Dizzy Red Riding-Hood (1931) User Reviews

This one probably got shelved in 1934

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 19 August 2013]

Although cartoons were often re-shown in movie theaters, I can pretty much guarantee that "Dizzy Red Riding-Hood" was not seen after about mid-1934. That's because a very tough Production Code was enacted to make films more family-friendly. There were now LOTS of taboos and occasionally, older films were edited to 'clean them up' so they could gain approval in the US. However, I really can't see how they could have sanitized this particular cartoon as it has many things that were objectionable according to the new Code. There is a joke about homosexuality involving pansies that clearly would have been eliminated, as homosexuals were NOT to be in the Post-Code era. There also is a scene where Bimbo the dog grabs Betty by her breasts—and that would actually probably not be in films today since it was a cartoon intended for kids--ditto for the scene with Betty and Bimbo in bed together near the end of the film. The bottom line is that things were NOT as boring and sexless in the 'good old days' as most folks imagine today. Even cartoons could be a bit smutty, though the objectionable material is far tamer than what kids are exposed to on television today that are not cartoons!

So is it worth seeing? Sure. The animation (as usual) is great and the anthropomorphic creatures and house are wonderful to see. Also, I do find it fascinating and enjoyable to watch many of the Pre-Code films, as they are a wonderful window into the past and are occasionally quite shocking.

DIZZY RED RIDING-HOOD {Short} (Dave Fleischer, 1931) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 11 January 2014]

This is obviously another transposition of a fairy-tale to accommodate the Betty Boop character. The end result is not as entertaining as others of its ilk, being also the oldest 'vehicle' of hers I have watched, but there is still sufficient inventiveness on display (regular partner Bimbo overcomes the wolf's threat and, amusingly, takes up its place at Grandma's house!) – not to mention risqué visuals, since Betty is shown repeatedly losing her garter and causing the male population around her to turn 'wolf' in the process! In the long run, Tex Avery – who made a number of classic variations on this theme in his own right over at the staid MGM studio! – would fare considerably better and, by way of outright surrealism, take the latter modern assimilation to its hilarious extremes.

I Don't Get Half of What Happens

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 6 December 2018]

This version of the classic fairy tale involves Betty in her skimpy clothes, heading off with a basket of goodies for her granny. Of course, she has to cross through a woods populated by wolves. These wolves are both the mammal type and the male on the make type. Bimbo goes to look out for Betty and has an encounter with a wolf. In the end there is a strange joining of the two. It's pretty sexy.

Betty Boop in a slightly racy version of a classic tale

[BrianDanaCamp · 1 February 2009]

"Dizzy Red Riding Hood" (1931) is an early attempt by the Fleischers to place Betty Boop in a children's tale setting with surreal imagery and the occasional ribald gag. It's not as successful as the Boop version of "Snow White" (1933), one of Fleischer's undisputed masterpieces, but it is enthralling, occasionally funny and offers a surprising portrayal of Betty's dog sidekick, Bimbo, as more of a leading man. Here, Betty, dressed up as Red Riding Hood, ventures into the dark, foreboding forest on the way to Grandma's despite warnings (by the trees) of a wolf at large. She sings a song about picking flowers and includes a verse about pansies, to which an effeminate tree responds in song, "And the fairies like them, too." The hungry wolf, who follows Betty with knife and fork at the ready, offers only a momentary threat. The one Betty really has to worry about is the lusty Bimbo himself who makes short work of the wolf, puts on his skin and beats Betty to Grandma's house where he waits in bed disguised as the wolf disguised as Grandma. As Betty sings a song to "Grandma" about how big "her" eyes, ears, teeth, etc. are, Bimbo seems to take great glee in groping her and lifting her up. The ending is surprising, but quite satisfying, especially for fans who've always wanted poor Bimbo to get more of a break.

As usual with the early Boops, the black-and-white animation is filled with objects and pieces of nature that come to life and talk to Betty. It's a fun cartoon to watch, although it's never as inspired as the peak period Boops of 1933, such as "Snow White" and "Minnie the Moocher." Despite the risqué gags, which will go over the heads of the very young, "Dizzy Red Riding Hood" should still be safe for the same kids who enjoyed such family-friendly Betty Boop children's tale parodies as "Mother Goose Land" and "Betty in Blunderland."

Little Betty Riding Hood goes to visit Grandma

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 11 July 2012]

This short sees Betty taking on the role of Little Red Riding Hood as she walks through the forest to visit her grandma. Bimbo follows behind despite being told to stay at home. On the way some talking trees warn her that there is a wolf in the forest but she continues and meets the malevolent creature; it is clearly intending to eat her but Bimbo kills the wolf. Bimbo then wears the wolf's skin and gets to Grandma's ahead of Betty. Betty then sings to 'Grandma' who is really Bimbo but looks like the wolf.

