Edgar Allan Pooh . . . in Warner Bros.' animated short, RABBIT ROMEO. Warner's Looney Tunes Futurists had a single night in mind as they labored over ROMEO. Strangely enough, it turned out to be the evening I watched this piece for the first time: May 3, 2016. That's the night Donald Trump--played by Elmer Fudd here--became the presumptive U.S. President-Elect. ROMEO begins with Elmer\Trump nuzzling up to a Frankenrabbit, Millicent (a.k.a., Trump's Long-Time Partner in Bromance, Vladimir "Mad Dog" Putin), despite the temperamental Slavic Goon's tendency to destroy everything and terrorize everyone within reach, whether in this cartoon (Millicent) or Real Life (Putin). Elmer forces Bugs Bunny to court Millicent at gunpoint, just as Trump's thugs have used their fists to force much of America to dance with Putin's Devil, Trump. But Bugs turns the tables on Fudd, forcing him to run for his life as Millicent chases him down. Obviously, Warner is reminding us that Hitler and Stalin were bosom buddies at the beginning of World War Two, before fighting to the Death, destroying most of Germany and Russia in the break-up. Warner is pleading here for America to annul Trump's attempt at a shotgun wedding with Putin.

phantom_tollbooth Robert McKimson's 'Rabbit Romeo' is a decent little cartoon which is completely stolen by the wonderful June Foray, whose voice work as Millicent the Slobovian rabbit is the best thing in the cartoon. Elmer Fudd (who looks a little bit odd here) is promised $500 if he looks after his Uncle's pet rabbit until he arrives. The rabbit turns out to be an obese, overly familiar lady bunny who longs for company, preferably of the male variety. Elmer tricks Bugs into coming home with him, where Millicent proceeds to relentlessly pursue the terrified rabbit. It's a slightly thin premise which runs dry quite quickly but, despite never hitting the heights of hilarious comedy, 'Rabbit Romeo' is consistently amusing enough to never become dull. Still, the only thing that really sticks in the memory after it is over is June Foray's spot-on voice characterisation. The rest is fairly run-of-the-mill stuff and not especially conducive to repeated viewings.

Lee Eisenberg One might assume that Bugs Bunny's resistance to Slavic rabbit Millicent is based on a previous negative experience that he had with a Slav (the Eastern European bear in "Big Top Bunny"). Anyway, the plot of Robert McKimson's "Rabbit Romeo" has Elmer Fudd receiving from his uncle Judd a an overweight Slobovian rabbit who gets violent when lonely. So, he captures Bugs and tries to give him to Millicent.If I may interject something. Clearly this Slavic character didn't please Bugs. However, if Uncle Judd had sent a Russian female rabbit, then Bugs's hormones would have gone through the roof! I know this, because while I was staying with a family in St. Petersburg, Russia - I spent the Fall 2005 college semester there - I developed a total crush on my host sister Marina (OK, I'll be totally candid: I still fantasize about her; it arouses me just to think about her as I write this). I like to describe her physically as a cross between Barbara Eden and Julie Christie. My point is that any female Russian rabbit/hare/bunny would have sent Bugs's sex drive into full throttle! Anyway, worth seeing. June Foray does a pretty good Eastern European accent, and the Slobovian clothes actually looked Greek.

Robert Reynolds This short has a few laughs, though it really drags in spots, which, when you consider that the short is about seven minutes long, is a dubious accomplishment. Because I want to discuss some of the details, this is a spoiler warning: Elmer Fudd receives a crate (from his uncle (Judd Fudd) containing a female rabbit named Millicent, from Slobovia. Elmer's first words on catching a good look at Millicent in strong sunlight are, "Wooks aren't evewything, you know!", because Uncle Judd has promised in an accompanying note that he will pay Elmer $500.00 for looking after Millicent until he gets back to the US. For $500.00, Elmer is willing to overlook the fact that Millicent looks like she could have played linebacker for the Chicago Bears! Her manners and her attitude are a matched set, as she's rude, arrogant and obnoxious. She starts wrecking her room and Elmer discovers she wants a date. Since Millicent could pick Elmer up and bench-press him 57 times without breaking a sweat, Elmer wisely goes out looking for a male rabbit. Guess who he finds? That's right, Bugs.Elmer baits a fishing pole with a carrot and catches Bugs like a trout. Ever the gentleman, Bugs first finishes his meal and the tidies up before agreeing to go home with Elmer, unaware of what fate (and Elmer) have waiting for him.Bugs meets Millicent and is a less than enthusiastic swain. When she insists on a kiss, Bugs grabs a poor fish and Millicent kisses it instead. On his return to the fishbowl, the fish pulls out an old-fashioned pistol, marches into his house, you see a large bubble which, after it surfaces, bursts and gives out a large "POP!".Bugs tries repeatedly to escape, but between Millicent and Elmer, his attempts at self-preservation fail. He's almost "bunny hugged" into a coma. Then Millicent declares that "Courtship is over! Name the day and we will be marriaged!", which is about as welcome a statement to Bugs as a declaration that he's been exposed to diphtheria. Thinking quickly, he suggests that they elope and he begins lowering her out the window on a sheet which "slips" out of his grasp. As she is pounding on the door, Bugs goes in and wakes up Elmer and tells him Uncle Judd's at the door. He slips a rabbit suit on Elmer in the dark and Millicent sees Elmer dressed as a rabbit and immediately switches her affections to him and soon, Elmer is doing his best Jesse Owens impression, sprinting off over the snow, with Millicent in hot pursuit.This short is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume 4 and is well worth seeing at least once. The set is highly recommended.