This Is a Life?
| This Is A Life? | |
|---|---|
| Merrie Melodies (Bugs Bunny) series | |
 Title card | |
| Directed by | I. Freleng |
| Produced by |
Edward Selzer (uncredited) |
| Story by | Warren Foster |
| Voices by |
Mel Blanc Arthur Q. Bryan (uncredited) June Foray (uncredited) |
| Music by | Milt Franklyn |
| Animation by |
Ted Bonnicksen Arthur Davis |
| Layouts by | Hawley Pratt |
| Backgrounds by | Irv Wyner |
| Distributed by |
Warner Bros. Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation |
| Release date(s) | July 9, 1955 (USA) |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 7:00 |
| Language | English |
This Is a Life? is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon of the Merrie Melodies series, directed by Friz Freleng, written by Warren Foster, and produced by Edward Selzer, with music directed by Milt Franklyn. Originally released to theatres on July 9, 1955, Mel Blanc voices Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, and the announcer, while Arthur Q. Bryan voices Elmer Fudd and June Foray voices Granny. This is one of the few Bugs Bunny cartoons whose title does not contain Bugs, bunny, rabbit or hare.
Summary
In a parody of 1952's 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. On several occasions, Granny whacks Daffy over the head with her umbrella to keep him quiet. Meanwhile, Bugs reminisces with Elmer and Yosemite Sam about their previous encounters (reviewed via footage from past Bugs Bunny cartoons A Hare Grows in Manhattan, Buccaneer Bunny, and Hare Do), in which Bugs always gets the best of them. Elmer and Sam plan to finally get even with Bugs by presenting him with a special gift — a time bomb — in appreciation of their "friendship," but Daffy — stubbornly refusing to believe that he was not the guest — grabs the gift ("I really deserve it!"), and takes the resulting explosion. Naturally, Daffy ends up telling Bugs: "You're... You're... You're despicable", then leaves.
Edited versions
When the short aired on ABC, it was heavily altered to make it suitable for younger viewers. Among the scenes cut were;
- Two times of Granny hitting Daffy with her umbrella
- Sam getting blasted by cannons from Buccaneer Bunny
- Elmer and Sam place a bomb in the gift package before giving it to Bugs
- Daffy returns onto stage after being the offstage victim of the bomb and says to Bugs, "You're despicable."
When it aired on The Merrie Melodies Show, the entire short was shown uncut with the exception of the cannon scene from Buccaneer Bunny which was shortened to reduce the violence.
Availability
This Is a Life? is featured uncut & digitally remastered on the new Looney Tunes Superstars DVD set, "Daffy Duck: Frustrated Fowl" However, it was cropped down to widescreen format; which caused anger among most Looney Tunes fans and collectors.
Analysis
The cartoon uses arranged music for the opening title card and the introductory credits before showing the title of the picture.
See also
| Preceded by Rabbit Rampage |
Bugs Bunny Cartoons 1955 |
Succeeded by Hyde and Hare |