Bugs Bunny Superstar

Bugs Bunny Superstar
1975 - United Artists
Directed By Larry Jackson



SYNOPSIS

Orson Welles narrates this documentary that traces the history of Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes.




MY THOUGHTS

Though the documentary aspect is somewhat inadequate, this film provides an entertaining look back at the Looney Tunes and it's biggest star.

Unlike many of the later Looney Tunes clip show-style feature films of the 1980s, Bugs Bunny Superstar features 9 classics in their entirety in between segments of the documentary. Any fan of Looney Tunes would easily recognize most of the shorts and they are truly a "greatest hits collection."
But, the cartoons take up about half of the running time of the film, which results in far fewer stories and facts about the creative process that developed Bugs, Daffy and the rest.

Some of the great legendary directors of the classic Warner Brothers 'toons are interviewed. Bob Clampett is mainly featured here. Friz Freleng and Tex Avery also appear. I don't believe I've ever seen the three interviewed before, so it was a treat. Probably the greatest of the directors, Chuck Jones (though mentioned,) is suspiciously absent... as is the voice of the characters, Mel Blanc. Their absence makes the film a less than definitive look back.
Several home movies (or is it "work movies"?) illustrate what life was like making these shorts... and it seems to be just as 'looney' off-screen.

I would liked to have learned more about the making of these classics, but the info presented, along with several cartoons that are still hilarious after seeing them 100 times, make for a very entertaining package.


The film is a bonus feature in the following boxset: