Frigid Hare is the first pairing of Bugs Bunny and the helpless Penguin ( who turns up in one other cartoon - '8 Ball Bunny' 1950) As a cartoon it's sweet and moves along nicely and is entertaining but like most of Jones' late 40's Bugs Bunny's shorts, it lacks his signature punchiness.
Bugs is off to Miami and takes a wrong turning, landing in the South Pole, where he saves a penguin from a rather dim Inuit hunter. While he is ready to leave, the penguin desperately wants to join him but Bugs has to refuse. However he does give him a top hat and bow-tie as a small gift. After a moment's reconsideration Bugs decides to forsake some of his vacation in Miami and stay in the South Pole. The penguin is delighted.
As Bugs and the penguin are admiring the scenery, Bugs distracts the penguin and kicks him down a hill. ( and the animation of this piece is fantastic) and he slides into the Inuit's sack. Bugs is about to leave the penguin to his fate but then he feels guilty ( see Bugs is a good soul) and saves his new found friend by dressing as a female Eskimo and forcing him to give the penguin as a gift.
Bugs is off to Miami and takes a wrong turning, landing in the South Pole, where he saves a penguin from a rather dim Inuit hunter. While he is ready to leave, the penguin desperately wants to join him but Bugs has to refuse. However he does give him a top hat and bow-tie as a small gift. After a moment's reconsideration Bugs decides to forsake some of his vacation in Miami and stay in the South Pole. The penguin is delighted.
As Bugs and the penguin are admiring the scenery, Bugs distracts the penguin and kicks him down a hill. ( and the animation of this piece is fantastic) and he slides into the Inuit's sack. Bugs is about to leave the penguin to his fate but then he feels guilty ( see Bugs is a good soul) and saves his new found friend by dressing as a female Eskimo and forcing him to give the penguin as a gift.
Upon discovering that the female Eskimo is Bugs the, The hunter starts to chase him ( it's another great minute of animation) until they reach an ice ledge. Due to their weight it cracks and both fall. Luckily the penguin sees this and throws a bucket of water, which manages to freeze up and stop the ledge from falling. The Eskimo does attempt to catch Bugs again but fails and lands on a whale heading north.
As Bugs is about to leave, the penguin persuades Bugs to stay by whispering in his ear that a 'day' lasts six months. Thrilled at the prospect of not returning to work for a few years, Bugs dresses up in a baggy tuxedo and the two walk away with Northern lights flashing in the background.
As Bugs is about to leave, the penguin persuades Bugs to stay by whispering in his ear that a 'day' lasts six months. Thrilled at the prospect of not returning to work for a few years, Bugs dresses up in a baggy tuxedo and the two walk away with Northern lights flashing in the background.
Like I said before, this cartoon works and is a pleasure to watch but it lacks a certain amount of wit, It does signal that Jones golden age is just around the corner.
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