Now here’s a ditty whose comedic potential sure didn’t go unnoticed. 119 years later, Warner Brothers used the tune in a horseback chase sequence featuring the anger-prone Yosemite Sam (at 1:55 in this clip).
His last was William Tell, which came with one of the most instantly recognizable overtures ever composed. The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini (1829)Īs Heard In: Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948)Įven though Rossini lived to be 76, he stopped writing operas at 37. This slapstick take on the “Three Little Pigs” fable is set to assorted highlights from them. Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances (1869)īrahms wrote 21 separate dances based on Hungarian folk music, finishing the lot in 1869. Three seconds later, Bugs declares war, and we all know that Hell hath no fury like a rabbit scorned. An annoyed Jones proceeds to destroy the bunny’s banjo, then harp, and finally tuba and then strings him up by his long, pointy ears.
Meanwhile, Bugs loudly strums his ole banjo off in the distance. In The Long-Haired Hare, big-shot opera star Giovanni Jones rehearses at home with this song (best remembered for its famous “ Figaro! Figaro!” lines). Largo al Factotum from The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini (1816) Now the original pre-multiple-censors release is available on the DVD set. But even that ending has been deemed too much for modern audiences, and hasn't been shown outside of a 2000 episode of The Bob Clampett Show on Cartoon Network. The ensuing punchline proved so dark that censors had it removed, forcing a severe edit which was shown during its theatrical release. Träumerei(“ Dreaming”) by Robert Schumann (1838)Ī quick, 38 seconds’-worth of Schumann’s gentle theme plays while Bugs’ latest tormentor-an oafish canine-mistakes him for dead. Listen closely, and you’ll hear a snippet from the symphony that was strange enough to make 19 th-century critics wonder if Beethoven had gotten drunk while writing it. One of them dons a skeleton costume as our oblivious pooch-who’s been reciting non-stop-reaches an eerie ghost scene in Hamlet. Beethoven’s 7 th by Ludwig van Beethoven (1811-12)Ī well-spoken dog yearns for Shakespearean theatre, but, alas, the two Goofy Gophers spoil his plans via mean pranks. Without missing a beat (or breaking tempo), that wascaly wabbit assumes the title role and humiliates Fudd in one fell swoop. The Barber of Seville Overture by Gioachino Rossini (1816)Īs Heard In: The Rabbit of Seville (1950)Įlmer chases Bugs across some local stage when, suddenly, the curtain rises on a production of Rossini’s operatic masterpiece. Like most composers, von Suppé himself was also a conductor-however, unlike a certain buck-toothed character, he wasn’t noted for tearing after obnoxious flies mid-performance. Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna by Franz von Suppé (1844)Īpparently taking a break from his typical antics, Bugs does an impressive job of conducting Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna. Jekyll’s house and, being the cultured lagomorph that he is, starts playing away like a pro. Minute Waltz in D-Flat by Frédéric Chopin (1847)īugs spots a piano inside Dr. This time around, the climax is set to what’s quite possibly the most beloved Czech opera ever written. Coyote matches wits with his hated Road Runner nemesis. Dance of the Comedians from The Bartered Bride by Bedrich Smetana (1866)Īs always, Wile E. It’s a hilarious take on Strauss’ best-known offering, though '90s kids will probably still prefer The Simpsons’ low-gravity rendition. When young Daffy Duck paddles over with his off-key honking, she’s none too thrilled-until he saves the day, that is. The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II (1866)Īct II sees a mother swan leading her cygnets in a birdsong-based cover of this concert hall staple. At “Corny-gie Hall,” Elmer Fudd introduces segment number one, emphasizing the "wythm of the woodwinds.” Cut to Porky Pig and his faithful pointer dog in hot pursuit of Bugs, accompanied all the way by the Waltz King’s playful hit. " A Corny Concerto" riffs Fantasia (1940) and doesn’t miss a joke. On occasion, director Bob Clampett had some fun at Disney’s expense. So, kick back, pass the carrots, & let’s enjoy a few comedy classics. And this wasn’t all idle background noise. Warner Brothers, who produced both Looney Tunes and its equally influential (and far less famous) sibling Merrie Melodies, actively relied on music to help pull off some of the funniest gags in cartoon history. Bugs Bunny: smart aleck, dynamite enthusiast … Chopin fan? Sit the kids down for a Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies marathon, and they’ll be humming classical refrains before you can say “Th-th-that’s all, folks!” The shorts incorporated everything from light opera to German symphonies.
0 kommentar(er)
