Top Ten Merry Melodies from the Late 1950s
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Top Ten Merry Melodies from the Late 1950s
The second half of the 1950s was a terrific period for both Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes. There were countless classics released within the Merry Melodies banner during these five years ranging from Bugs Bunny to Road Runner to Tweety and even to some original outings. These are my ten picks for the best of the best that the series had to offer in this wildly diverse list.
10. Tweet and Lovely
The tenth place goes to this Tweety and Sylvester short that operates pretty much as a Road Runner short interestingly enough. That distinction made it a unique short that mostly really worked. The highlights here are twofold. Sylvester as a scientist making contraptions was very entertaining. Another highlight is Tweety and his many hilarious lines of dialogue. It’s such a well executed, very amusing cartoon.
9. Beanstalk Bunny
The Warner Bros. take on a Jack and the Beanstalk tale is what we got in Beanstalk Bunny, a perfectly cast short with all three stars being fantastic here. Bugs and Daffy being resourceful and greedy respectively made for an interesting dynamic and two of them at least trying to collaborate for a bit was wonderful to witness. Elmer as the giant was also solid. It’s a very enjoyable, brisk short.
8. This Is a Life?
Elmer Fudd brings Bugs Bunny on a parody of This Is Your Life where he and Yosemite Sam try to get revenge on the rabbit. Daffy Duck laments that the show is not about him. This is one of the rare cartoons where Bugs stars with all of his major villains. Granny hitting the duck on the head was the comedic highlight here while the authentic structure to the short was very intriguing. The late fifties were a great time for pairing Daffy and Bugs undoubtedly.
7. Hare Brush
There were so many unique ideas in this short that it would have been better for them to cut it in two movies, but still Hare Brush is superb. The Freudian psychoanalysis elements were very amusing while Elmer and Bugs switching roles made for a highly entertaining, memorable experience. And what other movie can boast of ending with Bugs being defeated? That alone makes this film worthy of a place on this list.
6. Two Scent’s Worth
The fifth spot goes to this Pepe Le Pew short that is set in the French Alps as Pepe tries to catch Penelope across the mountain and ski jump. This setting was a perfect choice for this particular series and the action was fantastic here. The ski jump climb was the best moment while the cliff ending was unexpected and hilarious. Many lines of dialogue were very funny here while the Alps made for such a gorgeous, cozy viewing experience.
5. Rocket Squad
Parodying a TV show from the fifties named Dragnet, Rocket Squad certainly has some overly timely jokes that aren’t relevant now, but Daffy’s dialogue was hilarious and the movie’s riff on the detective noir genre was particularly amusing and on-point. Terrific world building and gorgeous animation are the other highlights in this uniquely creative, different than the rest short.
4. Birds Anonymous
Sylvester joins the titular group that tries to stay away from birds as they deem it to be an unhealthy addiction. Obviously referencing therapy sessions for alcoholics, Birds Anonymous is something completely different in the Merry Melodies oeuvre. It’s very much a drama-oriented short, but it worked due to a stupendous script. Tweety’s lines were hilarious here. It also holds the distinction of being a rare Warner Bros entry to win an Oscar and deservedly so.
3. Ali Baba Bunny
An incredible take on the genie story, Ali Baba Bunny makes use of its Arabian setting beautifully thanks to terrific animation and excellent comedic bits. This is one of the best shorts starring Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny as both are hilarious here, especially Daffy with his signature greed that spelled his doom here. I loved the fact that the bunny genuinely tried to help him, but the duck’ greed simply got the best of him once again.
2. What’s Opera, Doc?
While I wouldn’t personally call it the best Warner Bros. cartoon of all time, I still find What’s Opera, Doc? to be incredible and deserving of all the praise that it continues to receive. While far from his funniest outing, this is Bugs Bunny at his most artistic. The animation is simply gorgeous, the movie makes great use of its score and the usage of both Bugs and Elmer here was fantastic. It’s the duo’s best movie that features a truly iconic, unforgettable ending.
1. One Froggy Evening
A 50s construction worker finds a metal box that hosts a singing amphibian inside. He tries to cash in on the frog, but unfortunately the frog just stops singing whenever humans are around. This movie featured the debut of Michigan J. Frog and he was phenomenal here. It is a very funny cartoon in the instantly memorable imagery of this frog belting out songs, but it’s also quite moving in that poor man’s tragic journey while benefitting from one incredible circle of life ending. It’s epic, emotional and funny at the same time, which is why it gets the number one spot on this list.
Honorable Mentions:
Wild About Hurry – This is a unique Road Runner short that featured longer segments with the final steel ball gag being perfectly executed and instantly memorable upon seeing it.
Bedevilled Rabbit – Tasmanian Devil proved to be quite a dangerous foe for Bugs in this rare pairing of the two. It’s a funny, dynamic and very well executed short.
Jumpin’ Jupiter – Although Marvin the Martian was missing here, the space alien that we got was still fun. This is a strange, authentic Porky and Sylvester short that mostly really worked.
Knight-mare Hare – The way Bugs Bunny tricked Merlin in this Dark Ages-set cartoon was hilarious. It’s a film that makes great use of its setting and the rabbit is so funny here.
Bonanza Bunny – The card battle sequence steals the show in terms of the humor, but Bonanza Bunny is also very well realized in its western setting and in its characters.
