Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 1-4 (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Tex Avery/Bob Clampett/Arthur Davis/Earl Duvall/Friz Freleng/Chuck Jones/Norman McCabe/Robert McKimson/Hawley Pratt/Frank TashlinRelease Date(s)
1934-1964 (November 26, 2024)Studio(s)
Warner Bros. (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: A
- Video Grade: A-
- Audio Grade: B
- Extras Grade: D+
- Overall Grade: A
Review
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies need little to no introduction. Mainstays of our collective childhoods (and adulthoods) for decades since they first premiered theatrically, and in regular rotation on television ever since, these well-crafted slices of animated comedy goodness continue to reign supreme as some of the greatest cartoon slapstick ever produced. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, Sylvester and Tweety Bird, Foghorn Leghorn, and many others have fully embedded themselves in our popular culture, and more cartoons, films, and merchandise continue to be made starring these characters.
Debuting theatrically in 1930, the Looney Tunes shorts began as a series of cartoons that were meant to showcase many popular songs of the day for their respective publishers. Running almost concurrently were Merrie Melodies, which officially unveiled the following year, basically performing the same function. Eventually, both series made their way from black-and-white to color with more overt comedic formulas, beautiful artwork, and popular characters, thanks to the creative teams behind them, which included legendary directors and animators like Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, and Fred (Tex) Avery, among many others. Both series ran until 1969, only occasionally revived in the late 1970s and onward; though many consider the original 40-year plus run to be the finest that both Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies had to offer.
These shorts have also been released on every major home video format in various packages over the years. Because they were a product of the times in which they were made, some were subsequently censored or simply never re-released, for a variety of reasons. Since they weren’t originally produced for the enjoyment of children solely, characters do outrageously violent and non-politically correct things like blow each other up with guns and cannons, smoke cigarettes, and set each other on fire, all for comedic purposes. They also make references to, what was then, pop culture items, whether it was politically or socially-sourced, or drawn from books, films, radio, and TV programs. As such, some of the references are not always understood, but many have been inadvertently exposed to and educated about them because of it.
A vast majority of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts also carried their share of culturally insensitive moments and characters, but when they eventually made their way to television, there were eleven in particular that were deemed so offensive that no distributor would dare touch them. Dubbed the “Censored Eleven,” they nearly came to DVD in the mid-2010s, though poor sales of Looney Tunes DVDs at the time were blamed for their canceled release. The shorts were as follows:
- Hittin’ the Trail for Hallelujah Land – Merrie Melodies (1931, Rudolf Ising)
- Sunday Go to Meetin’ Time – Merrie Melodies (1936, Friz Freleng)
- Clean Pastures – Merrie Melodies (1937, Friz Freleng)
- Uncle Tom’s Bungalow – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery)
- Jungle Jitters – Merrie Melodies (1938, Friz Freleng)
- The Isle of Pingo Pongo – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery)
- All This and Rabbit Stew – Merrie Melodies (1941, Tex Avery)
- Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs – Merrie Melodies (1943, Bob Clampett)
- Tin Pan Alley Cats – Merrie Melodies (1943, Bob Clampett)
- Angel Puss – Looney Tunes (1944, Chuck Jones)
- Goldilocks and the Jivin’ Bears – Merrie Melodies (1944, Friz Freleng)
As of this writing, they still haven’t been given an official release, but as the struggle by film historians to make more people realize that these are films meant for all audiences and not just children continues, it’s perhaps only a matter of time before they’ll be seen officially in some form or another.
Over time, many of these cartoons were altered in some way or another to the point that they lost some of their initial impact. When they re-released theatrically, they were given new opening and closing credit sequences, complete with a blue ribbon and an Oscar statue, signifying that they were the cream of the crop. This was called the “Blue Ribbon Classics” series, which also consequently chopped off the crew credits from the original camera negatives during the opening titles. Thanks to various archives and private film collectors from across the world, many of the original credit sequences have been subsequently restored, though many have not (the search continues).
One must also not forget that because of Associated Artists Productions (A.A.P.) and Ted Turner’s various TV stations in the 1980s and 1990s, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies remained relevant, making their way to other TV stations, currently airing on Cartoon Network, MeTV, and other TV channels (as of this writing). However, streaming has not been kind to these cartoons as they are often lifted from their respective services, even if the money to restore them has already been spent, further damaging their place in the digital realm. But as the streaming and home video rights continue to shift, companies like the Warner Archive Collection see to it that these short films are released as uncut and uncensored as possible, within the means of their budgets and what film elements survive to properly restore them.