While this isn't as inventive as the later Betty Boop version of Snow White it is a good take on the 'Little Red Riding Hood' tale with an enjoyable twist. The wolf was a particularly villainous creature; we see how he is planning to cut her throat; so it was a lot of fun when Bimbo defeated him. As always there is a lot of inventive animation; some of it funny like when she uses her picnic basket as a boat and it grows an outboard engine and some of it mildly disturbing like the singing fish she intends to take to Grandma's. As is often the way with her early cartoon there are some risqué moments: here her garter belts slip down and as usual she shows rather a lot of leg. I'm sure fans of Betty and Bimbo will enjoy this one.

Little Red Riding Hood with a Betty Boop twist

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 16 April 2018]

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. That charm, sensuality and adorable factor is not lost anywhere here, nor her comic timing and she is very well supported by the ever fun Bimbo and the scary evil wolf.

'Dizzy Red Riding-Hood' to me is among the best of the early Betty Boop cartoons and among her better ones overall. It has all the elements that make her pre-Code cartoons so worthwhile and does do so much, almost everything, right and little wrong. Story-wise, it is slight but it is an example of an old story adapted many times in animation given freshness through some wonderfully wacky and racy humour and content.

The animation is outstanding, everything is beautifully and meticulously drawn and the whole cartoon is rich in visual detail and imagination. Every bit as good is the music score, which delivers on the energy, lusciousness and infectiousness, great for putting anybody in a good mood.

As hoped, the fun is ceaseless, with some very well timed and funny gags, and delivers on the creativity and imagination as well as (for Betty Boop especially) a surprising darkness and surrealism. As well as a raciness that one associates pre-code Betty Boop with. The voice work and such is good.

In summary, Betty Boop fans will find a lot to enjoy here. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Bimbo gives an old tale an outrageous new twist!

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 8/10 · 20 August 2013]

Compared to some of the really fiery examples of spooky and surreal brilliance that the Fleishers were still actually allowed to do by the cartoon-code powers that be around the time that this was made, Betty's second 'fairy tale' themed loony adventure presents an oddly far more ordered kind of chaos than you may be expecting. But I really enjoyed this one, it's very charming in its own weird way, and has a great sense of classy olden days, kooky be-bob-a-rhythm to it! Things don't morph or stretch or squash at all, but there are a couple of good freaky sight gags that set the usual tone and take the viewer straight into a little realm very special weirdness right away. The trees are quite creepy, and the deep dark woods are a nice and suitably eerie backdrop for Betty to be finding herself hiking into typically unusual territory... I get a kick out of all the adorable little rhymes Betty says about things as she makes her merry way! She's sure one to talk, singin' about people with big heads! Her design in this still looked a little rough and off-model somewhere. I'm pretty sure she was still a dog at this point, even though you can't see her ears, her riding hood covers them. I liked the evil wolf, I thought he was a great little character. I liked the effect with his very scary pointy teeth! It was surprisingly nasty when Bimbo beats him up off-screen and steals his skin! Ah, but the wolf was probably just fine seeing as his skeleton did run away! It's a decidedly odd take on the classic story, with some very nice artwork. I loved all the rich detailed animation of the backgrounds, and the enchanting closing image of the star-filled night sky was just beautiful-no less so at all for being in black and white. Also of note, this is one of the raciest Boop shorts I've ever seen! The whole short is so filled with raunchy crackpot humour that it's never really scary at all. At their very best the Fleischers were all about the magic and fun of what they were doing. Some of these 30's animations have such timeless soul, and I for one won't ever grow weary of them. Many decades later they still endure, as does Betty...she's "still got it!"

Forgettable Betty Boop short film

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 3 February 2016]

"Dizzy Red Riding-Hood" is another black-and-white short film starring Betty Boop from the early 1930s, so this one has its 85th anniversary this year and it should not come as a surprise that Betty is not too known today anymore. I myself cannot say that this makes me too angry as I am not the biggest fan of her as a cartoon character. Here we see Fleischer's take on Betty as Red Riding Hood and using her as famous fairytale characters is not a rarity. She also has her own little Snow White version. As usual with Betty, the film runs for under 7 minutes and includes really more music than a truly funny or memorable tale in terms of drama. I liked the tune of "London Bridge" the most about this short film here I guess. Other than that, it is not really worth the watch sadly. Thumbs down.