Funny Bugs Bunny short, directed by Bob Clampett, that marked Bugs' official Looney Tunes debut. He had appeared up until this point as part of the Merrie Melodies series. It's also notable for being the final cartoon with an on-screen credit for Leon Schlesinger, who had sold his studio to Warner Bros. that year. It's a great cartoon with lots of wackiness and references to pop culture and topical events of the time, common traits of Bob Clampett's work. It's a western spoof with Bugs as a carrot thief called the Masked Marauder being pursued by "Brooklyn's famous fighting cowboy," Red Hot Ryder. Red Hot Ryder is a dimwit, of course, and Bugs outsmarts him at every turn. Many funny gags and lines, beautiful animation, and exciting music are what makes this one great. It's fun to watch Bugs in the earlier cartoons when he was more aggressive and, frankly, mean.
15 Reviews
Bugs Bunny's first Looney Tunes appearance comes with a Western
CihanVercan31 December 2009
Looney Tunes has made a big hit featuring Bugs Bunny in groundbreaking Buckaroo Bugs. After Bosko and Buddy(the classics from 1930s') Looney Tunes gains acceleration with Bugs; within more vivacious, more musical, more compositional series.
Bugs has innovations for himself: For the first time, he plays a cowboy, a thief,i.e. a villain character; though he plays more Bugs Bunnily than before, eats more carrots and makes more jokes than usual. He's well known as a carrot thief in an old west town. Hence a cowboy named Red Hot Ryder goes after him. Bugs feigns ignorance to different characters such as a newsboy and a postman, but never reveals his true identity till Red's horse realizes him. It's both funny and dully that the horse is more brainy than the cowboy who rides it.
Impersonating a horse is surely a good idea, but mainly there is more bleakness than the appealing facts. In the first place, Lou Lilly's story and script is very plain and tasteless. William Tell overture has used nicely to introduce the larger-than-life cowboy character at the beginning; yet in a matter of minutes this mood becomes very placid. Some more action sequences could have been used to boost it, like in the episodes with Yosemite Sam.
Bugs Bunny's first Western fails to find(or create) the right cartoon character to accompany him. Our eyes were looking for Yosemite Sam; for Bugs needs better challenges. This episode is more addressed to preschool children.
Bugs has innovations for himself: For the first time, he plays a cowboy, a thief,i.e. a villain character; though he plays more Bugs Bunnily than before, eats more carrots and makes more jokes than usual. He's well known as a carrot thief in an old west town. Hence a cowboy named Red Hot Ryder goes after him. Bugs feigns ignorance to different characters such as a newsboy and a postman, but never reveals his true identity till Red's horse realizes him. It's both funny and dully that the horse is more brainy than the cowboy who rides it.
Impersonating a horse is surely a good idea, but mainly there is more bleakness than the appealing facts. In the first place, Lou Lilly's story and script is very plain and tasteless. William Tell overture has used nicely to introduce the larger-than-life cowboy character at the beginning; yet in a matter of minutes this mood becomes very placid. Some more action sequences could have been used to boost it, like in the episodes with Yosemite Sam.
Bugs Bunny's first Western fails to find(or create) the right cartoon character to accompany him. Our eyes were looking for Yosemite Sam; for Bugs needs better challenges. This episode is more addressed to preschool children.
I Wouldn't Want to Be Around Bugs
Hitchcoc2 January 2019
Bugs is particularly cruel in this one. The Red Hot Ryder is a dolt and is one a mission which is valid. When our rabbit gets his hands on him, the lights go out quickly. Bugs is the master of every situation but he uses his superiority for basic cruelty. Interesting use of his talents as he torments this poor guy.
Riding to right the wrong!
slymusic5 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
There's trouble in the San Fernando Alley! The Masked Marauder has stolen an entire supply of carrots from the townspeople's victory garden! Who is the Masked Marauder, you ask? Why, it's "Buckaroo Bugs"! And who will stop this pesky wabbit?! Red Hot Ryder, that's who! (Uh, yeah. Right.)
