Prince Violent (1961)
Directed by Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt
Story by Dave Detiege
Animation by Gerry Chiniquy, Virgil Ross, Art Davis, Bob Matz
Music by Milt Franklyn
The Viking Sam the Terrible makes a one-man invasion of a Dark Ages countryside, causing its inhabitants to flee for safety within a castle. Bugs Bunny, who views the Nordic invader as “broken loose electric can opener,” takes it upon himself to repel Sam, who makes repeated but disastrously futile efforts to gain access the castle.
Ugh, here we go again – yet another cartoon with Yosemite Sam in an unlikely costume trying and failing to breach a fortified structure where Bugs Bunny is in control. Instead of an uncooperative camel (as in “Sahara Hare”) or a bumbling dragon (as in “Knighty Knight Bugs”), Sam is uneasily assisted by an easily displeased pink elephant.
Friz Freleng shared directing credit with longtime animator Hawley Pratt, which proves that two directors are not better than one. Dave Detiege’s script recycles old Looney Tunes gags with no great originality and the visual style of the short is flat and boring.
The only notable aspect to “Prince Violent” was the decision by Warner Bros. to change its title to “Prince Varmint” for television broadcasts. Strangely, the word “violent” was inappropriate for the kiddie audience but the physical mayhem on the screen was acceptable. Go figure.