Robert McKimson | Now, Hare This / 1958

red and golden

by Douglas Messerli

 

Tedd Pierce (screenplay), Robert McKimson (director) Now, Hare This / 1958 [7 minutes]

 

One of the best drag queens in the world, Bugs Bunny, is asked to play at least couple of traditional roles when he meets up with the Big Bad Wolf, not only very hungry for hare, but equally attempting to impress his nephew, the little wolf.

     The adult Wolf, first frustratingly failing to get hold of the sneaky bunny, who keeps popping up in various local holes, determines to try an old routine, dressing his nephew up as Little Red Riding Hood, who is terrified of visiting her grandmother since the wolf is probably sitting in her bed, awaiting her arrival.

     The friendly Bugs is willing to go along with the old trope just to show up the Wolf, whom, once dressed in drag, he hits over the head and the nose before finally pouring a pan of hot coals upon poor granny’s feet just to keep her warm.

     Like all foolish cartoon figures, the Wolf gets another not very intelligent idea, this time requiring he young nephew to play an ersatz Goldilocks who, rejecting the Papa’s and Mama’s bed, tucks himself, played of course by Bugs, into the baby’s bed. But the replacement Goldie Bugs, smart-ass that he is, once more tricks the Wolf, who having become a would-be bear, he sends off with a rocket off when Mr. Wolf attempts to put hot coals into the intruding Goldilocks’ bed.

   Bugs keeps trying to tell him that there is only one way to have a rabbit for dinner, and that, it becomes quite apparent, is to simply invite him to share the supper.

    Once again, Bugs Bunny reveals that he could continue to pull off marvelous drag routines even after the Hollywood Production Code Administration (PCA) had outwardly banned them. Joseph Breen seemingly couldn’t conquer the cartoon logic of a brilliant Bugs Bunny.

 

Los Angeles, February 5, 2025

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (February 2025).