Foxy by Proxy (1952) User Reviews

"Oh, I'm going to catch a fox . . . "

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 12 July 2015]

" . . . and cut his tail off," the would-be fox-hunting sheep dog tells Bugs Bunny again and again during the course of this animated short, FOXY BY PROXY. To spite this mutt and his pack of hounds house-mates, Bugs digs out his fox costume from the previous Halloween and tries to lead the canines astray on a merry chase. The longer this "kid's cartoon" continues, the darker its story gets. Though the "real" fox is never shown here, Bugs inexplicably risks life and limb to "save" it. After several close shaves, Bugs succeeds in offing the herd of hounds by tricking them to run off a cliff, like lemmings. But his moment of triumph is cut short--along with his tail. The butt of Bugs' running jokes truncates the joker's own butt decoration, a development likely to confuse if not frighten some of its boy viewers, it not the girls. But Bugs simply echoes the over-achieving eunuch's comment to the harem: "Well, okay, just call me 'Stubby.'"

Does contact with Bugs just turn people dumb?

[lee_eisenberg · 8/10 · 20 March 2010]

Awakened by a fox hunt, Bugs Bunny turns his attention to the dumbest dog and proceeds to play a series of tricks on him. Well, either the dog was just a plain old idiot, or he somehow became one upon meeting Bugs. Either way, Bugs plays some great - and even nasty - tricks on the guy. Once I saw the log, I knew what was going to happen, since that trick has appeared in other cartoons.

OK, so how many times can Bugs pull these gags on his enemies, none of whom really has a noticeable IQ level? Who cares? The point is that it's funny! "Foxy by Proxy" definitely is. I'm certainly not one to throw away Halloween costumes either.

Stubby indeed.

"Just call me Stubby."

[utgard14 · 8/10 · 29 September 2015]

Fox hunting hounds disturb Bugs' peace and quiet, so he decides to mess with them by dressing up as a fox. Now, honestly, this plan doesn't make a lick of sense because he's just endangering himself. Of course this is a cartoon and therefore doesn't have to make sense so we just go with it. Anyway, Bugs spends most of the short tormenting a fat dimwitted hound that is yet another in a long line of Looney Tunes characters inspired by Lennie from "Of Mice and Men." It's a funny short with many good gags and lines. The train gag is my favorite. Energetic music from Carl Stalling. Great voice work from Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg. The animation is beautiful with bright, rich colors and well-drawn characters and backgrounds. An unofficial remake of a Tex Avery short called Of Fox and Hounds but with enough charms of its own to make it feel fresh.

Yaya, Yaya, that make good sense.......

[smicalef · 10/10 · 8 June 2001]

One of my personal favorites, as Bugs is awakened to the sound of a fox hunt, and decides to get in on the act. Best scene is the whole train-track scene, makes me howl with laughter however many times I see it. Non-stop action, with a surprise finish, as Bugs for once gets it in the end(literally).

Even with one of Bugs' stupidest foils, it is still a hilarious and beautifully animated cartoon

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 1 September 2012]

Is Foxy By Proxy one of Bugs' very best? Probably not. Is it a great cartoon? I think so. Bugs is on top form, his persona and wisecracks are still as priceless as ever. The hound is one his stupidest foils, but incredibly endearing at the same time. The humour is imaginative and still hilarious. There are some great quotes here especially Bugs' "I've seen better heads on a glass of root beer!!!", and of the gags the best was the whole train track sequence which I just can't get enough of and it makes me bust a gut every time. The pacing is also crisp, and there is not a dull moment in the story. The animation is beautifully done, both characters are drawn very well and it is sumptuously coloured. The music as ever is full of incisive energy and lively orchestration. Mel Blanc does a wonderful job again with the voicing, how he managed to voice so many characters the way he did I don't know. In conclusion, very well recommended. 10/10 Bethany Cox

"And I thought this was going to be a dull day"

[computerdino · 30 August 2004]

It's a shame that this classic Bugs Bunny short is not aired on TV much anymore. To me, it's one of Bugs' best films! With all issues about fox hunting set aside, this cartoon is extremely funny! Bugs starts out just wanting to tease a group of hunting dogs in the classic "Elmer Fudd/Looney Tunes" style. The main object of Bugs' trickery is a big, dopey looking hunting dog. This pooch is the classic cartoon "idiot" that Bugs really loves to pester and pester he does! However, this is one of the few times that Bugs' tricks actually backfire on him. The first time my son saw this cartoon, he was very shocked at the ending. A laughfest from start to finish!

"I've seen better heads on a glass of root beer!!!"

[PeachHamBeach · 8 September 2003]

Bugs versus the absolutely stupidest (in my opinion) rival of all the rivals he's faced: a bumbling fox hound who is looking for a fox to cut his tail off!!!

This dog is so laugh out loud dumb that I just don't know what else to say, but Bugsy said it best!!!

Probably more controversial than it has ever been but still quite funny - take that Countryside Alliance!

[bob the moo · 27 February 2004]

Disturbed in his rabbit hole by the noise of foxhounds, Bugs decides to show them what a real sport is all about. Putting on his old Halloween costume (a fox outfit) Bugs picks on the dumbest dog in the pack and starts to wind him up. This continues even when the rest of the pack get involved.

I haven't seen this short on TV or anything, in fact I had to hunt it down and found it on a video that was more than 10 years old. I can't help wondering if the reason for this is that networks in the UK are a bit sensitive about showing a cartoon that deals with such an explosive issue as fox hunting. You may not know, but the banning (or not banning) of fox hunting is a big issue in the UK and I'm sure the Countryside Alliance (pro-hunt) would not be that keen to see Bugs coming down on the side of the lefty hunt-saboteurs!

Regardless of the political asides (although they add spice) this film is basic stuff but still quite funny. The standard trickery is all still there and funny, even if it feels a little strange to see Bugs in a full fox costume for most of the film. Some jokes are straight lifts from other cartoons and have been done elsewhere (Fudd himself has felt the wrath of that log-turning gag). Despite this it is still worth seeing and is pretty amusing. Bugs is his usual self despite the outfit, although the dumb dog almost feels too easy a plaything for Bugs!

Overall this is a well animated short that has some funny material even if can be recognised from other cartoons. Those in the UK will enjoy it simply because it is funny to see Bugs cocking a snook at an issue that is a political hot potato. Bugs as a hippy, hunt-saboteur? Who'd have thought it!