Fleischer Cartoons: Betty's Beginnings

Film

No upcoming events

The Bum Bandit. 1931. Directed by Dave Fleischer. Courtesy of Fleischer Cartoons Restored.

Dizzy Dishes. 1930. DCP. 6 min.
Barnacle Bill. 1930. DCP. 8 min.
Mysterious Mose. 1930. DCP. 6 min.
Accordion Joe. 1930. DCP. 6 min.
The Bum Bandit. 1931. DCP. 6 min. Premiere
Silly Scandals. 1931. DCP. 6 min.
Bimbo’s Express. 1931. DCP. 6 min.
Mask-a-Raid. 1932. DCP. 7 min.

Betty Boop, Fleischer’s most popular creation, began as a nameless, poodle-like companion to Bimbo, the canine character who took over from KoKo as the studio entered the sound era. Under animators Grim Natwick and Willard Bowsky, she quickly evolved into a fully human flapper figure, with a voice and personality that reminded some views of the popular singer Helen Kane (including Kane, who unsuccessfully sued the Fleischers for unfair competition). Early Betty, as highlighted in this program, was very much a New Woman of the 1920s, with bobbed hair, hoop earrings, and a little black dress to show off her curvaceous figure. Fully aware of her sexual power—much of the comedy in the cartoons comes from the wild states of arousal Betty provokes in her male costars—she is also a self-confident, autonomous figure who greets the Great Depression with a bracing entrepreneurial spirit.

This film accompanies Fleischer Cartoons: The Art and Inventions of Max Fleischer.

Past events

Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

MoMA, Floor T2, Theater 2

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2
Sat, Mar 9, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Followed by a discussion with Jane Fleischer Reid, Mauricio Alvarado, scholar Ray Pointer and restoration artist Thad Komorowski

MoMA, Floor T2, Theater 2

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2

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