Rabbit of Seville 1950 ( dir Chuck Jones)

Vol One disc one's conclusion is a very strong one as Rabbit of Seville, despite the fact that it resembles Stage Door Cartoon in plot, is a very interesting cartoon.

The whole sheband starts off with Elmer hunting Bugs and chasing him until they reach a theatre. Bugs then tricks Elmer into performing Rossini's Barber of Seville with him. In Stage Door Cartoon Bugs lures Elmer into a theatre and tricks him into taking part in some silly antics. So this is where the resemblence ends and the cartoon starts to go on it's own tangents.

First of all, like the other operatic cartoon What's Opera Doc, there isn't any conversation. Just singing. However while What's Opera.... is quite serious, The Rabbit of Seville is bombastic and great surreal slapsticky moments.

second Obviously, as the title of the opera suggests, it all takes places in a babrbershop.

As soon as Elmer realises that he has stumbled in a theatre he becomes vunerable and confused as he's not in charge of the situation. Bugs, being the showman that he is dons a barber's costumes and violently shaves Elmer.

Elmer tries to escape but Bugs cuts off his braces and forces Elmer in the chair again and performs his next gag.

First he massages Elmer's scalp and then turns it into a Carmen Mirandesque fruit concoction. Elmer realises and there's a funny scene where Bugs pretends to be a snake charmer and persuades a shaver to chase Elmer, until he shoots it.

both characters then jump into identical barber chairs and Bugs pulls the chair's lever ( which raises the seat) to escape. His nemesis catches on and tries the same thing. Bugs sends him back to the bottom by cutting a sandbag and making sure it lands on Elmer.

after a little waltz Bugs gets Elmer on the chair one more time to perform his final trick.

He destroys elmer's shoes and pours red paint on them. Cakes his face in Beauty clay and then massages 'figaro fertilizer' in his scalp ( notice that there are 5 fingers not four) which causes some flowers to grow on his head.

Elmer gets fed up and chases bugs with an axe. Bugs returns with a bigger Axe. Then Elmer with a pistol. Bugs with a double barrelled shotgun. Elmer with a cannon. Bugs with a bigger canon. Elmer with a cannon that takes up the screen and then bugs returns with roses and chocolates.

Elmer likes this. Then Bugs offers a wedding ring and Elmer returns in a bride's dress ( at least Bugs isnt in drag ) then Bugs returns in a tuxedo. Both get married and the couple run to the top of the theatre and Bugs chucks Elmer in a cake. Bugs smirks and says 'next'

Rabbit of Seville is a very fun and joyous cartoon. Moving at a pace faster than Speedy Gonzales, it is a pleasure to watch. Yes Bugs resumes the role of the vengeful trickster who triumphs over stupidity but that cultural twist takes it to a new level. The combination of Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese always created faultless cartoons and this is another top notch one.