Highlights from this cartoon: Upon his initial appearance (to the accompaniment of the famous William Tell Overture), Red Hot Ryder tries desperately to whoa his horse, but to no avail, until he whips out a gigantic club. Later on, he thinks he's riding his horse until he discovers he's merely riding a hitch rail, and the audience discovers that the horse has fingers. AND, with the generous aid of Carl Stalling's music score, Bugs applies a horseshoe magnet to Ryder's bullets, badge, coins, belt buckle, etc.
Directed by Bob Clampett, "Buckaroo Bugs" is one of the wildest, funniest Bugs Bunny cartoons ever made. Is it any wonder that Bugs unashamedly laughs at the extremely dopey Red Hot Ryder when he first sees him? This cartoon can be found on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5 Disc 3, featuring two additional audio commentaries. One is a scholarly commentary by animation historian Michael Barrier, and the other one just elicits a lot of hysterical laughter.
Highlights from this cartoon: Upon his initial appearance (to the accompaniment of the famous William Tell Overture), Red Hot Ryder tries desperately to whoa his horse, but to no avail, until he whips out a gigantic club. Later on, he thinks he's riding his horse until he discovers he's merely riding a hitch rail, and the audience discovers that the horse has fingers. AND, with the generous aid of Carl Stalling's music score, Bugs applies a horseshoe magnet to Ryder's bullets, badge, coins, belt buckle, etc.
Directed by Bob Clampett, "Buckaroo Bugs" is one of the wildest, funniest Bugs Bunny cartoons ever made. Is it any wonder that Bugs unashamedly laughs at the extremely dopey Red Hot Ryder when he first sees him? This cartoon can be found on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5 Disc 3, featuring two additional audio commentaries. One is a scholarly commentary by animation historian Michael Barrier, and the other one just elicits a lot of hysterical laughter.
Bugs is a bully in this one
nnwahler11 July 2023
This really isn't Bugs's personality. It's a good thing Red Hot Ryder isn't really a human, but just a dumb little schmuck. If he were human, that poor guy would've been in tears before the film was half over. The "Arkansas Traveler" sequence--where Bugs uses a magnet to undo Red's pants--is the real topper. If you think I'm overreacting, I've got animation historian Mike Barrier, and a few others, to back me up re Bugs's character here.
I'm docking this one by an extra star for Clampett's continual hogging of the credit for having created Yosemite Sam with this cartoon--a claim which both Friz Freleng and Michael Maltese (the REAL creators of the character, in 1945's "Hare Trigger") have vehemently denied.
I'm docking this one by an extra star for Clampett's continual hogging of the credit for having created Yosemite Sam with this cartoon--a claim which both Friz Freleng and Michael Maltese (the REAL creators of the character, in 1945's "Hare Trigger") have vehemently denied.
Someone is stealing carrots from a victory garden, it's Bugs Bunny! and it's up to Red hot rider to stop him!
