Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears (1944)

Too much of everything

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

. . . Dorothy's Mom Ruby Dandridge (as Little Red Riding Hood) demands of the Big Bad Wolf after Ruby's OTHER daughter--Vivian (as Goldilocks)--has run the would-be lupine miscreant ragged during GOLDILOCKS AND THE JIVIN' BEARS. In a brilliant bit of color-blind casting Waaaay before the alleged rapist's BIRTH OF A NATION remake, Warner Bros. serves as the Branch Rickey of the movie business by going out on the limb to colorize the Brothers Grimm. One could argue that the Big Bad Wolf comes off as a potential rapist himself the way that he threatens to "eat" Goldilocks on first sight. But once the latter starts Jitterbugging the tables are turned, and the rest of the story segues into a Sadie Hawkins dance. Even "Red's" Granny horns in on the fun, as the Big Bad Wolf yearns for a sound axle greasing. Naturally, wrong-headed racist Ted Turner failed to recognize GOLDILOCKS AND THE JIVIN' BEARS for the watershed Racial Advance that it was during World War Two, and thoughtlessly consigned it to the Hellfire of the infamous "Banned Eleven" Looney Tunes!

Friz Freleng's "Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears" is one of several cartoons that usually don't get any circulation these days due to racial stereotypes (I saw it at an exhibit about Mel Blanc). In this case, the stories of Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood get combined to create a jazz-filled extravaganza. A really good time.It's easy to enjoy these cartoons, just as long as we understand the content. Cartoons like this one and "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs" were intended as homages to African-American culture. And anyway, it's not as if racism has totally vanished from our culture (just look at some of the depictions of Barack Obama).Overall, a really fun cartoon.

This is the last of the Warner Bros. "Censored 11" cartoons I've seen on Thad's Animation Blog and what a cartoon to watch as the final entry since it has hot jazz music performed by the title character animals, the Big Bad Wolf from Red Riding Hood (who's off riveting), Goldilocks wearing out the Wolf from jitterbugging with him, likewise with the returning Red Riding Hood and her Grandma (with voice by Dorothy Dandridge's mom, Ruby). In fact, the story starts with the instruments that the bears are playing (clarinet, piano, and bass) all literally getting red hot from rehearsing too much! So they all take a walk while both the Wolf and Goldilocks go inside. While nearly all of the characters have African-American features, only the piano-playing bear has the stereotyped face, voice, and characterization (of the Stepin Fetchit kind). And with Friz Freling at the helm, you know you're in for an animated musical treat. In fact, Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears seems like one of the least offensive of the "Censored 11" cartoons I've seen here. It's certainly way better than the worst one, Angel Puss. So on that note, I highly recommend this short for animation buffs and jazz music lovers.

This short is just wonderful, with a jazz soundtrack and with the three bears as a jazz combo that takes a break (takes five) because their instruments get too hot from their playing. This is another short that will probably never see broadcast or commercial release because it's politically incorrect. Which is truly a shame, because there's nothing here that would offend anyone, unless it's someone that sees racist overtones in their breakfast cereal. It's fast paced, infectious and totally delightful. Well worth seeing. Most highly recommended.