Cartoon-Vergleich: GERMAN LEGION-HARE

The history behind the German version of a worldwide rare Looney Tune

The German "Legion-Hare" was made on behalf of TV broadcaster ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen). As they didn't have access to the original material used in theaters they used the slightly altered tv adaption of "Roman Legion-Hare" from the "Bugs Bunny Show". This episode called "Satan’s Waitin’" (season 2, episode 2) was a three part feature consisting of the shorts "Hare Trimmed", "Roman Legion-Hare" and "Sahara Hare". Friz Freleng later also used parts of these in "Devil’s Feud Cake" (1963) and "The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie" (1981).

(original theatrical version)

(as shown on ZDF)

The original theater version is set in 54 a.d. Instead on TV Yosemite Sam finds a large board with a notice about the casting for a movie called "Ben Hare". Immediately Sam finds himself in the role of a roman legionaire on the film set. As the story is set in present time the opening sequence and all scenes showing emperor Nero were altered. Nero by the way is a caricature of actor Charles Laughton. The TV version shows him as director of the movie.

(original theatrical version)

(as shown on ZDF)

The German TV version cut the three cartoon feature into three individual parts. Therefore it is not clear why the heck Sam shows up in suit and hat. These clothes came right out of the previously shown "Hare Trimmed" where Sam tries to marry a widow played by Granny. The legacy hunter gets hit by a large safe and is immediately delivered to hell where he tries to make a deal with satan. If Sam finds another soul for purgatory he will be free. The soul victim probably could be Bugs Bunny.

(as shown on ZDF)

(original theatrical version)

The original ending of "Roman Legion-Hare" is missing from the German TV version. Presumably it was cut off for the "Bugs Bunny Show" three part feature. Just like in "The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie". The original theater version shows Sam and Nero fleeing from the lions and climbing up a column that is cut piece by piece by the lions' claws. In the end Bugs Bunny says something in latin while Yosemite Sam and violin playing Nero yield up to their fate.

(original theatrical version)

The "Bugs Bunny Show" episode "Satan's Waitin'" hasn't been shown on American TV since the 1960ths (except for the syndication runs in Canada in the 1970ths). So the German version is probably the only surviving piece of it. It appears along with seven other Looney Tunes on the 1989 VHS PAL video tape "WARNER CARTOONS 1 - Bugs Bunny" titled "Das Kampfkarnickel" (re-released in 1990 and 1993, Warner Bros. order no. 11855). The cartoon was shown many times on German TV. In 2005 it appeared on "Kabel 1" for the last time.