Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
BelSports
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Curt
Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.
Lee Eisenberg
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.
tavm
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.
MartinHafer
This is a very peculiar little film that was pulled from circulation a long time ago because some found the film to be racially offensive. However, compared to many of the other films Warner Brothers pulled out of circulation for the same reason, the racist elements of this film seem very, very mild and can be forgiven due to the time in which it was made. If you don't believe me, try watching ALL THIS AND RABBIT STEW or COAL BLACK AND DE SEBBEN Dwarfs!!! In fact, although the three jazz playing characters look stereotypically exaggerated, the characters don't act stupid or lazy like in some of the other offensive cartoons. Because of this, the film is important historically and if viewed by adults I think they can take the imagery without "blowing a gasket". Would I want little kids to see it? Maybe not--or at least I'd have to talk to them and explain the context of the cartoon and the attitudes towards Black America.As far as the cartoon itself goes, it's pretty similar to MGM's SWINGSHIFT Cinderella, except that it isn't nearly as funny or well-made. Pretty typical of early 40s Warner Brothers, but not among their finer films.
Robert Reynolds
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.
