Large Association of Movie Blogs
Large Association of Movie Blogs

Monday, December 11, 2006

Psychotronic Cartoons, Exhibit A


We slip a fair number of classic (and not-so-classic) cartoons into the KFJC Psychotronix Film Festivals. The early 30's work of New York's Fleischer Studio - surreal, macabre, bizarre and loaded with unabashed risqué humor, pre-Code style - remains the epitome of the "psychotronic" cartoon. Here's a good one: Silly Scandals (1931), uploaded by voiceman91.

This Fleischer classic could have been included among the Truly Obscure Animated Cartoons I have been posting, except for the appearance of Betty Boop, resplendent in her early 1930-1931 "dog ears" incarnation. Betty sings "You're Driving Me Crazy", a classic standard recorded in 1930 by the incredible Louis Armstrong and in the 40's by Peggy Lee. The song is also the cornerstone of a wonderful 1931 Screen Song cartoon. Clearly, somebody at Fleischer's was musically hip.

We concur with the audience of Fleischer cartoon animals: WE WANT BETTY! WE WANT BETTY!

2 comments:

sattvicwarrior said...

THAT was a SPECTACULAR cartoon. thanks for sharing:)

Paul F. Etcheverry said...

I saw a program of Disney Silly Symphonies in 35mm from the same period recently. Still like Fleischer cartoons more. The Talkartoons/Betty Boops/Screen Songs and Popeyes from 1930-1933 are tops. I'll be posting more shortly.

and, for Fleischer collections, check out. . .
http://www.cartoonresearch.com/garagesale.html