60 vintage shorts and most-requested one-shots from the wackiest animators in the universe.

CRITIQUE

I'd bet my original Chuck Jones drawing (proudly displayed!) that of all the animated characters in the world, Disney's are, arguably, the most famous —  but to cartoon connoisseurs Bugs and Co. are definitely the funniest!

There's nothing I watched more repeatedly during my formative childhood than WB toons. (Star Trek was only being rerun five days a week.) First there was the national Saturday morning Bugs and Roadrunner show (“And oh what heights we'll hit... on with the show, this is it!”) which ran the most well-known shorts; shown theatrically in the 50s and 60s. This was the recognized roster of WB's characters; honed and defined the way we know them today.

But every weekday after school the local stations* ran WB's lesser-known 30s and 40s toons. (Mainly because the licensing rights were cheaper.) These were unusual. The color prints were faded — some were even in black and white! The characters weren't as sharply defined.

Topical humor referenced an era that seemed positively ancient. Peter Lorre. (“Who's that?”) Buy War Bonds? (“Huh?”) What the hell were they talking about? “Why does Elmer Fudd have a big body and a small head? It's supposed to be the other way around!” Those questions went unanswered for quite a while, but I became fascinated by the old school toons and soon became a fan. They have a quality that's, well, different.

A brief side note to parents: our culture is reflected in these golden oldies. Politically incorrect depictions and inferences regarding minorities inhabit some segments. They should never be censored, but rather explained to the younger generation.

While the later shorts are clearly tighter and verbally inventive, the originals have a sense of the unexpected. And that's much of what you'll be seeing with the sixth Golden volume which concludes the set. (60 classics plus 15 “most requested” bonus shorts.) So sad to see them go... so glad they're on DVD!

*Before cable there was such a thing as UHF, kids!

Disc One: Looney Tunes All Stars

1. Hare Trigger

2. To Duck or Not to Duck

3. Birth of a Notion

4. My Little Duckaroo

5. Crowing Pains

6. Raw! Raw! Rooster!

7. Heaven Scent

8. My Favorite Duck

9. Jumpin' Jupiter

10. Satan's Waitin'

11. Hook Line and Stinker

12. Bear Feat

13. Dog Gone South

14. A Ham in a Role

15. Often an Orphan

Disc Two: Patriotic Pals

1. Herr Meets Hare

2. Russian Rhapsody

3. Daffy the Commando

4. Bosko the Doughboy

5. Rookie Revue

6. The Draft Horse

7. Wacky Blackout

8. The Ducktators

9. The Wekaly Reporter

10. Fifth Column Mouse

11. Meet John Doughboy

12. Hollywood Canine Canteen

13. By Word of Mouse

14. Heir Conditioned

15. Yankee Dood it

Disc Three: Bosko Buddie and Merrie Melodies

1. Congo Jazz

2. Smile Dam Ya, Smile!

3. The Booze Hangs High

4. One More Time

5. Bosko's Picture Show

6. You Don't Know What You're Doin'!

7. We're in the Money!

8. Ride 'em Bosko

9. Shuffle Off to Buffalo

10. Bosko in Person

11. The Dish Ran Away with the Spoon

12. Buddie's Day Out

13. Buddie's Beer Garden

14. Buddie's Circus

15. A Cartoonist's Nightmare

Disc Four: Most Requested Assorted Nuts

1. Horton Hatches the Egg

2. Lights Fantastic

3. Fresh Airedale

4. Chow Hound

5. The Oily American

6. It's Hummer Time

7. Rocket Bye Baby

8. Goo Goo Goliath

9. Wild Wife

10. Much Ado About Nutting

11. The Hole idea

12. Now Hear This

13. Martian Through Georgia

14. Page Miss Glory

15. Norman Normal

THE VIDEO

The fact that some of these toons are 70 years old, and still hold up is pretty amazing in of itself. The negatives were taken off the shelf so many times through the years to dub for theatrical, TV and video releases that one would think they'd look like shredded paper by now. So... while they're impressive for their age, I still believe that more time might've be spent removing dirt/scratches, and pumping up the color. These films are, after all, national treasures.

