Hare Trimmed (1953)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Story by Warren Foster
Animation by Manuel Perez, Ken Champin, Virgil Ross, Arthur Davis
Music by Carl Stalling
“Hare Trimmed” is notable as being the only Bugs Bunny cartoon where Granny plays a prominent role in the story. It is a shame that she wasn’t a more frequent presence, since she was an endearing and lively character – Granny turned up briefly two years later in “This is a Life?”, but that was more of a gag appearance.
In this film, Granny is the recipient of a $50 million inheritance. Yosemite Sam learns of her new fortune and schemes to marry Granny and then separate her from her money. Bugs eavesdrops on his chicanery and vows to stop this from happening.
Sam shows up at Granny’s home to woo her, causing her to run off girlishly while exclaiming to the camera, “Land sake! Nothing like this has happened to me since the boys got back from Gettysburg!” Then Bugs shows up disguised as a French dandy to give his own chase to the giggling Granny. Sam displays his gentlemanly contempt for Bugs by slapping his face with a glove. Bugs returns the contempt with his own glove slap – except that he has a brick in his glove. The two engage in a duel that ends in an inspired sight gag (no spoiler here, sorry).
Bugs then disguises himself as Granny, which confuses Sam when this version of Granny suddenly becomes violent – there is a reprise of the lumps of sugar gag that Bugs pulled a few cartoons back on Pete Puma. The real Granny is equally confused at Sam’s sudden belligerence – he is unaware of the difference between Bugs in drag and Granny, but his belated attempts to pacify Granny ends with the elderly lady firing her rifle at him. Bugs-as-Granny then tricks Sam into an elopement, but during the wedding ceremony Bugs’ wedding gown tears to reveal he is a rabbit. Sam revolts at the sight of Bugs’ furry tail and runs from the service in a panic.
Boasting a story packed with crossdressing, seduction and the potential for bestiality, “Hare Trimmed” is fairly mature for a cartoon. One remark by Granny where she mistakenly believes a mallet-walloped Sam is “loaded” was frequently edited from television broadcasts – oddly, the censors had no problems rolling a piano down a staircase over Sam, but it was verboten to openly suggest his was inebriated.
Warren Foster’s story and Friz Freleng’s direction are richly imaginative, while Mel Blanc’s exuberant voice performances as the obstreperous Sam and Bugs (as himself, the Frenchman and the faux-Granny) were among his finest output. Uncredited Bea Benaderet voiced Granny, creating a spirited character who was the rare female icon in the Termite Terrace orbit.