BCDB: Cartoon Reviews: Rabbit Fire

I'm a Daffy Duck fan and proud of it, but that isn't the reason I dislike this cartoon.

Yes, it is annoying that Daffy is the one who is constantly bullied by that long-haired moron Bugs, but the fact is that using these jokes over and over just wears them out. I think if they reversed the effects and had Bugs shot, then that would definitely be funny!

This is more of a significant cartoon for Daffy but this was a step up for Bugs as well. This is where the impossible became a reality. Before this the thought of Bugs and Daffy working together would have seemed absurd and unthinkable. But, this cartoon proved all that wrong. Bugs and Daffy being put together is the equivalent of having Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcessie co-direct a film and have it, against the odds, turn out great. Not only do Bugs and Daffy work well together but they play off of Elmer Fudd smashingly as well. This cartoon would further prove that only at Waner Bros. could three or more characters play off each other wonderfully (First established in Crowing Pains). Before anyone comments on the the Mickey-Donald-Goofy cartoons, remember that all three would start together and then split up for their own individual adventures. For that reason, those characters weren't able to grow or develop as well as Bugs, Daffy or Elmer. This cartoon right here is what character interaction is all about.

This cartoon marks the day Daffy made his first and biggest mistake. The ego that made him think he was another Errol Flynn now gave him the tenacity to actually think he could out smart the razor sharp mind of Bugs Bunny. He puts on fake rabbit feet to create tracks which lead to Bugs' hole. This leads Elmer to the hole where he shoves a gun in Bugs' face. But, Bugs informs Elmer that it is really "duck season". And so began a rivalry that would lead to two more cartoons and create the "hunter's trilogy" and great masterpieces such as Ali Baba Bunny, Beanstalk Bunny, and Duck Amuck.
However, there is one element in this cartoon that is not as prevelant in future Bugs/Daffy outings. There are actually scenes where Bugs and Daffy work together. Such a thing would have been deemed impossible by every one before. (Try to imagine the Bugs of Wabbit Twouble working with the Daffy of Conrad the Sailor to see what I mean). This just reinforces an idea introduced in The Scarlet Pumpernickel, that characters behave differently with each other on or off the camera. A real life example of this I guess would be Martin and Lewis: on stage they had good chamistry, off stage they wanted to throttle each other. Of course, in most cartoons, Daffy seems jealous of Bugs. They're off-screen relationship must have been much friendlier.
That's what this cartoon helps one imagine anyway. One of the many reasons for it's greatness.

The first of the Classic Bugs/Daffy/Elmer 'hunt' trilogy is the best and most sublime of the three. It literally works on EVERY level: Turn of the sound and the action is funny...just listen to the dialogue, and THAT is funny also...and put he two together...well..hold on to your sides! From the opening Burma-Shave refernce though the Joe Besser elephant [yes..a Joe Besser elephant!] to the turnabout is fair play ending, easily one of funniest character-driven shorts ever!