Which brings us to the latest release from the Warner Archive Collection, Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 1-4, which collects together all of the previously-released four volumes of the Collector’s Choice series. The most important aspect of what these Blu-ray releases represent is a diversity in content. Each draws draws from every decade for the most minor of shorts to the most popular, giving viewers a range of entertainment for their money and perhaps highlighting little seen or little known films that might otherwise not have the same kind of spotlight. The Blu-ray’s rear cover art continues to remind us that these shorts are “intended for the Adult Collector and May Not Be Suitable for Children.” This is important because it tells us know that we’re getting these films as originally intended when they ran theatrically, but also preserving them as they should be preserved.
The release of Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 1-4 from the Warner Archive Collection includes a total of ninety-seven animated shorts on four Region A/B-encoded, BD-50 Blu-ray discs in 1080p, retaining their original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The following shorts are included on each disc:
DISC ONE: VOLUME 1
- Beanstalk Bunny – Merrie Melodies (1955, Chuck Jones – 6:59)
(Original Titles) - Catch as Cats Can – Merrie Melodies (1947, Arthur Davis – 7:16)
(Original Titles) - The Unruly Hare – Merrie Melodies (1945, Frank Tashlin – 7:20)
(Original Titles) - His Bitter Half – Merrie Melodies (1950, Friz Freleng – 7:36)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Daffy Doodles – Looney Tunes (1946, Robert McKimson – 7:13)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Cracked Quack – Merrie Melodies (1952, Friz Freleng – 7:06)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Little Orphan Airedale – Looney Tunes (1947, Chuck Jones – 7:31)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Hip Hip-Hurry! – Merrie Melodies (1958, Chuck Jones – 6:18)
(Original Titles) - Hot-Rod and Reel! – Looney Tunes (1959, Chuck Jones – 6:28)
(Original Titles) - Greedy for Tweety – Looney Tunes (1957, Friz Freleng – 6:31)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Stooge for a Mouse – Merrie Melodies (1950, Friz Freleng – 7:00)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - A Mouse Divided – Merrie Melodies (1953, Friz Freleng – 7:13)
(Original Titles) - A Fractured Leghorn – Merrie Melodies (1950, Robert McKimson – 7:04)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Plop Goes the Weasel – Looney Tunes (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:44)
(Original Titles) - Tale of Two Mice – Looney Tunes (1945, Frank Tashlin – 7:32)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - The Foxy Duckling – Merrie Melodies (1947, Arthur Davis – 7:35)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Two Gophers from Texas – Merrie Melodies (1948, Arthur Davis – 6:55)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Doggone Cats – Merrie Melodies (1947, Arthur Davis – 7:04)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - What’s Brewin’, Bruin? – Looney Tunes (1948, Chuck Jones – 7:31)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - The Bee-Deviled Bruin – Merrie Melodies (1949, Chuck Jones – 7:04)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits)
DISC TWO: VOLUME 2
- Behind the Meat-Ball – Looney Tunes (1945, Frank Tashlin – 7:43)
(Original Titles) - Brother Brat – Looney Tunes (1944, Frank Tashlin – 7:15)
(Original Titles) - Catty Cornered – Merrie Melodies (1953, Friz Freleng – 6:37)
(Original Titles) - Cross Country Detours – Merrie Melodies (1940, Tex Avery – 9:53)
(Original Titles) - Daffy’s Southern Exposure – Looney Tunes (1942, Norman McCabe – 7:34)
(Original Titles) - Ding Dog Daddy – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 8:19)
(Original Titles) - The Eager Beaver – Merrie Melodies (1946, Chuck Jones – 6:18)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Fair and Worm-er – Merrie Melodies (1946, Chuck Jones – 6:41)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Fin’n Catty – Merrie Melodies (1943, Chuck Jones – 6:31)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - From Hand to Mouse – Looney Tunes (1944, Chuck Jones – 7:46)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Ghost Wanted – Merrie Melodies (1940, Chuck Jones – 7:36)
(Original Titles) - Greetings Bait – Merrie Melodies (1943, Friz Freleng – 7:00)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Hamateur Night – Merrie Melodies (1939, Tex Avery – 7:44)
(Original Titles) - Hare-Breadth Hurry – Looney Tunes (1963, Chuck Jones – 7:07)
(Original Titles) - A Hick, a Slick, and a Chick – Merrie Melodies (1948, Arthur Davis – 7:12)
