Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 3 (Blu-ray Review)

• Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
• Review Date: Apr 11, 2024
• Format: Blu-ray Disc
• 

Director

Robert McKimson/Tex Avery/Friz Freleng/Chuck Jones/Earl Duvall/Arthur Davis

Release Date(s)

1934-1964 (March 12, 2024)

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. (Warner Archive Collection)

• Film/Program Grade: A
• Video Grade: A-
• Audio Grade: B
• Extras Grade: F
• Overall Grade: A-

Review

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.

A vast majority of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts 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 to be 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 have not 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. Which brings us to the latest release from Warner Archive, Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 3.

The most important aspect of what the Collector’s Choice Blu-ray releases represent is a diversity in content. Each release 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. And Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 3 is certainly no different. In fact, it may be the first volume that highlights even more hidden gems than ever before. As always, the Blu-ray’s rear cover art lets us know that these shorts are “intended for the Adult Collector and May Not Be Suitable for Children.” This is important because it tells us that we’re getting these films as they were originally intended when they ran theatrically, but also preserving them as they should be preserved, uncut and uncensored.

The Warner Archive Collection release of Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 3 offers twenty-five more animated shorts (presented alphabetically) on a Region A/B-encoded, BD-50 Blu-ray disc in 1080p, retaining their original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The following are included:

1. A Feud There Was – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 7:44)
   (“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles)
2. China Jones – Looney Tunes (1959, Robert McKimson – 6:28)
   (Original Titles)
3. Cinderella Meets Fella – Merrie Melodies (1938, Tex Avery – 8:27)
   (Original Titles)
4. Dumb Patrol – Looney Tunes (1964, Friz Freleng – 6:21)
   (Original Titles)
5. Egghead Rides Again – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery – 7:26)
   (Original Titles)
6. Elmer’s Pet Rabbit – Merrie Melodies (1941, Chuck Jones – 7:48)
   (Original Titles)
7. Hobo Bobo – Merrie Melodies (1947, Robert McKimson – 7:06)
   (Original Titles)
8. Honeymoon Hotel – Merrie Melodies (1934, Earl Duvall – 7:23)
   (Original Titles)
9. Hop, Skip, and a Chump – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 7:02)
   (“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles)
10. I Only Have Eyes for You – Merrie Melodies (1937, Tex Avery – 8:07)
    (“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles)
11. Mexican Joyride – Looney Tunes (1947, Arthur Davis – 7:27)
    (Original Titles)
12. The Mouse on 57th Street – Merrie Melodies (1961, Chuck Jones – 5:53)
    (Original Titles)
13. Mr. and Mrs. Is the Name – Merrie Melodies (1935, Friz Freleng – 7:23)
    (Original Titles)
14. Of Rice and Hen – Looney Tunes (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:37)
    (Original Titles)
15. Pre-Hysterical Hare – Looney Tunes (1958, Robert McKimson – 6:30)
    (Original Titles)
16. Punch Trunk – Looney Tunes (1953, Chuck Jones – 7:02)
    (Original Titles)
17. Quentin Quail – Merrie Melodies (1946, Chuck Jones – 6:55)
    (Original Titles)
18. Riff Raffy Daffy – Looney Tunes (1948, Arthur Davis – 6:52)
    (Original Titles)
19. Saddle Silly – Merrie Melodies (1941, Chuck Jones – 7:35)
    (Original Titles)
20. Sheep Ahoy – Merrie Melodies (1954, Chuck Jones – 6:45)
    (Original Titles)
21. The Sheepish Wolf – Merrie Melodies (1942, Friz Freleng – 7:11)
    (“Blue Ribbon” Re-Release Titles)
22. There Auto Be a Law – Looney Tunes (1953, Robert McKimson – 6:54)
    (Original Titles)
23. Tugboat Granny – Looney Tunes (1956, Friz Freleng – 6:49)
    (Original Titles)
24. War and Pieces – Looney Tunes (1964, Chuck Jones – 6:43)
    (Original Titles)
25. Wet Hare – Looney Tunes (1962, Robert McKimson – 6:33)
    (Original Titles)

Mr. and Mrs. Is the Name and Mexican Joyride were newly-scanned in 4K from their original nitrate camera negatives specifically for this release, 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. Unfortunately, not all of the titles missing from their respective shorts could be restored, as noted above.

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. In fact, this is the most consistent batch of shorts overall in terms of visual quality.

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.

No extras have been included, 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.

While it’s hopeful that there are more releases in the pipeline, Looney Tunes: Collector’s Choice – Vol. 3 further highlights many classic and rarely seen films in a way that makes them all feel fresh. And with over a thousand theatrical shorts to choose from, one hopes for even more great content in the best quality possible. As is usual with these releases, it’s highly recommended.

- Tim Salmons

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