Hare Force

Hare Force is a 1944 Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng.
== Title ==
Although the title is a play on the Air Force, the cartoon's plot has nothing to do with the military.
== Plot ==
On a cold and snowy night, Bugs wangles his way into the good graces, and more importantly, the house, belonging to an old lady. Sylvester, her dog, takes an instant dislike to the Bunny, and most of the cartoon is spent with the two tricking each other into going outside the house and getting locked out. Finally they get into a schtick where they are each throwing the other out the front door in turn, in quick succession. The old lady, fed up with all the bickering by now, intervenes and tells them both to get out, when suddenly she gets thrown out, startled and indignant. Bugs and the dog have made peace with each other, and are lazing by the fireplace. Bugs turns and says, "Gee, ain't I a stinker?"
== Availability ==
Hgfjghgjf.webp|8mm (Associated Artists Productions print)
Lt vo uk hrh.jpg|(1986) VHS Bugs Bunny Cartoon Festival Featuring "Hair Raising Hare"
Cartoon Moviestars 13.jpg|(1988) VHS Cartoon Moviestars: Starring Bugs Bunny!
LT Laserdisc 3.jpg|(1988) LaserDisc Cartoon Moviestars: Bugs Bunny Classics: Special Collector's Edition
Bugs Bunny Collection VHS 1.jpg|(1991) VHS Bugs Bunny Collection: Bugs Bunny: Hollywood Legend
Golden-Age-of-Looney-Tunes-3-F.jpg|(1992) LaserDisc The Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Vol. 3, Side 2: Bugs Bunny
Ghsrtyrhteyj7r6i58j.jpg|(1996) VHS Further Adventures of Bugs Bunny
LTCE VOL 10 CANINE CORPS.jpg|(2000) VHS Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition Volume 10: Canine Corps (1995 Turner dubbed version)
Golden Collection box 3.jpg|(2005) DVD Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3, Disc One
lt cbobb3.jpg|(2005) DVD Looney Tunes Collection Best of Bugs Bunny Volume 3
lt cv3.jpg|(2018) DVD Looney Tunes Collection Volume 3
=== Streaming ===
lt hbo max.jpg|HBO Max (2020 - 2023)
lt max.jpg|Max (2023 - )
== Censorship ==
* The version of this cartoon that aired on TBS cut the part where, as Sylvester the Dog is sobbing over melting the snowman likeness of Bugs, believing he killed him, Bugs says, "You're really in a jam now, Doc. It's the hot seat for you, sure."Censored Looney Tunes: Hare Force
== Notes ==
* This is the first cartoon (besides those directed by Bob Clampett) to use the definite design of Bugs, though Freleng made a slight modification while this cartoon was in production.
* "As Time Goes By" is sung in this short by Sylvester and Bugs at different points.
* Sylvester the Dog here is not to be confused for Sylvester the Cat, who would debut the following year in "Life with Feathers".
** Coincidentally, both characters were created by Friz Freleng.
* After Sylvester is tricked into going outside to fight, Bugs asks “How’s the weather out there, John L.?”, a reference to John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing in the late 19th century. He was commonly known as “John L.”
* The background music score used in the scene when Bugs and Sylvester throw each other out of the house is the exact same one in a scene from "Brother Brat" during the part where Baby Butch chases Porky Pig around the house with a meat cleaver.
* The plot of this cartoon was reworked four years later as "Kit for Cat" (1948).
== Gallery ==
HareForceCredits1.png
HareForceCredits2.png
Untitledn mn.png|Lobby card
20527571 1941281522794965 1229252667 n.jpg|Lobby card
Hareforce.png
File:Tumblr 682345904cdb1d259d20387ecc0d38da a5c31f7e 1280.jpg
File:Hareforce unused frame.png|Unused animation cel
File:Hare Force (1944) - Frozen.jpg
File:Hare Force (1944) - Tricked.jpg
File:Hare Force (1944) - Stinker.jpg
==References==
Category:Bugs Bunny Cartoons
Category:Shorts
Category:Merrie Melodies Shorts
Category:1944
Category:Cartoons directed by Friz Freleng
Category:Cartoons written by Tedd Pierce
Category:Cartoons with layouts by Owen Fitzgerald
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Mel Blanc
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Tedd Pierce
Category:Cartoons with characters voiced by Bea Benaderet
Category:Cartoons with music by Carl W. Stalling
Category:Cartoons with orchestrations by Milt Franklyn
Category:Cartoons with film editing by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons with sound effects edited by Treg Brown
Category:Cartoons produced by Leon Schlesinger
Category:Cartoons in a.a.p. package