User Reviews

Before Jim Backus voiced Mr. Magoo or played Thurston Howell III, he provided his voice to Robert McKimson's Bugs Bunny cartoon "A-Lad-in His Lamp", in which Bugs finds Aladdin's lamp and releases the genie (Backus). They both return to Baghdad, where evil Hassan Pfeffer - living in a palace built by GI loans - wants the lamp and will stop at nothing to get it. And it turns out that the genie isn't so eager to help Bugs.

Obviously, it's a little harder to laugh at this cartoon given everything that's happened in the real Baghdad (and the rest of Iraq) during the past few years. But the cartoon itself is sure a hoot. It just goes to show that, contrary to his detractors, Robert McKimson did in fact turn out some good work as a director. I recommend it, and I wouldn't mind getting what Bugs gets at the end.

Veronica Lake, Turhan Bay, and Persian-to-Persian. Ha! PS: Jim Backus later guest-starred on an episode of "I Dream of Jeannie".

Robert McKimson is an often overlooked Warner Brothers Cartoon director, but he created some of their funniest hits, such as "Ham in a Role", "A Fractured Leghorn" (easily the best of the Foghorn Leghorn series), "It's Hummer Time", and "Early to Bet". McKimson's use of Bugs Bunny was sometimes disappointing ("Rabbit's Kin") but he more often used Bugs to good effect. Instead of the too-clever Bugs who is smarter than anyone else in the room, McKimson's Bugs got into real jams. "Hillbilly Hare" (where Bugs finds himself caught in the midst of a feud); "Hot Cross Bunny", where a doctor tries to change Bugs' brain with that of a chicken; and "Easter Yeggs", where Bugs is conned by his good heart to help out the Easter Bunny, are three of Bugs' greatest hits. Another McKimson gem is "A-Lad-in-His-Lamp", where Bugs Bunny happens across the famous lamp of Aladdin and finds himself caught between a ruthless potentate who wants the lamp (an early Saddam) and an increasingly unhelpful genie. Another plus to this nearly-perfect cartoon with non-stop action and laughs is Jim Backus doing an uncredited turn as the voice of the genie.

Lackluster, I disagree. Jim Backus' genie did steal the show from Bugs in this one. It did have the required caricature of the Caliph and the Genie. Remember the 40's, PC was not heard of then.Too bad joke are no longer seen as jokes. As far as the portrayal of Iraqis, Iraq wasn't a country during this make believe era. Smokey had the best lines, "3 cheers and a tiger for me".Bugs correcting the caliph with, "bugs bunny's lamp". True wise guy Bugs Bunny. Who can resist those lines, and the standard, 'be-whoop" sound of the Warner Bros. I have them as .wav files for mail delivery and just fun. Smokey bathing in the lamp and romancing the harem girls were great scenes and Bugs and Smokey played off each other rather well. My all time favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon. Beats the later 70's and 80's Bugs hands down. Some of the great Mr. Backus' finest work. I think this cartoon also stands the test of time. I've tested it on my kids, all born in the 90's and they loved it and couldn't believe it's almost 60 years old.

Love animation, it was a big part of my life as a child, particularly Disney, Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, and still love it whether it's film, television or cartoons.

'A-Lad-in His Lamp' from personal opinion, and quite a few others it seems, is one of the best cartoons from Robert McKimson during a period where he had not just hit his stride but also was in his prime. A director who isn't one of the greats in animation but was responsible for his fair share of good to classic cartoons (though he was not immune to average and less ones), meaning that he is deserving of more credit than he gets.

Bugs is true to his very likeable, witty and hilarious persona that he is most famous for, while being just as much at home in a serious dangerous situation that he is here. The genie, wonderfully voiced by Jim Backus, is a riot, and while the villain is a less than subtle archetype he is great fun and a suitable threat.

Mel Blanc as always is stellar in the usual multiple roles, that he shows the masterly and unequalled ability to give individuality to each of them.

Animation is excellent, it's fluid in movement, vibrant in colour and very meticulous in detail. The story may be predictable, but it's beautifully paced with never a dull moment and strongly structured.

Carl Stalling's music is typically superb. It is as always lushly orchestrated, full of lively energy and characterful in rhythm, not only adding to the action but also enhancing it.

It's a very funny, often hilarious actually, cartoon too, with well-engineered gags, a great premise made the most out of and done inventively, witty dialogue and non-stop liveliness.

Overall, a McKimson and Bugs classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This lackluster Bugs Bunny vehicle is most notable for being the first (uncredited) appearance of Jim Backus anywhere, a year before he became the voice of Mr. Magoo. It certainly was not the first cartoon to have a pun on a-lad-in in it's title. While building a home (digging a tunnel with a shuffle), Bugs stumbles upon Aladdin's lamp. `Smoky' the Genie, who seems to have been a great inspiration to Johnny Carson, talks Bugs into visiting his estate in Baghdad and sends him off flying. He failed to inform Bugs the estate is now owned by the violent Galiph Hassen Pheffer.

Is this really the Bugs Bunny we know and love? Instead of outsmarting everybody else, he spends this cartoon being duped by the genie and delivers some of the worst puns ever (hare-plane, hare-em). The genie himself is too busy taking a bath or having diner to offer any help, so Bugs has to fend for himself trying to keep the lamp out of Galiph's hands. The most original jokes are to be found during the establishing shots when we first get to Baghdad. Apparently this cartoon has come under fire for the depiction of Iraqi, but then again is there any forties Warner effort left that has not offended anybody?

4 out of 10