Minnie the Moocher (1932)
Minnie the Moocher Review
Minnie the Moocher is a 1932 animated short film from the Talkartoons series.
Betty Boop and Bimbo run away from home, but that night they are scared by a chorus of ghosts singing the title song. This movie is by far one of the greatest Talkartoons with ‘Bimbo’s Initiation’ being the only one that could rival it in my opinion. The plot here is simple – Betty runs away from home due to her parents being a nuisance, but eventually she comes to appreciate her home after being traumatized by ghosts, skeletons and other creepy phenomena. It doesn’t have the comedic gags that characterize some of her other movies, but Betty was here superbly designed and very well utilized. Bimbo is also terrific.
Minnie the Moocher is at the end of the day worth seeing just on the strength of its audio-visuals. The animation is phenomenal, featuring uniquely designed ghosts and skeletons, and superbly orchestrated movements. The titular song by Cab Calloway is so well utilized into the story itself while Calloway was rotoscoped into this very odd, but memorable walrus-looking ghost. The score on this movie is truly iconic (the title song was a huge hit and a timeless classic after all) and the energy in its overall execution is palpable. The creepy, crazy imagery throughout was also a delight.
