Musical Mountaineers

Betty's car stalls out "a thousand miles from nowhere" on a mountain where the famous feud is going on between the Hatfields and the McCoys (except the latter is "Zonk Peters" in this cartoon).

She sidles up to the Peters' shed and gets a hostile reception at first. When Betty convinces them she's not a threat, just a dancer whose car ran out of gas, they all sing and dance. Actually, that's the best part, the second half with a great song-and-dance number that is fun to watch and hear. That's basically the idea behind this animated short, as it was with a lot of Boop cartoons: just a vehicle for music - in this case, some rockabilly.

Musical Mountaineers (1939)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Betty Boop is out driving in the country when her car runs out of gas in Feud County when she goes to a home to seek help only to find the Hatfields wanting to fight. There's really not too much going on in regards to story but this short remains watchable thanks in large part to the second half when we're treated to a rather fun song and dance sequence that gets Betty dancing and the rednecks playing music. Of course, before this happens we get some backwoods humor in the way the country folks all load up their guns when they see Betty coming towards their house. They even make her dance by shooting at her feet, which was another good sequence. There's no question that the highlight comes in the second half when we get the song and dance number, which is a lot of fun and will leave you with a smile on your face. I thought the short contained quite a bit of imagination and especially during the various drawings of the country people. All of them had a rather fun look that helped keep the viewer interested in what was going on.

A good deal of the pre-Production Code Betty Boop cartoons are daring and creative, with content that makes one amazed at what's gotten away with. While the later Betty Boop cartoons made after the Code was enforced are still watchable and exceptionally well-made, they are so toned down that they feel bland.

Fleischer were responsible for some brilliant cartoons, some of them still among my favourites. Their visual style was 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.

While a long way from top-tier Betty Boop, 'Musical Mountaineers' is nice enough and not bad at all for late Betty Boop.

It does have a somewhat dull and predictable first half that feels more like set-up. The cartoon is light in plot, not a rare occurrence though for Betty Boop, and the first half is fairly laughter-and-creativity-free. Betty does look different here, was used to her being taller and de-sexed but here she also looks like she went on a diet or something.

Anybody yearning for the risqué and surreal edge will have to look towards another Betty Boop cartoon, 'Musical Mountaineers' doesn't have that.

However, things do pick up significantly in a much more action-and-fun-packed second half, with great music, singing and dancing.

The animation in 'Musical Mountaineers' is as to be expected extremely good, being beautifully drawn, crisply shaded and meticulous in detail. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic. It's a cute cartoon and not too saccharine, and the second half has a lot of creativity and imagination.

Betty is cute, charming and very likable with good timing. The hillbillies are entertaining enough and the voice acting is solid.

Overall, doesn't start off great but really picks up. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Over the years, the Fleischer Brothers Studio changed Betty Boop on many occasions. At first, she was a dog-girl---with a voluptuous human body and puppy ears. This didn't last long and soon the weird ears were abandoned. Then, with the advent of the new Production Code in 1934, Betty was de-sexed a bit--with fewer curves and more clothes. Now, here in "Musical Mountaineers" she's changed again--though I am really not sure why. Instead of the usual look, Betty is much taller and thinner--as if she was suddenly being drawn by someone who only had the vaguest recollection of how she should look. Regardless, today we don't think of this as Betty Boop since the series was soon discontinued after this short.

"Musical Mountaineers" finds better heading into feuding country (probably Kentucky) when her car breaks down. At first the folks are hostile--they think she might be a Hatfield. But, they soon make friends and help Betty to be on her way.

Now a whole lot in the way of plot or humor. This is a pleasant and well-animated cartoon but nothing more.