talarisw20 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
One of the best bugs bunny cartoons of all time! Hardcore fans of looney tunes know that all the major directors at Warner bros. had a slightly different take on Bugs, and this is the best example of Bob Clampett's take on bugs. Bob's was Warner bro's "looniest" animator and he made bugs more screwy and more mischievous than the other cartoonist. In several of his cartoons bugs was the instigator, while the other cartoonist generally made bugs a victim who fought back. In this cartoon bugs is flat out the villain/antagonist and his nemesis, Red hot rider, is actually the hero/protagonist. But the great thing about this cartoon is even as the bad guy bugs still comes off as likable and you still root for him to win. I like the setting of the wild west where bugs is like billy the kid and red hot is a dumb Pat Garret. I love the over dramatic opening, it's a great parody on western movies. I love the woman saying "he pinched me!" in the opening, one of the best openings ever! that ends with the hilarious intro for Red hot. I love Red Hot Rider! he is one of the best enemies Bugs ever faced, and I wish Bob or someone else would of brought him back to face bugs some more times. Red hot might be the only person dumber then Elmer Fudd! I love how "cartoony" this is and Bob always has the best gags. I also love the lack of logic in this cartoon, like when bugs robs red hot twice. The first time bugs uses a magnet to take all his medals and golds causing his pants to drop, showing his women's bloomers but the 2nd time bugs uses a magnet to rob him of the same stuff he took from him before(how did he get his stuff back after bugs robed him the 1st time?) causing his pants to drop and this time he has no bloomers, just a leaf to cover his privates. So how could've he change his under garments? There's no logic here just pure wacky humor. I love when red hot dosen't realize that he's riding a piece of wood not his horse and his horse waits patiently for him to realize it. I love the way in which bugs is playing red hot, pretending to help him locate the outlaw while at the same time robbing him and playing tricks on him, with red hot being too stupid to realize it's the same person. Kind of a take on how Elmer would tells bugs he's hunting wabbits and bugs pretending he dosen't know what a rabbit looks like. I also like the clever way in which bugs gets red hot to jump over cliffs until he jumps into the grand canyon, that could of fooled even a smart person. I love the reaction of the horse when he sees he's falling into the grand canyon and then desperately tries to get back on the cliff. Only at the end bugs reveals to red hot that he's the outlaw known as the mask marauder. The animation's great and lively. The gags are great, this is what you call laugh out loud funny. I like the western music by Carl Starling and Mel Blanc's voice as bugs and red hot. A bugs bunny classic!
Another Great Bob Clampett Cartoon!
Don_Mac2 August 2002
This cartoon -- directed by the great Bob Clampett -- is one of the best Bugs Bunny cartoons ever (IMO). In the "Western" storyline, our favorite hare is the Masked Marauder, stealing carrots from Victory Gardens (they had those in the Wild Wild West?!??) and being pursued by the not-so-bright Red Hot Rider (his horse is smarter than he is!). Bugs, as he does with Elmer, then proceeds to have fun tripping up this adversary. This classic cartoon dates from Clampett's -- and Warner's -- golden age of the 1940's, a time in which the wildly hilarious "Warner Style" reached it's peak. This one is a must for any Bugs Bunny fan.
Rootin' Tootin' Bugs... Red... not so much
TheLittleSongbird8 May 2010
Buckaroo Bugs is a thoroughly entertaining Bugs Bunny cartoon. My only problem was that Red while he is voiced brilliantly and has some nice juicy dialogue comes off weak and silly as a character. Buckaroo Bugs is entertaining for primarily a rootin' tootin' performance from my favourite rabbit(or wabbit as Elmer would say) if there ever was one. Bugs is well supported by some rapid razor sharp dialogue, wonderful visual gags, great animation and a corker of a score with the William Tell Overture played to perfect use. And Mel Blanc? What can I say about this truly talented guy? I know I keep going on about him, but he does deserve credit for bringing these truly wonderful toon characters to life and and being funny in the process. Overall, near-perfect as a cartoon, that is lots of fun. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Another racy Clampett cartoonie!!!
PeachHamBeach8 September 2003
In this one, "The Masked Marauder" (Bugs Bunny) robs the "hero" Red Hot Ryder with a big magnet, taking his money, his bullets, and even the fillings in his teeth!!! He also takes his belt buckle and Red Hot is left standing there naked with but a leaf to cover his...ahem!!!
Clampett is one for pushing the envelope, but man, it's funny!!! If you need a great belly laugh, look to Clampett and Avery!!!
Clampett is one for pushing the envelope, but man, it's funny!!! If you need a great belly laugh, look to Clampett and Avery!!!
Rootin' Tootin' Bugs....
Mister-625 February 2002
The roughest, toughest hombre to come out of the West...with the longest ears, to boot.
"Buckaroo Bugs" shows Bugs as the typical anti-hero who tangles with cowboy "hero" Red Hot Ryder (who has a nose to rival Bugs' ears) who, in turn, seeks out the Masked Marauder after he steals a town's carrots from their victory garden (hmmm...wonder who that could be?).
