Hare Trigger

For both Bugs and Freleng, this was just another routine cartoon. But, this was the debut of that ultra-evil outlaw Yosemite Sam. Now, the significance of Sam's arrival is not just because he's a funny character. He enriched Bugs career more than anyone of the three I mentioned could imagine. Before this cartoon, everyone felt that Bugs belonged with Elmer. No matter what other type of villain Bugs faced in a cartoon (even if it was a Nazi), everyone felt that Bugs and Elmer were the comsumate team. However, Sam proved that Bugs could be a part of several successful teams of he/villain duos. From then on, every director was always trying to come up with another great villain for Bugs the same way they'd create wacky co-stars for Porky Pig back in the '30's. All this would eventually lead to other villains lie Marvin Martian, Tazmanian Devil, Gossamer, etc. Even though Bugs still worked with Elmer occasionally, he was no longer tied to him.

"Hare Trigger" has it all--Yosemite Sam, the victim of his comical rages; Bugs Bunny, adroitly turning Sam's weaknesses against him and having a grand time doing it; Bugs as Gary Cooper, hand-rolled cigarette dangling from his mouth; and even Bugs in drag, with a classic scream supplied by Bea Benaderet. The timing is razor-sharp throughout, but especially when Bugs evaluates Sam's artistic skills. The only weakness I can detect in this cartoon is a pointless sequence showing Bugs's train chuffing along to a Spike Jones-like rendition of "Yankee Doodle," but this minor flaw is more than compensated for by Bugs's surreal but wildly funny folk-song parody in the baggage car ("Peepin' through the knothole in Grandpa's wooden leg,/Who'll wind the clock when I am gone?"). Your kids may not pick up on all the jokes in this classic, but if you're an adult with even an anemic sense of humor, you'll laugh yourself silly over this one.