Top Ten Merry Melodies from the Late 1940s
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Top Ten Merry Melodies from the Late 1940s
When it comes to the late forties, Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes became increasingly more difficult to distinguish, and actually the Merry Melodies got more famous characters throughout these years which is going to be evidenced by my list. Though a bit weaker than their counterpart, most of these movies are still excellent. Here are my top ten choices.
10. Walky Talky Hawky
Henery Hawk wants to eat a chicken so he brings both Foghorn Leghorn and Barnyard Dawg to decide who the chicken really is. The second act was weaker here, but the rest was excellent. Although both of these characters are terrific per usual, this is actually Henery’s moment to shine which is exactly what he did. This little guy is so cute and fierce and that combination is ultimately hilarious.
9. Life with Feathers
Sylvester is here without Tweety unfortunately. Instead we get a fatter, bluer bird who hates his wife and wants to commit suicide, but the cat doesn’t want to eat him so he continues to make the cat do it. Although I usually really do not care for Sylvester shorts without Tweety, this premise is so damn original and amazing that I really liked the end product. The dynamic between the two is stellar.
8. The Unruly Hare
Elmer Fudd is building a railroad and Bugs Bunny is about to disrupt him. Eventually, the road is built and the bunny is on the train, but he jumps out apparently because after World War II the travelling conditions were rather poor. This was thus a very timely movie, a bit too timely maybe, but because the action is so great and because Bugs’ pranks are fantastic, the short manages to become timeless in the end.
7. Fair and Worm-er
A crow wants to eat a worm, but the cat wants to eat the crow, the dog wants to chase the cat and the dogcatcher chases the dog. That’s the premise here and the film showcases how everyone has their own chaser. Yes, this frenetic short is distinctly idiosyncratic, but it works because its concept is fantastic for a cartoon and everyone is memorable with the worm himself stealing the show.
6. Frigid Hare
While spending his vacation on the South Pole, Bugs Bunny encounters a penguin in peril. He is being hunted by an Eskimo so the bunny decides to help him in the end. I found the first half of this cartoon overly weird and somewhat difficult to get into, but eventually the second half becomes much better with many memorable moments with this highly cute, all dressed-up penguin. I loved the interactions between the two.
5. Hare Trigger
The very first appearance of Yosemite Sam is witnessed in Hare Trigger which gets the fifth spot on this list deservedly so for its historic value, but also for its overall very high quality. I loved the parodying of movie trailers and promos of the forties here, but Bugs is also great himself and Sam is fantastic in his first great role. Bugs made fun of him in glorious fashion in a couple of very amusing sequences.
4. Bad Ol’ Putty Tat
This one showcases how potent the Sylvester/Tweety pairing can really be and it’s unfortunate that we got so few of those in this time period. This one has its weaker moments, but those that are great are simply amazing. I am of course talking about the opening trampoline sequence which is so fun, the female disguise part shows how smart Tweety really is and the ending is hilariously cartoony and ridiculous.
3. The Foghorn Leghorn
This is the first true classic coming from legendary Foghorn Leghorn. Henery Hawk is after a chicken once again, but he thinks that Barnyard Dawg is a chicken, and that Foghorn is just a “schnook” which means a fool. His constant repetition of this silly word was so funny and instantly memorable. Henery is the star of this picture and probably of this entire list as he’s tremendous in here while the ending itself is iconic.
2. Tweetie Pie
Tweety is freezing outside and the cat’s mistress takes the bird in the house. Sylvester then manages to capture the bird and fails repeatedly. This one is so well crafted on every level with the bird’s many lines being hilarious. Most of the scenarios are highly entertaining and perfectly executed. It’s thus a very satisfactory Oscar winner and one of the rarer Warner Bros. shorts to actually win the big award.
1. I Taw a Putty Tat
In this cartoon Tweety literally physically tortures Sylvester through a bunch of very amusing, inventive sequences. Tweety again steals the show here with his signature baby talk, but another highlight has to be its violent streak. Yes, this is one of the most brutal Merry Melodies of all time and it actually even ends with death. It’s thus a very memorable, fun cartoon that deserves the number one spot for its iconic nature.
Honorable Mentions:
One Meat Brawl – Yes, Dawg and Porky are in this short, but the groundhog steals the spotlight from both of them with his hilariously manipulative sob stories.
Hare Do – I liked the theater setting in this short quite a bit, though it was underutilized. The bathroom scene is the best in this fun Bugs/Elmer vehicle.
Hare Remover – Bugs is actually not the star in this one, but Elmer who is so memorable. The premise itself is instantly fitting for cartoons and very well used.
Bacall to Arms – Watching all these animals get horny while watching Lauren Bacall was a hilarious endeavor for sure in this silly parody flick.
Daffy Duck Slept Here – Porky stays in a hotel for the night, but he shares a bed with Daffy who annoys him to no end in this very well executed vehicle for these two great stars.
