One of the best is when Bugs, disguised as the King, “knights” the Sheriff of Nottingham. Chuck Jones’ timing, the wonderful animation (Ken Harris?), Mike Maltese’s punny names and Treg Brown’s metallic sound effect fit so well together. The frames below in each group below are consecutive.
Arise, Sir Loin of Beef!
Arise, Earl of Cloves!
Arise, Duke of Brittingham!
(This is an inside joke. Brittingham’s was a restaurant/watering hole adjacent to CBS/KNX radio on Sunset Blvd. This was a favoured spot of the Warners writer with the regal bearing, Tedd Pierce, who won the sobriquet “The Duke of Brittingham”).
Arise, Baron of Munchausen!
Arise, Essence of Myrrh!
By now, Jones has set up a rhythm in the situation, so he can cut to a close-up of Bugs. We don’t see the sheriff getting smashed now, but because Jones has established it, and we see the battered sceptre move and hear the sound effect, we still laugh because we can picture what’s happening.
This is just one frame of the sheriff struggling to get up. It’s all wonderfully rendered.
Jones’ animation team at the time was Harris, Phil Monroe, Ben Washam and Lloyd Vaughan.
Easily one of my top five favorite Bugs Bunny cartoons. I'vr seen this one with an audience (paired with the Erroll Flynn feature) and it went over very well.
ReplyDeleteDon't know why, but Bugs' comment to the audience at the end of the "knighting" sequence ("Got lots of stamina") always amuses me.
You already covered my favorite bit. The Sheriff's slow realization that he's been tricked as he's contentedly building a house on the land Bugs sold him in the Royal Rose Garden.
There's lots of talk about Friz' timing but Jones could not have timed that scene any better.
DeleteMy favorite "Arise!" is "Quarter of Ten".
ReplyDeleteDoes he say "Quarter of Ten" or "Order of Ten" ?
DeleteQuarter of Ten.
DeleteThe sheriff looks rather like a lot of the caricatures of Ken Harris I've seen.
ReplyDeleteThis one is great on so many levels.From Bugs hoodwinking the sheriff into buying some property.The Sheriff gets the whole frame of his Tudor built before he realizes he’s been duped. Hitting himself over the head with his hammer. “ I hate myself..I do..I do…I do “ After the “ Knighting Sequence, The Sheriff to Bugs; “You’re too kind“. Finally, Errol Flynn making his appearance as Robin Hood. Bugs : “ Nah, it couldn’t be *him*.” This one never gets old.
ReplyDelete