, as she's rude, arrogant and obnoxious. She starts wrecking her room and Elmer discovers she wants a date. Since Millicent could pick Elmer up and bench-press him 57 times without breaking a sweat, Elmer wisely goes out looking for a male rabbit. Guess who he finds? That's right, Bugs.Elmer baits a fishing pole with a carrot and catches Bugs like a trout. Ever the gentleman, Bugs first finishes his meal and the tidies up before agreeing to go home with Elmer, unaware of what fate (and Elmer) have waiting for him.Bugs meets Millicent and is a less than enthusiastic swain. When she insists on a kiss, Bugs grabs a poor fish and Millicent kisses it instead. On his return to the fishbowl, the fish pulls out an old-fashioned pistol, marches into his house, you see a large bubble which, after it surfaces, bursts and gives out a large "POP!".Bugs tries repeatedly to escape, but between Millicent and Elmer, his attempts at self-preservation fail. He's almost "bunny hugged" into a coma. Then Millicent declares that "Courtship is over! Name the day and we will be marriaged!", which is about as welcome a statement to Bugs as a declaration that he's been exposed to diphtheria. Thinking quickly, he suggests that they elope and he begins lowering her out the window on a sheet which "slips" out of his grasp. As she is pounding on the door, Bugs goes in and wakes up Elmer and tells him Uncle Judd's at the door. He slips a rabbit suit on Elmer in the dark and Millicent sees Elmer dressed as a rabbit and immediately switches her affections to him and soon, Elmer is doing his best Jesse Owens impression, sprinting off over the snow, with Millicent in hot pursuit.This short is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume 4 and is well worth seeing at least once. The set is highly recommended.