This Is a Life?
This Is a Life? is a 1955 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies animated cartoon directed by Friz Freleng, written by Warren Foster, and produced by Edward Selzer, with music directed by Milt Franklyn.[1] The short was released on July 9, 1955, and stars Bugs Bunny.[2] The voices were performed by Mel Blanc, Arthur Q. Bryan, and June Foray. This is one of the few Bugs Bunny cartoons whose title does not contain Bugs, bunny, rabbit or hare.
| This Is a Life? | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Directed by | I. Freleng |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer (uncredited) |
| Story by | Warren Foster Additional story: Michael Maltese Tedd Pierce (both uncredited) |
| Starring | Voice characterization: Mel Blanc Additional voice characterization: Arthur Q. Bryan June Foray (both uncredited) |
| Music by | Milt Franklyn |
| Animation by | Ted Bonnicksen Arthur Davis Additional animation: Virgil Ross (uncredited) |
| Layouts by | Hawley Pratt |
| Backgrounds by | Irv Wyner Additional backgrounds: Paul Julian Phillip DeGuard (both uncredited) |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation |
Release date | July 9, 1955 (US) |
Running time | 7:00 |
| Language | English |
This is one of the only two Warner Bros. shorts in the original classic era of Looney Tunes (the other being A Star Is Bored) in which Bugs is paired with his main three antagonists. This is also the first time that June Foray provides the voice of Granny, which Foray would then reprise for nearly 60 years.
Summary
In a parody of This Is Your Life, Elmer Fudd (aping Ralph Edwards) is the host and Bugs Bunny is the guest of honor, much to the disgust of Daffy Duck. Granny, who is sitting next to Daffy, hits him on the head with the handle of her umbrella to keep him quiet after being bored with him ranting about not being the "guest of honor". Daffy goes out of his way to try and sabotage Bugs by making irate comments about him and goading Elmer to throw Bugs out. Each time, Granny becomes increasingly annoyed by him and hits Daffy on the head with the handle of her umbrella (telling him "Shut up!").
Meanwhile, Bugs reminisces about his childhood and then with Elmer and Yosemite Sam about his previous encounters with both of them (reviewed via stock footage from the past Bugs Bunny cartoons A Hare Grows in Manhattan, Hare Do and Buccaneer Bunny), with the last two showing Bugs getting the best of them, as usual.
Elmer and Sam plan to finally get even with Bugs by presenting him with a special "gift" — a time bomb wrapped up in a box — in appreciation of their "friendship". However, a jealous Daffy stubbornly refusing to believe that he is NOT the guest of honor and grabs the gift after a bout with the three of them passing it off to each other. Sam, Elmer and Bugs cover their ears as they know what the gift really is-but not Daffy, who says "After all, this should've been MINE anyway! I really deserve it!"-, and takes the resulting explosion backstage. Naturally, Daffy angrily returns and ends up telling Bugs: "You're... You're... You're despicable!", then leaves in a huff.
Cast
- Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam and Announcer
- Arthur Q. Bryan as Elmer Fudd (uncredited)
- June Foray as Granny (uncredited)
Music
The cartoon uses arranged music for the opening title card and the introductory credits before showing the title of the picture.
Availability
This Is a Life? is featured uncut on the Looney Tunes Super Stars DVD set, Daffy Duck: Frustrated Fowl. However, it was cropped down to widescreen format; which caused anger among most Looney Tunes fans and collectors.
References
- Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 275. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–62. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
| Preceded by Rabbit Rampage |
Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1955 |
Succeeded by Hyde and Hare |