I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You

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I'll Be Glad When You're Dead
You Rascal You
Directed by Dave Fleischer
Produced by Max Fleischer
Starring Louis Armstrong
Margie Hines [1]
Music by Louis Armstrong and Orchestra
Animation by Willard Bowsky
Ralph Somerville
Color process Black-and-white; colorized in 1972
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • November 25, 1932 (1932-11-25)
Running time
7 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You is a 1932 American pre-Code Fleischer Studios animated short film starring Betty Boop, and featuring Koko the Clown and Bimbo. [2] The cartoon features music by and a special guest appearance from jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra playing "You Rascal You". The title of the film comes from the song, written by Sam Theard in 1931. [3]

Contents

Plot

After a live action introduction featuring Louis Armstrong and his orchestra, the short opens in the jungle, with Betty being carried on a litter by Bimbo and Koko. A horde of African savages descends on the trio, and runs off with Betty. Koko and Bimbo try to find the missing Betty, but end up in the cannibals' cooking pot. They climb a tree and escape, but are pursued by the enormous disembodied head of a savage (with the voice and face of Louis Armstrong). Koko and Bimbo eventually find Betty tied to a stake, surrounded by dancing natives. Koko and Bimbo help Betty escape by firing porcupine quills at the savages. The trio races off, hotly pursued by spear-tossing natives. The three finally reach safety after crossing a mountain, the erupting peak of which flings the savages into space.

Notes and comments

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References

  1. Scott, Keith (2022). Cartoon Voices from the Golden Age, 1930-70. BearManor Media. p. 333. ISBN   979-8-88771-010-5.
  2. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 54–56. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. Shapiro, Nat. Popular Music: Volume 4 1930-39, Adrian Press, 1968. P. 64.
  4. Brothers, Thomas (2014). Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. p. 446. ISBN   978-0-393-06582-4.
  5. Brothers, Thomas (2014). Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. pp. 443–447. ISBN   978-0-393-06582-4.