The Scared Crows

This cartoon showcases the decline and fall of the Fleischer animation machine, as it essentially uses Betty Boop to give a already-clichéd plot (Pudgy the dog guards against cagey crows) a boost. The boost isn't quite enough, though the cartoon has its amusing moments.

The cartoon is interesting in that Betty's design is different--she is no longer the "boop-boop a doop" flapper of her past--as the Depression hit long and hard, the world changed...and eventually so did Betty. She is taller, narrower, and more realistic looking--this is an indication more than anything that the Fleischer studio had evolved away from its anarchy-riddled past efforts into what would be more mature (but also more boring and safe) efforts.

What's saddest is that they use Betty only as a gimmick to showcase Pudgy. A shame.

During the 1930s, the Fleischer Brothers made a ton of Betty Boop films. However, by the end of 1939, she was retired--only to reappear in various cameos in recent years (such as in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"). "The Scared Crows" is one of these final films. I have no idea why, but Betty is quite a bit different in this one. First, very voice is Margie Hines--not the old familiar Mae Questel*, though during her original run, quite a few women occasionally did Betty's voice--though Questel was by far the most frequent. Second, Betty was 'de-sexed' in this one--with her large features greatly reduced (and I am not just talking about her head). She also is much more slender and contemporary in this one.

"The Scared Crows" finds Betty and her dog, Pudgy, planting seeds. However, the annoying crows keep digging them up. When Betty scares them off, one of the crows is hurt and naive Betty takes it home to nurse it back to health. Unfortunately, the crow turns out to be a real jerk--and if you watch the film you'll see what I mean.

This cartoon's biggest plus is its lack of musical numbers--something that often made these cartoons a bit too saccharine at times. But, the cartoon is also amazingly tame compared to earlier ones...though it is still enjoyable and good for its day. Compared to other late 30s cartoons, it's quite good.

*In the 1970s, Questel was famous for playing Aunt Bluebell for a long series of toilet paper commercials. She also voiced most of the Olive Oyl cartoons and later played Betty one final time in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" about 50 years later than the first Betty cartoons!

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.

The animation, as always, in 'The Scared Crows' is extremely good, being beautifully drawn, crisply shaded and meticulous in detail. The music is infectious, lush and dynamic.

In 'The Scared Crows', there are cute moments and some amusing ones too. Pudgy (one of the most used later Betty Boop supporting characters for a reason) is very endearing and the crows are suitably pesky. Margie Hines does well as Betty.

However, while pleasantly cute in places, parts of 'The Scared Crows' is so cutesy in places it can get on the wrong side of sweetly saccharine, enough to bring things down. This is further accentuated by this is practically the only emotion in the entire cartoon. There is a lack of laughs, which makes the lack of surreal, risqué or creative edge far less easier to ignore and forgive.

Even for Betty Boop, the story is thin and conceptually feels tired and routine. Unfortunately, on top of being significantly toned down Betty is basically a supporting character and one that's barely there, with little to do and she feels underused.

All in all, very average but watchable. 5/10 Bethany Cox