Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions

Only my second Betty Boop 'short' or 'cartoon', and so far I'm still not impressed. Maybe I only really liked her in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Despite the fact she's barely more than a cameo.

This is another basic cartoon, although it's not quite what she normally does (singing and dancing). This time it's all about inventions - a pipe organ with pigs that blow into the tubes when they're squeezed, a hen that lays eggs which are then fried, and a sewing machine that runs amok, and sews everything up in sight. It's up to Betty & her friends to save the day. Why is she still moving when she should be still?!

The processes for the inventions presented here are so absurd as to be ridiculous. But their insane lack of usefulness, makes this a delightful feature. A chicken that lays eggs which are then turned into fried eggs, for instance, has absolutely no reason for existing. Betty is in charge here. Eventually, there is the final part, a sewing machine run amok, sewing up everything in sight. Those of us who see lots of these would ask, "Where is the drooling gorilla?"

Betty Boo's Crazy Inventions (1933)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Betty and Bimbo are working at a tent show where new inventions are being shown off. Everything's going fine until a self threading sewing machine comes to life and starts sewing everything up. This film is short and sweet, which makes it worth sitting through at least once. The first part of the film isn't the strongest but we do get to see some rather unique inventions with the best being the egg hatcher then cooker. The second half was the best as the sewing machine does all sorts of damage including sewing up a river and a duck, which then flies off with various other creatures sewed to it. As with most Fleischer cartoons, the animation is great with a lot of imagination behind it.

Betty is conduction an invention show in a tent and atmosphere that looks and sounds a lot like a circus. Bimbo and Koko, naturally, are on hand to assist. Betty and her pals do demonstrations on products like a spot remover, a cigarette snuffer and an egg cooking device. Most of this was only mildly diverting, but it was pretty funny when the sewing machine ran amok.

Unfortunately, Mae Questel (the voice of Betty) ends up singing and while it's somewhat catchy, her high-pitched voice is,...um...hard on the ears. As usual, the film features pretty good Fleischer animation and Betty--a character whose appeal I have really never understood--but to each his own.

UPDATE: Since writing this review, I have recently watched quite a few Boop cartoons. Many are pretty dull affairs--with too much singing and too little in the way of plot. However, this is not always the case and some of them were pretty charming. I still wouldn't place "Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions" among her better shorts, however.

Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style often stunning and some of the most imaginative and ahead of its time in animation.

The character of Betty Boop, one of their most famous and prolific characters, may not be for all tastes and sadly not as popular now, but her sex appeal was quite daring for the time and to me there is an adorable sensual charm about her. The charm, sensuality and adorability factors are here and she's fun to watch. Those wonderful inventions, which are the very meaning of crazy and inventive, come very close to stealing the show this said.

Furthermore, the black and white animation is very good, smooth, meticulously detailed and well drawn with the black and white not looking too primitive. A lot of it is actually very imaginative as well. Even better is much of the music, which is rousing, catchy and unquestionably accessible to anybody who loves or is familiar with the compositional style. The voice acting is good, personally have never minded at all Mae Questel's voice for Betty.

It is agreed that the second half is better than the first half. The first half does have the pleasure of seeing those inventions at work, and they are all well-designed and fun like with the egg hatching/cooking, but it does feel like set up somewhat. The second half when the sewing machine runs riot is more entertaining and livelier in pace, and feels like there is more of a story.

'Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions' overall is entertaining and well made stuff, but sure enjoyment could very well be dependent on whether you like Betty or not. 8/10 Bethany Cox