Betty Boop: "A Language All My Own" (1935)

Betty flies to Japan and sings in nihongo to the nihonjin! Little did she know that in a few years her U.S. boyfriends would be firebombing her happy Jap audience into screaming cinders! I suppose entertainers should stay out of politics.

http://www.bettyboop.com
http://toestubber.com

Unfortunately, some ambiguously-named company is claiming that this cartoon is owned by them or some twelfth-party front corporation. Youtube now allows pretty much any random entity to claim ownership and circumvent the DMCA through the backdoor. The public domain is shrinking. Enjoy it while you can.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• betty
• boop
• cute
• japan
• japanese
• language
• wwii
• animation
• cartoon
• music
• fleischer

[fromthesidelines]

Originally released by Paramount in July 1935, and Betty's last appearance in her trademark skirt and garter. This was her penultimate performance (and last hurrah before she was "cleaned up", because of the stringent Hollywood "Production Code")- she'd never quite match it again. The delightful music score was written and conducted by Sammy Timberg. And, of course, Mae Questel is "Betty".

[Toestubber]

@fromthesidelines : Thanks for the excellent background info!

[cha5]

Nowhere near as many stereotypes as when WW2 started,

Betty is a goodwill ambassador in this going to a foreign country that most americans knew nothing about,

I like the use of the Japanese language in this.

[diddymuck]

notice this is one rare moment where a minority is shown with dignity and without stereotypical exaggeration.

The audience members are drawn almost naturalistic!

[tetsu098]

日本語上手！

[Mysticsloth]

a surprisingly enjoyable episode.

oh well, it's pre-ww2...

[pinokosthewife]

@MsGeek703 I didn't pay overly close attention to her lyrics and her Japanese has a bit of an odd intonation at times, but she seems to be singing roughly the same thing she sang in English, but in Japanese!

There might be some differences, but I was never very good at picking out words in songs. ^^;

[pinokosthewife]

@Kawayoporu Speaking of Dororo, the godfather of modern anime and manga Osamu Tezuka's style was very much inspired by Fleischer and Disney animation!

Cute how it all comes full circle, huh?

[Marbles471]

@diddymuck

And very inspirational to a certain little runt named Osamu Tezuka, who would have been only seven years old when this was made. Wonder if he saw this one?

[fosterslover]

What a difference 6 years makes...

[TheHotshots2000]

Betty boop So cute when sing japanese!!

[zipper179]

@diddymuck That is rare, indeed, for that time.. a pity..

[fromthesidelines]

Of course, 'Mr. 111'- the Japanese "stereotypes" would have to be eliminated, or replaced by more realistic depictions....and the music would have to be more up-to-date, with a little "techo-pop" mixed in....and perhaps Cyndi Lauper would "fill" Betty's voice adequately. You wouldn't have the same warmth this cartoon has, though- but that's the price you'd have to pay for being, "hip", "cutting edge" and "giving the audience what it wants"....

[Mr111989]

@fromthesidelines If this cartoon were made today, would there be any changes made? Who would be the voice of Ms. Boop now?