Of course, Bugs gets involved and repeatedly humiliates old Red Hot (twice with a magnet and once with a Western Bunions telegram). But what can you say about a hero whose bravest -and smartest- feature is his horse?
Chuck Jones gets in some pretty racy visual jokes for a cartoon and Mel Blanc makes Bugs' wiseacre potshots and Red Hot Ryder's naivete-bordering-on-stupidity all the funnier.
Ten stars for "Buckaroo Bugs". Yee-haw!
"Buckaroo Bugs" shows Bugs as the typical anti-hero who tangles with cowboy "hero" Red Hot Ryder (who has a nose to rival Bugs' ears) who, in turn, seeks out the Masked Marauder after he steals a town's carrots from their victory garden (hmmm...wonder who that could be?).
Of course, Bugs gets involved and repeatedly humiliates old Red Hot (twice with a magnet and once with a Western Bunions telegram). But what can you say about a hero whose bravest -and smartest- feature is his horse?
Chuck Jones gets in some pretty racy visual jokes for a cartoon and Mel Blanc makes Bugs' wiseacre potshots and Red Hot Ryder's naivete-bordering-on-stupidity all the funnier.
Ten stars for "Buckaroo Bugs". Yee-haw!
Adam and Bugs
lee_eisenberg18 December 2007
OMG!!!!!!!! They actually managed to stick in a nearly nude scene! Yes, it's just one scene, but it's always amazing what they sneaked into these cartoons (hell, Porky Pig walked around half naked). Bob Clampett's "Buckaroo Bugs" casts Bugs Bunny as an Old West bandit pursued by witless lawman Red Hot Ryder. Guess who always comes out on top! I have to admit that I really only know about 1940s westerns through spoofs like this one, as westerns are one of my least favorite movie genres. Heck, I usually know parodies ("Airplane!" and "Weird Al" Yankovic's songs) before knowing the original; sometimes I see the parody without evening knowing that it spoofs something (often I see something on "The Simpsons", and then find out a few years later that it spoofed something). I can't tell you how many times when I was little that I watched Warner Bros. cartoons and naively laughed at them, only to later find out that they were parodies of movies or radio shows (which made them funnier).
But anyway, this is a hilarious cartoon. Another masterpiece from Bob Clampett.
But anyway, this is a hilarious cartoon. Another masterpiece from Bob Clampett.
You're in for a good laugh with this short
brunovalsi10 October 2021
By far, this is one of my favorite bugs bunny cartoons, because it is incredibly funny, instead of elmer fudd, bugs' rival is a cowboy hunter sheriff, who's even more dimwitted than elmer fudd and his stupidity is really funny.
Catchy music by Carl Stalling (along with his arrangements of the william overture finale)
There are lots of funny gags and jokes in this short that never fail to make us laugh, and with this, the cartoon is really entertaining and timeless.
Overall, this cartoon is amazing and hilarious, you can invite your friends to see cartoons with you and this is one of them that you should see with them.
Catchy music by Carl Stalling (along with his arrangements of the william overture finale)
There are lots of funny gags and jokes in this short that never fail to make us laugh, and with this, the cartoon is really entertaining and timeless.
Overall, this cartoon is amazing and hilarious, you can invite your friends to see cartoons with you and this is one of them that you should see with them.
Red is weak but Bugs carries the cartoon really well
bob the moo15 November 2003
When the West was won, pioneers settle down to make their homes. However one such town is ravaged by the Masked Marauder, a thief who robs the gardens of their carrots. One man is called in to stop the thief the Red Hot Ryder. However will he be enough to stop Bugs?
The weakness in this cartoon is the normal one in average Bugs cartoons lack of a really good foil, in fact Bugs himself describes Red Hot Ryder as `a fugitive from the funny papers'. However despite the slightly dopey sidekick, Bugs doing his usual stuff is more than enough to make the cartoon funny. He totally confuses Red and it is very funny to watch.
