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7.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Minnie the Moocher remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you probably already know if you like these old Fleischer cartoons. If you’re into surreal, rubber-hose animation and Cab Calloway’s music, you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a coherent story, you’re in the wrong place. 👻
It’s only a few minutes long, so you don't have much to lose. Just don't blame me if you have a weird dream about a ghost walrus later tonight.
The first half is standard domestic trouble, but then they hit that cave. The shift is wild. One second Betty is just a cartoon girl running away, and the next, she’s in a psychedelic nightmare where the walls have eyes and the skeletons are dancing in perfect rhythm.
There’s this moment where the ghosts start swaying, and the animation gets so fluid it’s almost hypnotic. It feels much more experimental than something like The Thumb Print or even the stuff you see in Stout Hearts and Willing Hands.
You can tell the animators were just having a blast drawing whatever weird stuff popped into their heads. It’s not trying to be a deep narrative. It’s a vibe. Sometimes it reminded me of the frantic energy in Miss Mischief Maker, but with way more existential dread thrown in for good measure.
I caught myself wondering how they even synced the music so well back then. It’s imperfect in places, sure, but that only adds to the charm. The way the ghosts melt and reform... it’s unsettling in a way modern CGI rarely captures.
Anyway, watch it for the music. Stay for the skeletons. Just don't try to make sense of the plot, because there really isn't one.