THE AUDIO

Aside from the characters, what's most remembered about WB toons is the music. Carl Stalling should be regarded as nothing less than a revolutionary composer and conductor. Hairpin musical turns, pathos, even operatic themes permeated his original works. Furthermore he was a musical fount of knowledge, weaving some of the most unexpected popular tunes into his merry melodies. Though unintended, Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" will be forever linked to some wacky assembly-line action in countless WB toons.

The Dolby Digital 1.0 sound on Golden Collection Volume 6 is on par with previous volumes -- darn good for such ancient tapes.

THE EXTRAS

This set is so chock full of extras that it's impossible to review them one by one.

Numerous commentaries, isolated soundtracks, rarely seen and oft-requested toons and TV specials... It's a daffy dream come true.

Of all the bonus pieces I enjoyed the Mel Blanc documentary ("The Man of a Thousand Voices" on disc four) the most. Beloved by his contemporaries for his perky nature, the guy was a more than just a funnyman. His unparalleled vocal skills extended to the point where, in "Rabbit Seasoning," Blanc played Bugs imitating Daffy, who in turn is imitating Bugs, and both are driving poor Elemer Fudd out of his misshapen skull! I can't imagine anyone else who could pull this off. Just the technical ability alone is staggering. To perform with such robustness, such distinction, and make it appear easy -- that's genius!

Disc 1: Looney Tunes All Stars

Commentaries

Hare Trigger Commentary by Greg Ford

Birth of a Notion Commentary by Mark Kausler

My Favorite Duck Commentary by Jerry Beck

Music Only Tracks

Raw! Raw! Rooster

Jumpin' Jupiter

Rabbit Rampage

Boyhood Daze

The Looney Tunes Television Specials

Bugs Bunny in King Arthur's Court [1978 WBTV special]

Daffy Duck's Easter Eggcitement [1980 WBTV special]

Bonus Cartoons

Sniffles Takes a Trip [1940 WB cartoon]

Hippety Hopper [1949 WB cartoon]

Rabbit Rampage [1955 WB cartoon]

Boyhood Daze [1957 WB cartoon]

Disc 2: Patriotic Pals

Commentaries

Herr Meets Herr Commentary by Greg Ford

Russian Rhapsody Commentary by Mark Kausler

The Draft Horse Commentary by Greg Ford

Fifth Column Mouse Commentary by Jerry Beck

Music Only Track

Yankee Dood It

Friz Freleng at MGM

Poultry Pirates [1938 MGM cartoon]

A Day at the Beach [1938 MGM cartoon]

The Captain's Christmas [1938 MGM cartoon]

Seal Skinners [1939 MGM cartoon]

Mama's New Hat [1939 MGM cartoon]

Bonus Cartoons

The Fighting 69 1/2th [1941 WB cartoon]

Hop and Go [1943 WB cartoon]

Confusions of a Nutsy Spy [1943 WB cartoon]

Disc 3: Bosko, Buddy and Merrie Melodies

Commentaries

Shuffle Off to Buffalo Commentary by Historian Jerry Beck

A Cartoonist's Nightmare Commentary by Historian Jerry Beck

The World of Leon Schlesinger

Introduction by Martha Sigall and Jerry Beck

Crying for the Carolines [1930 WB short]

Haunted Gold Title Sequence

Schlesinger Productions Christmas Party with Optional Commentary by Martha Sigall and Jerry Beck

Bonus Cartoons

I Love a Parade [1932 WB cartoon]

I Like Mountain Music [1933 WB cartoon]

Sittin' on a Backyard Fence [1933 WB cartoon]

How Do I Know It's Sunday [1934 WB cartoon]

Disc 4: Most Requested Assorted Nuts (One-Shots)

Commentaries

Fresh Airedale Commentary by historian Greg Ford

The Hole Idea Commentary by animator Mark Kausler

Alternate Audio Programs

The Hole Idea Music Only Track

Martian Through Georgia Music Only Track

Punch Trunk Music and Effects Track

Wild Wild World Music Only Track

Bonus Documentary

Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices (70 mins.)

Bonus Cartoons

Sleepy Time Possum [1951 WB Cartoon]

Punch Trunk [1953 WB Cartoon]

Wild Wild World [1960 WB Cartoon]

Bartholomew versus the Wheel [1964 WB Cartoon]

FINAL THOUGHT

Though the Golden series comes to a close, the word is that WB plans to keep releasing their cartoons in differently formatted sets.