A Surreal Jungle Jaunt with Louis Armstrong

Is it worth the watch?

Honestly, you either love this kind of fever-dream animation or you’re going to find it deeply uncomfortable. If you appreciate the weird, loose rhythm of the 1930s, you’ll probably have a blast. If you prefer your cartoons to make sense, steer clear.

Betty Boop cartoons have a way of feeling like a lucid dream you forgot to prepare for. One minute you are on a boat, the next you are in a jungle that looks suspiciously like a nightmare.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You (1932) through its definitive frames.

Then Louis Armstrong shows up as a floating, disembodied head playing the trumpet. It is honestly one of the most haunting things I’ve seen this month. 🎺

The vibe is... something else

There is a segment where the animation just goes completely off the rails. The way the jungle creatures move isn't exactly fluid, but it has this jerky, rhythmic energy that keeps you watching even when it gets repetitive.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You (1932) through its definitive frames.

It reminded me a little of the chaotic pacing in Way Out West, though this is definitely its own beast. You really have to admire the sheer audacity of putting a jazz icon in the middle of a cartoon cannibal plot. It’s bold, sure, but mostly it’s just bizarre.

The transition between the live-action footage of Armstrong and the ink-and-paint world is jarring. It doesn't match up. The edges are rough and the lighting is all wrong. But that’s the charm, right?

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You (1932) through its definitive frames.

Odd little notes

• That moment the shadows start dancing? A bit much.
• The eyes on the characters are massive. They seem to follow you across the screen.
• I’m still not sure what the deal with the safari hats was.
• The music is the only thing keeping the whole thing from falling apart.

It’s not as grounded as Frozen River, obviously. But then again, I didn't expect a jazz-infused jungle romp to have that kind of grit. It’s a relic, plain and simple.

Some of the background details are so busy it makes my eyes hurt. You can tell the animators were just throwing things at the screen to see what stuck. Most of it didn't, but I appreciate the effort anyway. 😵‍💫

Don't look for a deep plot here. You won't find one. It’s just a series of musical bits tied together by a thread that snaps halfway through. Just sit back and let the weirdness wash over you.