(Original Titles) - Hiss and Make Up – Merrie Melodies (1943, Friz Freleng – 8:06)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - A Hound for Trouble – Merrie Melodies (1951, Chuck Jones – 7:10)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - I Wanna Be a Sailor – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery – 7:03)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - The Leghorn Blows at Midnight – Looney Tunes (1950, Robert McKimson – 7:17)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Lickety-Splat – Looney Tunes (1961, Chuck Jones – 6:24)
(Original Titles) - One Meat Brawl – Merrie Melodies (1947, Robert McKimson – 7:06)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - The Penguin Parade – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 7:32)
(Original Titles) - Rabbit Rampage – Looney Tunes (1955, Chuck Jones – 6:59)
(Original Titles) - The Rebel Without Claws – Looney Tunes (1961, Friz Freleng – 6:15)
(Original Titles) - The Wacky Worm – Merrie Melodies (1941, Friz Freleng – 7:14)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles)
DISC THREE: VOLUME 3
- A Feud There Was – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 7:44)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re–Release Titles) - China Jones – Looney Tunes (1959, Robert McKimson – 6:28)
(Original Titles) - Cinderella Meets Fella – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 8:27)
(Original Titles) - Dumb Patrol – Looney Tunes (1964, Friz Freleng – 6:21)
(Original Titles) - Egghead Rides Again – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery – 7:26)
(Original Titles) - Elmer’s Pet Rabbit – Merrie Melodies (1941, Chuck Jones – 7:48)
(Original Titles) - Hobo Bobo – Merrie Melodies (1947, Robert McKimson – 7:06)
(Original Titles) - Honeymoon Hotel – Merrie Melodies (1934, Earl Duvall – 7:23)
(Original Titles) - Hop, Skip, and a Chump – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 7:02)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re–Release Titles) - I Only Have Eyes for You – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery – 8:07)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re–Release Titles) - Mexican Joyride – Looney Tunes (1947, Arthur Davis – 7:27)
(Original Titles) - The Mouse on 57th Street – Merrie Melodies (1961, Chuck Jones – 5:53)
(Original Titles) - Mr. and Mrs. Is the Name – Merrie Melodies (1935, Friz Freleng – 7:23)
(Original Titles) - Of Rice and Hen – Looney Tunes (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:37)
(Original Titles) - Pre–Hysterical Hare – Looney Tunes (1958, Robert McKimson – 6:30)
(Original Titles) - Punch Trunk – Looney Tunes (1953, Chuck Jones – 7:02)
(Original Titles) - Quentin Quail – Merrie Melodies (1946, Chuck Jones – 6:55)
(Original Titles) - Riff Raffy Daffy – Looney Tunes (1948, Arthur Davis – 6:52)
(Original Titles) - Saddle Silly – Merrie Melodies (1941, Chuck Jones – 7:35)
(Original Titles) - Sheep Ahoy – Merrie Melodies (1954, Chuck Jones – 6:45)
(Original Titles) - The Sheepish Wolf – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 7:11)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re–Release Titles) - There Auto Be a Law – Looney Tunes (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:54)
(Original Titles) - Tugboat Granny – Merrie Melodies (1956, Friz Freleng – 6:49)
(Original Titles) - War and Pieces – Looney Tunes (1964, Chuck Jones – 6:43)
(Original Titles) - Wet Hare – Looney Tunes (1962, Robert McKimson – 6:33)
(Original Titles)
DISC FOUR: VOLUME 4
- Along Came Daffy – Looney Tunes (1947, Friz Freleng – 6:48)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - A Bone for a Bone – Looney Tunes (1951, Friz Freleng – 7:04)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - The Cagey Canary – Merrie Melodies (1941, Tex Avery/Bob Clampett – 8:08)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - D’ Fightin’ Ones – Merrie Melodies (1961, Friz Freleng – 6:14)
(Original Titles) - Dangerous Dan McFoo – Merrie Melodies (1939, Tex Avery – 7:53)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Devil’s Feud Cake – Merrie Melodies (1963, Friz Freleng – 7:45)
(Original Titles) - Double Chaser – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 7:10)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Double or Mutton – Looney Tunes (1955, Chuck Jones – 6:39)
(Original Titles) - Fox Pop – Merrie Melodies (1942, Chuck Jones – 7:49)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Henhouse Henery – Looney Tunes (1949, Robert McKimson – 7:21)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Holiday for Drumsticks – Merrie Melodies (1949, Arthur Davis – 7:00)
(Original Titles) - Hopalong Casualty – Looney Tunes (1960, Chuck Jones – 6:06)
(Original Titles) - Hyde and Go Tweet – Merrie Melodies (1960, Friz Freleng – 6:23)
(Original Titles) - The Impatient Patient – Looney Tunes (1942, Norman McCabe – 7:48)
(Original Titles) - Leghorn Swoggled – Merrie Melodies (1951, Robert McKimson – 7:13)
(Original Titles) - Meatless Flyday – Merrie Melodies (1944, Friz Freleng – 6:22)
