What's Opera, Doc?

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Teddy B Insurmountably the single highest peak of Looney Tunes in every artistic, musical, and humourous aspect imaginable. Chuck Jones's direction is a straight bullseye, Maurice Noble's backgrounds are drop-dead gorgeous, and Michael Maltese's writing nails the characterisations so seamlessly (it is only a shame that Carl Stalling couldn't compose this even though Milt Franklyn is a dead-ringer for him and does an outstanding job). Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/24 Full Review Jody C From The Magical Church of Carnal Pagans carnalpagans.org I think we can all learn a lot from the classics, which is why for my first topic, I've selected the 1957 animated short, What's Opera Doc? Is it just me, or are Elmer Fudd's under-appreciated talents totally revealed in this episode? Everyone always thinks of Yosemite Sam as a favorite antagonist to Bugs Bunny. Charismatic, sure, but like a George Clooney. Maybe we don't get sick of him. But maybe we should. Where as, Elmer Fudd! Now THERE you have, more, like a John Malkovich. As a operatic viking with a magic helmet hunting rabbits, he carries this episode. I will always love how he stabs into the bunny-hole with his spear. But mirth explodes from the face when his violent goal is forgotten over his angelic love to Bugs Bunny's Brumhilda disguise. Bugs pours himself back and forth over a chaise lounge, but Elmer never lowers his want to a lustful charge. It is a beautiful, elevated romance to last through the ages, which fuels his terrible fury when the deception is realized. His vengeful wrath is palatable, not in the hurricane, lightning and smog that he draws from his helmet to kill the rabbit, but in his lines he sings. And his ultimate remorse remains constant and true, even after bugs breaks character for a closing line. What a performance! It's enough to make me want to binge watch classic Looney Tunes, but Elmer Fudd so rarely received the parts he deserved. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I love the attention to detail. Jones is clearly well versed in both the Ring Cycle and German expressionism (although the Ring Cycle is pre-expressionism, they are both German). The film's legacy is incredible, and for good reason. This is how the public views opera, whether it knows Wagner or not. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Could easily be hailed as the greatest short cartoon that ever existed Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member What's Opera, Doc?, Often considered Chuck Jones' magnum opus, lovingly lampoons Disney's Fantasia and Wagner's Ring Cycle while also re-imagines what was by then a very cliched Bug and Elmer conflict formula with stylistic expressionist backdrops, tragic romance and jokes aimed at Wagner's ponderous, operatic style. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This short, one of the greatest Looney Tunes, by Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese is on the National Film Registry. Uses several of Wagner's opera compositions to re-imagine Elmer Fudd's never-ending pursuit of Bugs Bunny. The expressionist set and hilarious visuals are excellent. I just wish it was longer than seven minutes. I'm so glad I was able to share it with my wife, who didn't know what I was talking about when I sang, "Kill the wabbit! Kill the wabbit!" Somehow she missed this as part of her childhood. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews

What's Opera, Doc?

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