{"id":40431,"date":"2023-07-25T00:43:49","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T04:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=40431"},"modified":"2023-07-23T15:55:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-23T19:55:32","slug":"every-bugs-bunny-ever-hare-ribbin-1944","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/07\/25\/every-bugs-bunny-ever-hare-ribbin-1944\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hare-Ribbin\u2019 (1944)"},"content":{"rendered":"

2023 marks the 85th<\/sup> Anniversary of Bug Bunny\u2019s first animated appearance in 1938’s \u201cPorky\u2019s Hare Hunt.\u201d Debuting originally as Happy Rabbit, Bugs eventually became one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. In honor of the landmark anniversary, we\u2019re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We\u2019re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too. <\/em><\/p>\n

Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Hare-Ribbin\u2019 (1944)
\n<\/strong>Directed by Bob Clampett
\nWritten by Lou Lilly
\nMusic by Carl W. Stalling
\nAnimation by Bob McKimson<\/p>\n

It\u2019s pretty surprising how many of Bugs Bunny\u2019s shorts were trimmed down or censored over the years once they made it to cable television. The syndicated airings always opted to take out certain scenes, which is indicative of where Warner\u2019s head space was when approaching these characters. Bugs Bunny\u2019s original appeal was to a general, wider audience, so he was able to realty wreak havoc most of the time. I\u2019m not referencing the black face or horrible racial stereotypes, none of that is even remotely funny. I talk about more in the terms of death and how these shorts handle it. Although I can appreciate the rule of not having Bugs Bunny perceived as either murdering another character, or being murdered, sometimes the joke is necessary for a pay off.<\/p>\n

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With \u201cHare Ribbin\u2019\u201d we\u2019re introduced to one of the lesser one and done Bugs Bunny foes. He\u2019s basically a Riussian dog with the guide of a French poodle. He\u2019s voiced by Sam Wolfe who does an interpretation of radio comedian Bert Gordon\u2019s character \u201cThe Mad Russian,\u201d who\u2019d often appear in Gordon\u2019s radio comedy skits. Wolfe is very good in the role and plays well off of Blanc\u2019s Bugs Bunny, even if the character leaves a lot to be desired. The set up for \u201cHare Ribbin\u2019\u201d involves Russian Dog sniffing around the woods for a \u201clittle grey rabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just his luck he comes across Bugs Bunny who has fun taunting the dog until he decides to recede in to a local lake. Curiously a majority of \u201cHare Ribbin\u2019\u201d takes place under water as the two chase one another around the water. Bugs goes drag again playing a mermaid who Russian Dog swoons over, and they play a naughty game of \u201ctag.\u201d Eventually the entire short settles in to Bugs giving up allowing Russian Dog to have him for a snack. After taking a bite out of Bugs, Bugs feigns a long, horrible end screeching in pain. This prompts Russian Dog to moan and weep in guilt at the sight of killing the grey rabbit. Going back to my original point in the opening paragraphs, the end of \u201cHare Ribbin\u2019\u201d is one of the many controversial Bugs Bunny endings.<\/p>\n

Russian Dog moans \u201cI don\u2019t deserve to live!\u201d Bugs emerges asking \u201cEh, Do you mean it?!\u201d and shoots him in the head. He then scampers off. Russian Dog does indicate he\u2019s fine by finishing off the short looking at the audience stating \u201cA Dog shouldn\u2019t have to go through this.\u201d The scene was edited and cut for many future airings on television and cable syndication, ending with Bugs asking \u201cEh, Do You Mean it?!\u201d and the Russian Dog looking on shocked. In the general release, Bugs hands the Russian Dog the gun to shoot itself after it moans about murdering Bugs. The version I saw, the uncut ending, involves Russian Dogs bawling about killing Bugs, wishing he were dead, and Bugs pulling out a gun and shooting him.<\/p>\n

This was apparently deemed too violent by the Hays Office and never officially aired on television until decades later on various specials on Cartoon Network, and most recently MeTV. It\u2019s a dark final scene but one that is at least salvaged by Russian Dog confirming he didn\u2019t die to the audience. Nevertheless, while \u201cHare Ribbin\u2019\u201d suffers from a weak antagonist and a fuzzy final scene, it\u2019s a solid short from Bugs Bunny\u2019s library.<\/p>\n

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