This is the second of three shorts by Looney Tunes (this follows "Tortoise Beats Hare") featuring Bugs Bunny racing the tortoise--and, as usual, the clever tortoise gets the best of him. In this case, Bugs decides to do a bit of spying before the re-match. The tortoise tells Bugs he won due to his streamline design--so Bugs makes a turtle costume of his own. However, this is NOT a good idea, as a syndicate of gambler rabbits are determined to make sure the tortoise loses the race--and the real tortoise is disguised as a rabbit. The results are quite funny but what comes as a real shock is the extremely violent and dark ending--even compared to other Looney Tunes shorts! Funny and well worth seeing.

Tortoise Wins by a Hare (1943)**** (out of 4) Semi-sequel to TORTOISE BEATS HARE has Bugs Bunny asking Cecil Turtle for a rematch since the rabbit can't stand losing the race. Bugs tries to gain an advantage but have no fear because Cecil has a few tricks up his own sleeve. This is another very enjoyable film that manages to be as fun as the original. I enjoyed both of the shorts but think I prefer this one a little more because of the supporting characters, which include a bunch of rabbit gangsters who show up to make sure Bugs wins. The uncut ending, available on the Warner DVD, is a bit over the top and we probably didn't need it but it doesn't take away from any of the laughs in the film.

Bob Clampett's 'Tortoise Win By a Hare' is the second in the lesser discussed but underrated Tortoise and Hare series of cartoons. Starring Bugs Bunny and Cecil Turtle (just as a rabbit is the same thing as a hare in cartoon land, so a tortoise is the same thing as a turtle!), the Tortoise and Hare trilogy were each directed by different people: Tex Avery, Bob Clampett and Friz Freleng. An extract from Avery's classic 'Tortoise Beats Hare' opens Clampett's cartoon as Bugs watches his earlier humiliation by Cecil on a projector. The minute the Avery material switches to the Clampett material it's clear that we're in for a more anarchic ride second time round. The animation as the furious Bugs vents his exasperation is significantly more wacky and is absolutely compelling as a result. Clampett is on top form here, keeping up the crazed pacing throughout and throwing in tons of wonderful detail (my favourite moment is when a disguised Bugs allows the audience the briefest of glances under his disguise as if it were too brilliant for us morons to see through). The more dangerous edge often evident in Clampett's cartoons is in evidence here as a subplot involving the mafia is unveiled, leading to a series of violent encounters for Bugs and a climactic quadruple suicide.Clampett's take on Bugs was always more aggressive and in 'Tortoise Win By a Hare', with frustration thrown into the mix of character traits, Bugs is positively psychotic! Many cartoon fans have rejected the Tortoise and Hare series simply because they cannot accept Bugs as the loser but I always find it refreshing when Bugs is out-heckled once in a while and it's a joy to see Clampett milk all the painful laughs he can out of Bugs' frustration and anger. With its insane script, 'Tortoise Win By a Hare' is a cartoon that only Clampett could have pulled off and in his hands this risk-taking, anarchic piece becomes a lesser-praised classic of true inspired lunacy.

A hilarious sequel to Tex Avery's Tortoise Beats Hare (1941), the cartoon even starts out with Bugs watching selected film footage of the former cartoon. Bugs is very aggressive here and is determined to do everything in his power to win the race this time. If in the Avery cartoon the roles of Bugs and Cecil were reversed, so that Bugs was the loser and Cecil the heckler, here they literally switch identities. Bugs is dressed like a turtle in a mistaken belief that his "streamlined" shell will make him faster (If you're going to miscast Bugs Bunny as the loser you might as well go all the way with it), while Cecil is dressed like a rabbit because he knows the rabbit underworld has bet heavily on the hare to win and will use whatever means necessary to ensure a rabbit victory. Mel Blanc's acting is especially good here, probably one of his best performances. One standout scene is the passion in Bugs' voice as he draws nearer to the finish line. In an interesting side note, the newspaper that announces the rematch also contains an article in the lower right hand corner labeled "Adolf Hitler Commits Suicide." (Remember, this was 1943.) Were the animators at Warner Bros. clairvoyant? Unfortunately, the ending is censored on most television prints today, so try to see this cartoon uncut on videotape instead.