What happens when you put together the magic of two hot jazz symbols of their time into one cartoon? You get a special Betty Boop cartoon featuring the musical and performing contributions of Cab Calloway. The Old Man of the Mountain is a phenomenal showcase of the two legends at their prime and a reminder of how much they were willing to go above and beyond in the art of animation timed to music.
This whole cartoon can best be described as a precursor to music videos albeit with less flash and a more concrete story filled with bizarre gags. Never once does the cartoon run out of energy as the character animation bounces along to the beat of Cab's soundtrack. Speaking of Cab, he practically steals the show as the actual old man of the mountain himself. Next to Mae Questel doing a fine job as Betty, Calloway's range as a improvisational scat singing musician lends itself wonders to the musical and visual timing.
Admittedly, this cartoon does reflect a reminder as to where Betty Boop was in her precode era. Prior to the toned down conservative nature of the Hays Code years, these cartoons were far more progressive in content due to how bold and out there Betty was as a strong woman of music and spunk. Next to the raunchy humor and off the wall cartoon logic, the cartoon is clearly against its darker subject matter by letting the old man of the mountain get his just desserts. When people wonder if Betty Boop can ever get woke, these cartoons remind us that they were already woke to begin with.
As a staple of early 30s jazz through comedic animation, The Old Man of the Mountain packs one heck of a rad time. It's no wonder the Fleischers have been deemed the original bad boys of animation, as Betty Boop's strong persona proves so perfectly. If you're ever in need of shouting, advertise it just this way, and enjoy the ride.
This whole cartoon can best be described as a precursor to music videos albeit with less flash and a more concrete story filled with bizarre gags. Never once does the cartoon run out of energy as the character animation bounces along to the beat of Cab's soundtrack. Speaking of Cab, he practically steals the show as the actual old man of the mountain himself. Next to Mae Questel doing a fine job as Betty, Calloway's range as a improvisational scat singing musician lends itself wonders to the musical and visual timing.
Admittedly, this cartoon does reflect a reminder as to where Betty Boop was in her precode era. Prior to the toned down conservative nature of the Hays Code years, these cartoons were far more progressive in content due to how bold and out there Betty was as a strong woman of music and spunk. Next to the raunchy humor and off the wall cartoon logic, the cartoon is clearly against its darker subject matter by letting the old man of the mountain get his just desserts. When people wonder if Betty Boop can ever get woke, these cartoons remind us that they were already woke to begin with.
As a staple of early 30s jazz through comedic animation, The Old Man of the Mountain packs one heck of a rad time. It's no wonder the Fleischers have been deemed the original bad boys of animation, as Betty Boop's strong persona proves so perfectly. If you're ever in need of shouting, advertise it just this way, and enjoy the ride.