(Original Titles) - Mouse-Warming – Looney Tunes (1952, Chuck Jones – 6:58)
(Original Titles) - The Mouse-Merized Cat – Merrie Melodies (1946, Robert McKimson – 6:27)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Muscle Tussle – Merrie Melodies (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:44)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles with Crew Credits) - Muzzle Tough – Merrie Melodies (1954, Friz Freleng – 6:34)
(Original Titles) - Peck Up Your Troubles – Merrie Melodies (1945, Friz Freleng – 7:04)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Quack Shot – Merrie Melodies (1954, Robert McKimson – 6:31)
(Original Titles) - Road to Andalay – Merrie Melodies (1964, Friz Freleng/Hawley Pratt – 6:52)
(Original Titles) - The Sneezing Weasel – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 6:42)
(“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles) - Streamlined Greta Green – Merrie Melodies (1937, Friz Freleng – 8:00)
(Original Titles)
- Lighter Than Hare – Merrie Melodies (1960, Friz Freleng – 7:23)
(Original Titles) - Stork Naked – Merrie Melodies (1955, Friz Freleng – 6:45)
(Original Titles)
Beanstalk Bunny, Brother Brat, Catch as Cats Can, Ghost Wanted, Mexican Joyride, Mr. & Mrs. Is the Name, and Peck Up Your Troubles have all been newly-scanned in 4K from their original nitrate camera negatives, while Riff Raffy Daffy was newly-scanned from a 35mm nitrate print, since the original camera negative is currently lost. Others were likely scanned in 4K from their respective OCNs, but the visual quality is so good from short to short that it can be difficult to discern at times, which is not a bad thing at all. Otherwise, the rest were restored three years prior, though Warner Archive was able to make minor corrections that the team who restored those shorts overlooked, such as Photoshopped titles. Unfortunately, not all of the titles missing from their respective shorts could be reinstated, while other missing content within the shorts has.
The Mouse-Merized Cat is presented uncut with the impression of Rochester by Catstello re-instated. Cross Country Detours, Hobo Bobo, and Holiday for Drumsticks has had their original opening and closing titles restored, while Hyde and Go Tweet uses alternate closing titles. The Impatient Patient features a sped-up version of the 1938 to 1941 opening theme song instead of the 1941 to 1945 version. Many shorts containing Blue Ribbon opening titles are actually Looney Tunes cartoons and not Merrie Melodies cartoons. Included as a bonus are Lighter Than Hare and Stork Naked, which were originally included in the Looney Tunes Super Stars DVD releases in 16:9. They have now been restored to 4:3, although the closing credits are cropped at the top and bottom of the frame.
Without a doubt, these are more vibrant and detailed than ever before with bitrates primarily running between 30 and 40Mbps. Their original color palettes are maintained throughout with crisper linework and greater contrast with deep blacks. Even the Cinecolor shorts pop in a way that they haven’t previously. Minor cel dirt and debris is present, but grain appears a tad absent as some noise reduction has been applied. Some shorts are cleaner-looking than others, but nothing has been done to compromise the integrity of the original artwork. They could sometimes appear a bit more natural than they do, but they certainly don’t appear glossy or inorganic, and they’re a major step up from their standard definition counterparts.
Audio is presented in English and Spanish 2.0 mono DTS-HD Master Audio. Not all of these tracks are created equal as there are obvious differences from ‘toon to ‘toon, mostly in treble, hiss, and occasionally mild crackle. Otherwise, everything is given good support. Subtitle options include English SDH, French, and Spanish (the latter for the last three volumes only).
No extras have been included other than the bonus shorts, but many of these cartoons have never been released on optical disc before, let alone uncut. Commentaries and featurettes would have been welcomed, of course, but the real prize is the main content, which takes priority over everything else.
If Warner Archive’s George Feltenstein’s and animation historian and producer Jerry Beck’s recent appearances on The Extras podcast with Tim Millard are any indication, it’s likely that we’ll see future volumes in this series sometime next year. Nevertheless, Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 1-4 is a fantastic and affordable way for those haven’t dived into the Collector’s Choice series yet to jump in head first. It’s also a fine way for those looking to shrink their home video library’s shelf space. In any case, it comes highly recommended.
– Tim Salmons
(You can follow Tim on social media at these links: Twitter, Facebook, BlueSky, and Letterboxd. And be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel here.)