1918: The Year that Ultimately Leads Us to Bugs Bunny

We've reached 1918 and I'm almost through my first decade of film watching  The big, notable piece of film history for me?  Four brothers (Jack, Albert, Harry and Samuel) open their own movie studio.  Their last name?  Warner.  That's right, this year was the birth of the studio that would bring the world The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, A Streetcar Named Desire, Rebel without a Cause, Dirty Harry, and Jonah Hex (they can't all be winners).

Now, amongst other things, I am a huge fan of the Warner Bros. cartoons.  I love Bugs, Daffy, Taz and especially Road runner and Wile E. Coyote ("super-genius").  The rest of my family loves Disney; for me, it's all about Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.  One of my favorite quotes: "If you want to smile, watch Disney.  If you want to laugh, watch Warner Bros."  

In movie news, Stella Maris is the highest grossing film and features Mary Pickford in two roles.  Can't wait to see that.  This year also features the first movie version of Tarzan and you know I will be checking that out.  


As far as availability of movies go, things are definitely improving.  I had to research the various films available on NetFlix to pick them (rather than being forced to go with the only ones available).  My plan is to watch Stella Maris, Broken Blossoms (a D.W. Griffith film), The Blue Bird and Amarilly of Clothes-line Alley through NetFlix.  I'm also going to try to catch a Charles Chaplin and a Buster Keaton flick.  And of course, Tarzan.  I'm sure there will be some other surprises along the way.  As it's shaping up, I may be spending some more time in 1918 than in any other year to date.

I'll leave you with my favorite Bugs moment from 1957 What's Opera, Doc? performed with a live orchestra:




Photo from JohnThrasher.net