Top Ten Looney Tunes from the 1960s
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Top Ten Looney Tunes from the 1960s
Just like Merry Melodies, Looney Tunes also saw a huge dip in quality during the latter half of the sixties, but the first half provided us with a plethora of classic movies that feature different characters ranging from Bugs Bunny to Daffy Duck to Speedy Gonzales to Road Runner to Sylvester and even Pepe Le Pew. Here are ten best Looney Tunes released during this decade.
10. Woolen Under Where
The tenth placement goes to the seventh and final short starring Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. While not their greatest outing, it comes pretty close as the beginning was hilarious and the ending where they interrupt their fight as they have to take a break was unforgettable. Being reminded that this is just a job for them always is a treat when watching this highly underrated, all too short series within the Warner Bros. animation canon.
9. The Pied Piper of Guadalupe
After being taunted and mocked by the mice in Guadalupe, Sylvester imitates the Pied Piper of Hamelin in an attempt to lure the mice of Mexico, so he can trap them in a jar. But his flute has no effect on Speedy Gonzales, and Speedy decides to rescue all of his friends. Speedy and Sylvester have rarely been better than they were in this terrific cartoon that makes great use of its setting and fairy tale premise. The ending is fantastic.
8. The Abominable Snow Rabbit
Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck encounter an Abominable Snowman up in the Himalayas. Then, each tries to convince him that the other one is a rabbit. Not only are Daffy and Bugs both absolutely terrific here, but the montane setting is beautifully utilized and that monster is among the most memorable one-off characters in the history of the series. It’s such a fun, adventurous flick.
7. Mouse and Garden
Sylvester and his friend, Sam Cat are rummaging through trash cans for food, until Sylvester spots a mouse sneaking past them. The two felines engage in a battle over the mouse, ending with them getting stranded on a tiny island. Mouse and Garden is a deserved Oscar nominee that is actually more memorable in the sidekick character than the protagonist as Sam Cat is so funny. The two fighting each other throughout was highly entertaining to watch.
6. The Iceman Ducketh
When Daffy hears that the Klondike trading post is paying good money for furs, Bugs’ pelt becomes endangered in this classic pairing of these two ultimate rivals. Rarely do we see Daffy being Bugs’ perpetrator, so the premise was innovative for the time. Bugs is less memorable himself, but it is Daffy who is the star of this movie. The comedic highlight was him basically professing to the audience just how much he despises the rabbit.
5. The Million Hare
The Million Hare is another Daffy/Bugs cartoon that deserves a place on this list. Daffy and Bugs hear on TV that they are the contestants for the million dollar prize, so they both race to the studio to get the money. Eventually, in what is a glorious twist Daffy donors the money to Bugs because he thought at first that the boxes were empty. That ending was superb, the gag that Daffy doesn’t know how to swim was hilarious, and the two initially being friends was endearing to witness.
4. Louvre Come Back to Me!
Louvre Come Back to Me! is the last classic Pepe Le Pew short and one of the series’ best. It features an interesting setting well utilized for laughs. The Mona Lisa gag was the best one, but throughout this movie the museum was gloriously utilized and particularly well animated thanks to gorgeous, detailed animation. Pepe got the deservedly amazing last cartoon for himself and it’s a shame that we did not get to see him more often.
3. Fastest with the Mostest
This Road Runner short is one of the best for the final section alone as it features two iconic moments for the series. First, the moment when the two were so close to each other was instantly iconic and a very rare occurrence. But then, when he falls down and the bird is still up even though physics should not allow it, the coyote makes a comment upon the lack of law of gravity in the scene upon which the bird says that he did not study law. That final line was hilarious.
2. Daffy’s Inn Trouble
Daffy Duck vies with Porky Pig in the Western frontier hotel business. Porky has more success, attracting hordes of customers with a live-action saloon party. So, Daffy decides to “undermine” Porky’s good fortune by planting a bomb beneath Porky’s inn. Daffy’s Inn Trouble isn’t just superbly crafted in plot and dialogue, but it benefits from some of the best uses of both these classic characters with Porky being quite conniving here and Daffy being hilariously hysterical as always.
1. High Note
And the number one pick has to be High Note, which is this very unique Looney Tunes short that features no classic characters and is more artistic in approach. This is one of those classic animations that focus on no dialogue, but rely on visuals and music to tell a story. It follows various musical notes as they prepare to play The Blue Danube. However, one note is missing and they find it being drunk. The booze jokes are surprisingly mature and all the funnier for it while the mixing of its classic animation and music was superbly realized. They fired on all cylinders while making this masterful and highly underrated film.
Honorable Mentions:
Senorella and the Glass Huarache –This gorgeously minimalist animated short is a great take on Cinderella with a Mexican bent to it. It’s quite unique, so it almost landed on the list.
False Hare – Bugs’ winking attitude stole the show in this highly entertaining short that only saw a minor appearance from Foghorn Leghorn himself.
Goldimouse and the Three Cats – This is another fun Looney Tunes fairy tale parody that benefits from a particularly spoiled Sylvester.
Dumb Patrol – Yosemite Sam is excellent in this action flick that benefits from particularly memorable flight action throughout.
Who Scent You? – This Pepe Le Pew short ends with a very subversive and dark ending, which made it quite memorable.
