Author Archives: Phil Hall

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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: The Million Hare (1963)

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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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The Rookie (1959)

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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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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Devil’s Feud Cake (1963)

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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 Bootleg Files: The Awful Truth

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BOOTLEG FILES 936: “The Awful Truth” (1956 made-for-television production starring Bob Hope and Greer Garson).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It is probably a case of clearing the rights to the source material.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe someday.

As a comedian, Bob Hope was always a case of extremes. Either he was laugh-out-loud hilarious or groan-out-load awful. To be honest, I approached this 1956 made-for-television version of “The Awful Truth” with Hope playing opposite Greer Garson expecting the groan-out-loud version of the funnyman. After all, “The Awful Truth” is a classic 1937 screwball comedy that helped secure Cary Grant’s stardom. Hope starred in a radio version of “The Awful Truth” in 1941, so he was clearly familiar with the material. But, hey, Bob Hope doing a Cary Grant role?
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Shishkabugs (1962)

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Shishkabugs (1962)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Story by John Dunn
Animation by Gerry Chiniquy, Virgil Ross, Bob Matz, Lee Halpern, Art Leonardi
Music by Bill Lava

Yosemite Sam is the overworked and underappreciated cook for an obese, ill-tempered king who looks and sounds just like Charles Laughton. When the monarch demands hassenpfeffer for his meal, Sam is perplexed – he is unfamiliar with the dish and consults a cookbook that lists rabbit as an ingredient. When Bugs Bunny turns up at the royal kitchen looking to borrow a cup of carrots, Sam tries (and, of course, fails) to incorporate him into the royal meal.
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