One of the Best Boops
We’ve still got that “Mother Goose Week” thing going with today’s gem, “Poor Cinderella” (1934), first of the Fleischer Color Classic series, in fact, the first color cartoon released by the studio and Betty Boop’s only non-black and white appearance — quite the landmark film!
And it’s a really good one too! Betty as a strawberry blonde, some neat 3-D effects, a closing gag that always gets a great audience reaction — this one’s got a lot going for it. There’s also a wistful theme song, “I’m Just a Poor Cinderella,” courtesy of that dynamic team of Tobian, Mencher and Scholl. Just don’t start humming the darn thing for more than twelve seconds, ’cause it carries the Woolite Jingle Curse, namely that it will nest in your brain for 24 hours minimum, AND WILL NOT GO AWAY!!!!!
In fact the only real debit the film offers is the character of Prince Charming, seen here as dippy looking guy with a haircut that’s kinda like Prince Valiant meets Marcia Cross. For all of her famed status as a sex symbol, poor Betty Boop had to make do with a pretty motley bunch of leading men over the years. KoKo the Clown, Grampy and (gasp) Wiffle-Piffle… I’m not sure what issues the Fleischer Brothers were working out while casting this crew. Of course there was Bimbo; peppy, stature appropriate and obviously nuts about the girl. He was just, you know, not the same species (what he was, I think, was a Boston Terrier with shoes, gloves and sweater… no pants.)
Tomorrow more Freleng!
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On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Not only is Prince Charming “dippy looking”, but have you ever noticed his blue tinted teeth? Too must Crest, or a Cinecolor snafu… but Yeeechh! You left off Betty’s later beau, Freddy (or Fearless Fred) from your list of Fleischer leading men; he was a tad “girly-man” himself with his Betty Boop-like facial features. I guess the Fleischer’s used up all their macho on Popeye & Bluto.
On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Yeah, Prince Charming, Fearless Fred and the rest… no wonder Betty eventually directed most of her affection to her microbe sized pooch, Pudgy!
On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Will a cartoon come every day? Or is it every day for just this week?
On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Five cartoons a week, Monday through Friday, every week. Subscribe and enjoy!
On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Betty should have gone with Bimbo. Rember she started out as a dog too. they changed her earlobs to hoops.
On April 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Anybody else catch the almost-nip slip at about 6:05? Or that the Fleischer animation crew were so sick of putting Rudy Vallee into their cartoons that they drew him without pants?
On April 21st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Bimbo and other cartoon characters have become an inspiration to me to stop wearing pants. We should follow his example.
On April 21st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Really nice rotoscope animation when Betty and the Prince are dancing!
On April 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I liked the attention to detail in the town and especially the palace. It’s a shame that Betty had completely lost her personality by the time this was made.