Red is OK but he isn't up to the standard of the other cowboy character (who I expected to be in this) and all he does is be a bit silly and dopey. It speaks volumes that I actually laughed more at his horse than I did at his antics. Bugs is on good form though and he keeps everything moving really well.
Overall this is further proof that Bugs is best with a strong sidekick but that he can make a cartoon work even without one. Very funny short with Bugs' usual wit and attitude.
The weakness in this cartoon is the normal one in average Bugs cartoons lack of a really good foil, in fact Bugs himself describes Red Hot Ryder as `a fugitive from the funny papers'. However despite the slightly dopey sidekick, Bugs doing his usual stuff is more than enough to make the cartoon funny. He totally confuses Red and it is very funny to watch.
Red is OK but he isn't up to the standard of the other cowboy character (who I expected to be in this) and all he does is be a bit silly and dopey. It speaks volumes that I actually laughed more at his horse than I did at his antics. Bugs is on good form though and he keeps everything moving really well.
Overall this is further proof that Bugs is best with a strong sidekick but that he can make a cartoon work even without one. Very funny short with Bugs' usual wit and attitude.
One of the zaniest and funniest ever!
dtpnetman5 October 2022
This is one cartoon everyone needs to see at least once. It is Bugs Bunny at his peak and in a rare villain roll. It is so utterly rediculous and so looney that it truly lives up to the Looney Tunes name. There are very few cartoons that can evoke pure side splitting laughter but this is definitely one of them. Do yourself a favor and check it out and watch it uncensored. That being said this is indeed one that is more for older teens and adults. Keep the little kiddies away until they get just a bit older. Mel Blanc, the man of a thousand voices, is absolutely steller in this as Bugs and all the voices, as you would expect. It is not often you watch something that can pull you instantly out of whatever disappointment or depression you might be currently in and bring joy and a smile to your face. This Cartoon is better than any medicine you can get. Let Dr. Bugs Bunny take care of you.
Good Setup, But 'Red Hot Ryder' Is Too Stupid
ccthemovieman-18 November 2007
The big question in this story: "How long will this fair-weather fiend, the Masked Marauder, be allowed to roam at will, dragging in the mud the name of justice and decency?"
The answer: "Brooklyn's famous fighting cowboy, riding to right this wrong, rides 'Red Hot Ryder'!!"
Wow, those corny and ultra-dramatic lines are uttered to set up this Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes effort from 1944. Unfortunately, it might have been the high point of the cartoon.
Bugs was his normal cocky and humorous self but "Red Ryder" was so stupid-sounding he was annoying and not decidedly not funny. He sounded more like the "Lenny" (of Mice and Men") dopey characters that were in a few other Looney Tunes. I would prefer to see Bugs up against someone of equal intelligence, but that is rarely shown. Hearing "Which way did he go" Which way did he go?" a half dozen times in this retarded-sounding voice is more irritating than it is funny.
The beginning of this nine-minute cartoon was very good and the whole thing looked promising until "Red Hot Ryder" showed up. After that, there wasn't much to laugh about.
The answer: "Brooklyn's famous fighting cowboy, riding to right this wrong, rides 'Red Hot Ryder'!!"
Wow, those corny and ultra-dramatic lines are uttered to set up this Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes effort from 1944. Unfortunately, it might have been the high point of the cartoon.
Bugs was his normal cocky and humorous self but "Red Ryder" was so stupid-sounding he was annoying and not decidedly not funny. He sounded more like the "Lenny" (of Mice and Men") dopey characters that were in a few other Looney Tunes. I would prefer to see Bugs up against someone of equal intelligence, but that is rarely shown. Hearing "Which way did he go" Which way did he go?" a half dozen times in this retarded-sounding voice is more irritating than it is funny.
The beginning of this nine-minute cartoon was very good and the whole thing looked promising until "Red Hot Ryder" showed up. After that, there wasn't much to laugh about.
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