With the Nov. 14, 2006, release of LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR and LOONEY TUNES SPOTLIGHT COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR (Warner Home Video, $64.92 and $26.99) viewers can shout "Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!"
"The release of new GOLDEN COLLECTION volumes has become a highly-anticipated yearly event for Looney Tunes fans. We think consumers will be really pleased with the selection of shorts we have chosen for this volume. Viewers will find some of their favorites as well as some rarities," commented Dorinda Marticorena, WHV vp, kids and sports marketing. "Warner Bros. artists were brilliant in their creation of Looney Tunes because they have brought to life such enduring characters. More than half a century later, Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Porky Pig and the rest of the Looney Tunes family are as popular as ever."
LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR features a four-disc collector set with 60 unedited classic, digitally re-mastered, animated shorts and comes packed with special features, including commentaries, alternate audio programs, "Behind-the-Tunes" featurettes, rare shorts and more. Each disc in this is devoted to a theme or character and contains 15 shorts.
Disc one focuses on everyone's favorite carrot-crunching hare, Bugs Bunny and includes such shorts as ROMAN LEGION-HARE, RABBIT HOOD and SAHARA HARE. The disc also includes KNIGHTY KNIGHT BUGS, a short in which a medieval Bugs Bunny traded blows with Yosemite Sam and his fire-breathing dragon, grabbing the Oscar for Best Short Subject: Cartoons.
Disc two showcases the work of animator, screenwriter and director Frank Tashlin, whose trademark cartoons featured quick editing, wild and outrageous gags and extremely odd angles. This disc contains THE CASE OF THE STUTTERING PIG, which features Petunia Pig, and also includes LITTLE PANCHO VANILLA, LITTLE BEAU PORKY, PORKY IN THE NORTH WOODS and several others.
The third disc is devoted to Speedy Gonzales, "the fastest mouse in all Mexico," and includes CAT-TAILS FOR TWO, which features a skinnier Speedy with a sizeable gold front tooth. Disc three also includes TABASCO ROAD, MEXICALI SHMOES and THE PIED PIPER OF GUADALUPE, all of which were nominated for Academy Awards.
Disc four is entirely devoted to the theme of cats and features such shorts as THE NIGHT WATCHMAN, PIZZICATO PUSSYCAT, THE ARISTO-CAT and others. The Night Watchman is actually a Merrie Melodies cartoon that was the first short with Chuck Jones as director.
Exclusive bonus DVD features include:
Disc 1: Bugs Bunny Classics
Commentaries:
* RABBIT HOOD, by director Eric Goldberg. Viewers can look for a cameo by actor Errol Flynn in Bugs Bunny's medieval adventure.
* OPERATION: RABBIT, by writer Paul Dini. Viewers learn why this classic is the definitive encounter between Wile E. Coyote, "Super Genius," and Bugs Bunny.
* MISSISSIPPI HARE, by director Eric Goldberg. Viewers discover this unique classic featuring Bugs' famous soft-shoe dance and the hot-tempered Colonel Shuffle.
* HURDY-GURDY HARE, by Dini. A revealing look into Bob McKimson's classic where Bugs attempts to tame and train a wild gorilla.
* 8 BALL BUNNY, by historian Jerry Beck. An animated Humphrey Bogart guest stars in Bugs' memorable adventure to return a little penguin to his South Pole home.
* RABBIT ROMEO, by actor June Foray and Beck. Foray reveals her experiences working with McKimson and Mel Blanc, as she voiced Millicent, Bugs' Slobovian admirer.
Alternate Audio Programs:
OPERATION: RABBIT Music and Effects TrackKNIGHT-MARE HARE Music Only TrackSOUTHERN FRIED RABBIT Music and Effects TrackSAHARA HARE Music Only TrackBARBARY-COAST BUNNY Music Only TrackTO HARE IS HUMAN Music Only TrackRABBIT ROMEO Music Only Track
TWILIGHT IN TUNES: THE MUSIC OF RAYMOND SCOTTBUGS BUNNY SUPERSTAR PART 1 (1976 documentary)POWERHOUSE IN PICTURESFIFTY YEARS OF BUGS BUNNY IN 31⁄2 MINUTES (1989 short)THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW
BALLPOINT PUNS Bridging SequencesFOREIGN LEGION LEGHORN Audio Recording Sessions
Trailer Gallery
BUGS BUNNY'S CARTOON CARNIVALBUGS BUNNY'S ALL-STAR REVUE
Disc 2: Frank Tashlin
Commentaries:
* THE CASE OF THE STUTTERING PIG, by animator Mark Kausler. Viewers will have a chance to explore early Porky in this classic cartoon masterpiece of gothic parody.
* NOW THAT SUMMER IS GONE, by historian Michael Barrier with Tashlin. Tashlin provides insight into his cinematic tour-de-force of animation; a fable in which squirrels gamble instead of gathering nuts.
* PORKY IN THE NORTH WOODS, by Kausler. Viewers go behind the cinematic style and pacing of this early cartoon by Tashlin.
* YOU'RE AN EDUCATION, by historian Daniel Goldmark. Viewers find out about this final chapter in Tashlin's come-to-life trilogy featuring a musical travel guide.
