Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol (1979) - Part 3

So, a quick plot summary of 1979's "Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol" and what resemblance it has to the source material.

The thing to keep in mind is that this is really a Bugs Bunny vs. Yosemite Sam cartoon, set in the world of "A Christmas Carol" and is certainly not meant as a strict adaptation.

The fun in the Bugs/Sam cartoons stems from Sam's wild overreactions to Bugs's pranks. And Bugs needs some provocation for pulling those pranks. Not a lot, but some!

So, this cartoon puts that classic dynamic within the Scrooge framework.

That being said, it's perhaps more faithful than you might think.

Typically, the action starts in Scrooge's office, with him giving Bob Cratchit a hard time about using coal.

Bugs comes in like Fred, but his relationship with Scrooge is unclear. A unique touch is Scrooge receiving a mistletoe inspired kiss, which he does not appreciate.

Bugs gives Bob a piece of coal from Scrooge's fire, which Scrooge's cat notices, leading to some wacky antics, but also ultimately to Bob being fired. Thanks a lot, Sylvester!

Bugs goes home with Bob and meets his family, including Tiny Tim. Interesting to note that Bugs calls Bob (as played by Porky Pig) "Bob" and Bob calls Bugs "Bugs," so Bugs is playing himself, not Fred.

Scrooge has Bob's candle repossessed, then forecloses on his house, leading Bugs to drop in his catchphrase: "Of course you realize this means war!"

Now properly motivated, Bugs is ready to give Scrooge a hard time by scaring him into changing his ways.

He does so by putting on a white sheet as "The Ghost of Christmas" to haunt Scrooge and threaten to send him "down there."

Scrooge is really scared and quickly repents. He dons a convenient Santa suit and starts gving away the money that he had stashed under his mattress.

They all wind up at the  Cratchits' house and Scrooge makes Bob his partner for a happy ending. Well, happy until Bugs gives "Sam Scrooge" one more kiss!

The linking segment that follows in the original TV special has Yosemite Sam saying that he was only "play acting" and wants back that money he gave away!

So, some story elements made their way into this cartoon, but the biggest difference is that there are no actual ghosts.

I think the whole thing is a blast and a welcome throwback to those great old cartoons.