Hare-Breadth Hurry (1963)
Directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble
Story by John Dunn
Animation by Tom Ray, Ken Harris, Richard Thompson, Bob Bransford, Harry Love
Music by Bill Lava
In this strange experiment at cartoon cross-pollination, Bugs Bunny is brought in as a replacement of the Road Runner – he explains to the confused viewer that the celebrated bird “sprained a giblet cornering a sharp curve the other day, so I’m standing in for him.”
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It is never a good idea to approach a film with preconceived notions of its awfulness. That is not easy when the film in question of the 1977 “A Little Night Music,” which has a reputation for being something of a mess.
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BOOTLEG FILES 937: “Fallen Angels” (1974 British television version of the Noel Coward comedy starring Joan Collins and Susannah York).
LAST SEEN: On YouTube.
AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.
REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It fell through the cracks.
CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe someday.
One of the hottest tickets on Broadway today is the revival of Noel Coward’s 1925 comedy “Fallen Angels,” starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara is Tony Award-nominated performances. But if you can’t make it to Broadway – or if you can but don’t want to pay elevated prices to see that show – I would like to direct your attention to a 1974 British television of “Fallen Angels” starring Joan Collins and Susannah York.
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The Million Hare (1963)
Directed by Robert McKimson
Story by Dave Detiege
Animation by Warren Batchelder, Ted Bonnicksen, George Grandpre, Keith Darling
Music by Bill Lava
Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck unexpectedly find themselves as competitors on “Beat Your Buddy,” a TV game show that challenges viewers to race each other to the broadcast studio for a grand prize. Daffy repeatedly attempts to sabotage Bugs’ progress but inevitably causes problems for himself. Daffy’s treachery gets out of control and the pair wind up hospitalized. But despite their injuries, they keep the competition going and frantically race to the studio.
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During the 1950s, the comedy team of Tommy Noonan and Peter Marshall enjoyed a very mild degree of success on the nightclub circuit and in television appearances. They turned up briefly in the 1951 revue film “Starlift,” but A-list stardom eluded them and the pair spent much of the decade working separately.
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Devil’s Feud Cake (1963)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Story by Friz Freleng and Warren Foster
Animation by Gerry Chiniquy, Virgil Ross, Bob Matz, Art Leonardi, Lee Halpern
Music by Bill Lava
After an encounter with Bugs Bunny goes fatally awry, Yosemite Sam winds up in Hell. Satan makes a deal with Sam – if he can bring Bugs down into the underworld, he will be freed from having to spend eternity in Hell. Sam makes two attempts to snare Bugs for Satan, but fails fatally each time. Rather than accept Satan’s offer for another chance, Sam dresses in a devil’s costume, grabs a pitchfork, and declares he would rather stay down below.
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The other day, a woman in a Facebook movies forum asked if she should see Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles.” I encouraged her to see it, even though I am not a fan of the film.
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