* PLANE DAFFY, by filmmaker Greg Ford. Viewers learn about one of Daffy's most memorable war exploits, as he takes on the Nazis in a secret mission behind enemy lines.
* CRACKED ICE, by Barrier with Tashlin, who comments on his cartoon movie and radio parody of W.C. Squeals on ice skates.
* PUSS N' BOOTY, by Beck. Viewers gain insight into this last great black and white Looney Tunes cartoon; a classic of animated anxiety.
* I GOT PLENTY OF MUTTON, by Ford. Offers a look into the fast paced absurdity in one of Tashlin's more memorable World War II fables.
* PORKY'S POULTRY PLANT, by Barrier with Tashlin, who talks about his and Carl Stalling's debuts as a Looney Tunes director and composer.
* THE STUPID CUPID, by director Eddie Fitzgerald. Viewers find out more about this rare teaming of Daffy and Elmer.
BUGS BUNNY SUPERSTAR PART 2 (1976 documentary)
PORKY AND DAFFY IN THE WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE (2006 short)
Frank Tashlin's StorybooksLITTLE CHIC'S WONDERFUL MOTHERTONY AND CLARENCE
From the Vault:THE GOLDBRICK (1943 short)THE HOME FRONT (1943 short)CENSORED (1944 short)
Disc 3: Speedy Gonzales
Commentaries:
* CAT-TAILS FOR TWO, by actor Stan Freberg and Beck. Freberg shares his experiences working with McKimson on this "Of Mice and Men" parody featuring George and Benny and Speedy Gonzales.
* MEXICAN BOARDERS, by Ford with director Friz Freleng, who comments on this fan favorite appearance of Speedy's cousin, Slowpoke Rodriquez.
* NUTS AND VOLTS, by animator Art Leonardi and Beck. Leonardi talks about animating one of the last cartoons of the great Golden Age of Looney Tunes.
* THE WILD CHASE, by Dini. Viewers find out more about this classic race between the Looney Tunes two fastest characters, Road Runner and Speedy Gonzales.
Alternate Audio Programs:
CAT-TAILS FOR TWO Music and Effects TrackTABASCO ROAD Music Only TrackMEXICALI SCHMOES Music Only TrackWEST OF THE PESOS Music Only Track
FRIZ ON FILM (2006 Documentary)
From the Vault:
90 DAY WONDERING (1956 Short)DRAFTY, ISN'T IT? (1957 Short)
Disc 4: Cats
Commentaries:
* CONRAD THE SAILOR, by Ford with director Chuck Jones, who talks about one of his early Daffy cartoons featuring a rare performance by prolific movie voice actor Pinto Colvig as Conrad Cat.
* THE ARISTO-CAT, by director Eddie Fitzgerald. Viewers learn more about this classic appearance of Hubie and Bertie as they torment the anxiety-ridden Pussy Cat.
* THE ARISTO-CAT, by Ford with Jones, who comments on one of his more stylized cartoons.
* DOUGH RAY ME-OW, by Beck. Viewers gain insight into Arthur Davis' take on the lovable lug of a housecat, Heathcliff, who is set to inherit a million dollars if he can outsmart a tricky Parrot.
* PIZZICATO PUSSYCAT, by Goldmark. Viewers find out about Freleng's musical genius in this underrated gem, which highlights his sense of rhythmic comedy.
* THE UNEXPECTED PEST, by Foray and Beck. Foray talks about her experiences working with McKimson on this classic featuring Sylvester the Cat.
Alternate Audio Programs:
CAT FEUD Music Only TrackTHE UNEXPECTED PEST Music Only TrackGO FLY A KIT Music Only TrackA PECK OF TROUBLE Music and Effects Track
Behind the Tunes (2006 documentary featurettes):
ONE HIT WONDERSSING-A-SONG OF LOONEY TUNETHE ART OF THE GAGWILD LINES: THE ART OF VOICE ACTINGLOONEY TUNES: A CAST OF THOUSANDS
From the Vault:
Porky's BreakdownsSAHARA HARE Storyboard ReelPORKY'S POOR FISH Storyboard Reel
Meanwhile, LOONEY TUNES SPOTLIGHT COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR contains 28 of the best animated shorts pulled from LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION VOLUME FOUR. The set includes two discs starring an assortment of Looney Tunes' zaniest cartoon characters plus bonus features. The first disc, which is devoted to Bugs Bunny, features 14 shorts, including RABBIT HOOD, OPERATION: RABBIT, BARBARY-COAST BUNNY and others. The second disc, devoted to the topic of cats, showcases 14 shorts, including DOUGH RAY ME-OW, KISS ME CAT, CAT FEUD and several others.
Exclusive bonus DVD features include:
WRONG TURN AT ALBUQUERQUE: Viewers follow Bugs Bunny on a global adventure and watch how at the same time he's still pulling practical jokes on a host of your favorite Looney Tunes characters.
With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video (www.whvdirect.com), a Warner Bros. Ent. Co., commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Ent., Castle Rock Ent., HBO Video and New Line Home Ent.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
