Watching Rudy Vallee Melodies is a Weirdly Charming Trip

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school, slightly creepy Fleischer animation, sure. It is about seven minutes of pure, unfiltered 1930s surrealism. If you’re allergic to jazz crooners or old cartoons that don't make much sense, you should probably skip it.

Betty Boop is just trying to get the party moving. The guests are bored, the music is lacking, and honestly, the vibe is totally off. Then, Rudy Vallee pops out of a sheet music cover. It’s a very specific kind of magic.

The jump between the live-action Rudy and the animated world is jarring, but that’s the fun of it. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Piano Tooners, where the background seems to have a mind of its own. Here, the objects in the room start dancing because, well, why wouldn't they?

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rudy Vallee Melodies (1932) through its definitive frames.

Odd little things

• The Bouncing Ball is the real star here. It’s relentless.
• Rudy Vallee’s face looks a bit lonely floating in that animated space.
• I’m not sure the party guests were actually enjoying themselves or if they were just trapped.

There’s this moment where everything just syncs up to the music in a way that feels uncomfortably precise. It’s like the animators were showing off, but also maybe losing their minds a little bit. It’s not as narrative-driven as The Non-Stop Bride, but it’s got way more personality than your average musical short.

Sometimes the animation goes completely off the rails, and I love that. The way the furniture moves feels like it’s struggling to keep up with the tempo. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely not boring. 🎷

It’s one of those things you watch and think, "Did they really think this was normal?" And the answer is clearly no. That’s why it works.