This is a Warner Bros. cartoon from 65 years ago starring Bug Bunny and Elmer Fudd. The three key players behind it are once again Chuck Jones, Michael Maltese and Mel Blanc. I have to say I am pretty baffled by this film's popularity and success. There seems to be something about Looney Toons and opera. To me, however, as somebody with little to no interest in opera, these seven minutes were fairly mediocre and inferior to most other works involving Bugs and the gang from around that time. The gags weren't really funny, but maybe you have to know Barber of Seville to understand them. Bugs cut off Elmer's beard on one occasion, so I guess you have to. All in all, I cannot recommend this short film unless you know the piece I just mentioned.

"Rabbit of Seville" is one of THE BEST musical cartoons I have ever seen! Directed by "maestro" Chuck Jones, this film is a wonderful parody of Rossini's famous opera "The Barber of Seville", featuring Bugs Bunny and (reluctantly) Elmer Fudd. After Elmer chases Bugs backstage and winds up directly out front within audience view, the trouble starts, as well as the fun! Chuck Jones knew how to obtain laughs from the most minuscule facial expressions, as he does in "Rabbit of Seville" whenever Bugs has an UNFORGETTABLY SMUG look on his face as he "takes care of" Elmer (e.g., splashing hair tonics and making a salad on his bald head, COMPLETELY in time to the musical accompaniment, of course). I also really like the opening sequence, in which Elmer has a most perfect expression of stage fright in his eyes, and Bugs bursts into song as he introduces himself as the barber - you know, the "Welcome to my shop, let me cut your mop, let me shave your crop, daintily, daintily" bit."Rabbit of Seville" is a brilliantly made cartoon, no question about it. Chuck Jones understood that it's not wise to manipulate the music score if he's directing a musical cartoon. It's rather important that the music remains untouched so that the ACTION that we see in conjunction with the music becomes irresistibly funny, and "Rabbit of Seville" IS an irresistibly funny cartoon.

This is a high quality Warner Brothers cartoon,...there's no doubt about that. It's from the most productive and best period for their toons, so the animation quality and the rest of the production values are top notch. The problem, for me, is that this cartoon is not for all tastes and seems overrated. Surely there are much funnier Bugs Bunny cartoons (such as all the wonderful ones he did with Daffy Duck). And, how many kids would really enjoy this cartoon since it is chock full of opera and many of the usual Bugs Bunny hijinks are missing. I think this short is a great example of "IMDb-think"--adults are the ones rating the films on IMDb and so the ratings are strongly skewed towards what adults like. I know as a kid, I hated cartoons like this. Now that I am older (though perhaps not any more mature), I STILL don't particularly like this toon. Nope,...give me the good old Bugs Bunny over this opera-infested snoozer.

Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd wander into a production of The Barber of Seville at the Hollywood Bowl. Bugs promptly takes the part of the barber and gives Elmer a shave and hair treatment he won't soon forget all set to musical lyrics. This hilarious Hugo-nominated musical cartoon is on Disk 1 of the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1" It's the last short on disk 1 and quite possibly the best. And on a disk that contains the great 'What's up Doc?', 'Rabbit Seasoning', and 'Wabbit Twouble', that's no small feat. I'm a bit perplexed why this short didn't have a music-only track, nor commentary, but i'm VERY happy that it was on the DVD at all. The music is fantastic, the humour top of the line. This is one of the best Bugs cartoons in my mind.My Grade: A +